A kickboard is a piece of pressure-treated wood that is placed on the bottom of the fence and is meant to be in direct contact with the ground. Because it's pressure treated, it's more resistant against rot and pests, which will help the rest of your fence last longer.
Positioned underneath your fence panels to protect against moisture, insect, and debris damage, gravel boards are an essential part to most garden fences. Gravel boards seal any gaps between the ground and your fence, creating a cleaner, more professional look; they can even help increase the height of your fence.
Main Components
A residential wood privacy or picket fence consists of three components: Posts, pickets or in-fill boards, and rails.
There are options when it comes to sheltering your wooden fence from the soil: you can install gravel boards along the bottom, set your wooden posts in concrete, or use concrete posts from the outset.
If there is a gap underneath your fence, you will need to use filler material to remove the problem. For example, you can put chicken wire in the gap so that the fence opens and closes freely without the gap being exposed. You could also put wood blocks in the gap or even fill it in with cement.
To prevent these types of rot there are some actions you can take: Use rot-resistant, pressure-treated wood when selecting your fence material; during installation ensure that your posts are correctly installed clear of soil contact; finally, maintain your fence by regularly cleaning it and staining it.
Having a gap between the bottom of your fence and the ground can make yard maintenance and clean up much easier. Uneven landscaping or ground cover can make it difficult to mow, weed eat, and edge around your fence.
A kickboard, sometimes known as a "rot board," is a piece of wood that's placed on the bottom of a fence and is in contact with the ground. Kickboards are typically pressure-treated. Pressure treating is a process where wood is treated so that it becomes resistant to rot, decay, and pest infestation.
In most applications, a wooden fence should be mounted at least two inches off the ground. Your posts and rot boards (if you want to mount them) should be the only fence components that come into contact with the ground. Wood pickets are never meant to touch it.
A steel fence post, also called (depending on design or country) a T-post, a Y-post, or variants on star post, is a type of fence post or picket. They are made of steel and are sometimes manufactured using durable rail steel.
Fencing takes place on a platform called a “Strip” or “Piste” (depending on where you are), which is a platform measuring 46ft (14 metres) long by 4.9 – 6.6ft (1.5 – 2 metres) wide. At the beginning of the bout, the fencers must be standing behind 2 en-garde lines, 6.6ft either side of the center of the strip.
The backer rails are the horizontal boards on a wood fence. There are typically three rows of backer rails going along the back of a standard 6-foot privacy fence. The backer rails screw into the fence posts to provide a support structure for the pickets.
Plinths are sometimes referred to as kick board or kick plate and are used to bridge the gap between the floor and the bottom of your cabinets to hide away cabinet legs, cables, and pipes, leaving your kitchen to look sleek and tidy.
Picket: A picket fence is a vertical fence board or element that attaches to the rails. Pickets can be made from any material but are most commonly used in wood, aluminum, iron and vinyl fences, and are usually evenly spaced.
Center the kickboard under the bottom rail (secured with a cleat), or nail it to the face of the post and the bottom rail. Allow the kickboard to extend at least 4 to 6 inches into the ground to discourage animals from digging under the fence. After you've attached the kickboards you can begin with the siding.
We've already touched upon this above, but it's well worth reiterating as it can cause confusion. The rules are that the fence posts must be on the owners side of the boundary, but there is no law that states the smooth side must face either way. It is entirely their choice which way the fence will face.
Gaps provide space for air to pass through in such a way that your fence will not be absorbing the full impact of the wind's pushing force. At the same time, it also lessens the wind entering your area, protecting your surroundings as well.
The 'quick' answer is that the finished, or good side of the fence faces the outside of your property, visible to neighbors and the outside world. That being said, the fence posts (or poles), rails, and other hardware are installed on the inside of the fence line and face you.
An L-shaped footer creates an underground barrier. Animals who take up residence under a deck, crawl space or shed are often capable diggers. If you put up a fence to keep them out, be sure to extend wire meshing out in an “L” shape at or beneath the ground.
The main cause is the wood having prolonged exposure to moisture in soil which means fence posts decay at ground level – just above the concrete base. This means the post will still be solid below and above the damaged area. Insect infestations can also cause rotting in wooden fence posts.
Build a Berm
One of the most effective ways of preventing water from reaching your home is to construct a raised barrier made of soil called a berm. Not only are berms effective and generally easy to install, but they also add to the aesthetic value of your property.
One of the most important reasons your fence posts should be set in concrete is to keep them plumb and level over time. If all supporting the fence post is loose soil or sand, a good storm with heavy rains and strong winds can leave your fence leaning and posts sagging.