Before Raising
Remove Capping & Extend Posts
Fit Wiring/Brush to Top & Core
Trim Top
Refit Capping
Finished Fence
There are a number of different types of common alteration to hand-packed brush fences, including raising and lowering fence heights, extending fence lengths, creating and relocating gates and openings and relocating existing fences.
The great thing about hand-packed brush is that all these improvements can be accommodated without too much trouble. It is generally not practical to raise the height of machine-packed panel fences, due to the proximity and size of wire staples and density of brushwork, although they can be easily relocated or lowered in height and panels can be easily removed for temporary openings.
Hand packed, steel posted fences can be raised in height up to about 450mm and the end result is seamless.
Firstly the capping or roll top is removed and the post caps/plates removed and then the posts are extended by sleeving or butt welding to the desired height. If necessary, additional internal rails are fitted and either one or two runs of wire (depending on height extension). Brush is then fitted as a veneer to each side of the fence at the top and the core packed with brush to a uniform thickness over the full height of the fence prior to re-pinning (wire clips). Caps are fitted to the posts and the capping is then re-fitted (or a new brush roll top).
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Before Raising |
Remove Capping & Extend Posts |
Fit Wiring/Brush to Top & Core |
Trim Top |
Refit Capping |
Finished Fence |
After Raising |
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Raising the Height of an Existing Brush Fence |
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Lowering the height of a brush fence is often undertaken to increase the visibility of the house from the street and vice versa. This is usually done to improve security, but also to improve the look of the house.
As a general rule, the fence can be lowered about 200mm (to about the line of the internal rail), although in some instances as in the case of the fence depicted below, it is possible to lower a brush fence by approximately 350mm. This usually depends on the condition of the fence and whether the internal rail is wired, welded or spigoted. It is usually not possible to go lower than this due to the thick entwined brush ends which cross in the middle of the fence and preclude refitting the internal rails
Setting out Line to Trim Fence Height to |
Marking Posts |
Cutting Brush Tops |
Cutting Tops & Posts |
The brush fence is cut at the string line, using a power saw and hand cutters.
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Fitting Rails & Capping |
Finished Fence |
The railing is refitted in the brushwork between the posts, (using a special technique to recover the tension in the wiring) and then the capping is then refitted. |
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Lowering the Height of an Existing Brush Fence |
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Fences can be extended in length to marry with new gate openings or pillars, or to replace another fencing material. Depending on the gap to be filled, a new post is fitted or a frame welded to take the wiring and brushwork. The capping is then extended and a brush roll fitted to the post or frame.
Infill of Old Fence to New Pillar |
Gates are often relocated in a brush fence to suit a new garden design or to meet a new requirement for access to a rear yard.
There is usually more involved than meets the eye in this type of work.
It is not often that an existing fence post is in a convenient location with regard to the new opening and usually two new end fence posts must be fitted and if a non-brush style gate is to be fitted, then square section galvanised gate posts must also be fitted.
Firstly, the capping or brush roll top must be removed to allow the opening and the fence wiring cut and temorarily re-tied around the brushwork to prevent it from falling apart. Then the internal fence rail must then be cut to suit the new opening and is usually left inside the brushwork. The fence at either side of the gateway, then needs to be temporarily moved to one side and supported with struts while the posts are fitted.
The concrete base is then cut and a section removed to allow the posts holes to be bored. The two gate posts and two end fence posts are then concreted and the internal fence rails and wiring re-fitted to each side. The wiring is re-tensioned and brush post rolls are then fitted to cover the exposed wiring around the end fence posts on either side of the gateway. The capping is cut and re-fitted or in the case of a brush rolltop the rolltop repaired.
The opening is then measured for gate manufacturing purposes and when made the gate is fitted.
In some cases it is necessary to relocate a fence and fence line due to changes in boundary or with internal fencing, changes in divider layouts. Although many contractors will indicate that it is not possible to relocate brush fences, it is in fact in some situations a very practical and cost effective procedure. Adelaide Brush has developed techniques over the years to completely re-instate fencing to a high standard.
© Copyright 1999; Adelaide Brush, 23 Pangari Drive, Fairview Park, South Australia 5126; Tel +61 8 82513309, Fax. +61 8 82893155, Mobile 0418 841 889.
