Modern Fence

Hi, I'm looking into materials to create a modern fence, an alternative to the picket style we see at most homes. This fence needs to be about 10 feet tall and cost efficient, hopefully. Does any have any ideas of the materials I might use? Muchas Gracias.

I asked this recently.

Personally, I'd really like to get corrugated bamboo:

http://www.bamboocomposites.com/images/bmcsgroup.jpg

But I have yet to find a distributor in the US.

So, I went back and forth and finally decided on using Ondura panels for the privacy part of our fence, and making my own trellis on the rest.

http://www.ondura.com/

other ideas would be galvanized metal panels or polycarb. The same company that makes the ondura panels also makes polycarb panels:

http://www.tuftexpanel.com/pic10.jpg

I'll try and post an image of our fence idea when I get onto my other computer...

Here's another option. It's a nice metal fencing system I found. Alas, as usualy with nice modern solutions, it's in Australia:

http://www.stratco.com.au/products/fencing/cyclonic.asp

Thanks for the ideas!

i'm looking too... so lets keep the ideas commin!!!

I have been considering using smooth 7/16th Harditrim planks. They come in 4, 6, 8, 12 widths so you could incorporate different widths to make an interesting look.

This could be done running them either vertically or horizontally, but if done horizontally you would need to go with 6' spacing on the posts because they only come in 10 or 12' lengths.

You should check with Hardie to be sure, but I suspect that the Harditrim planks aren't self-supporting over a six-foot span. Your fence may start looking like the Golden Gate Bridge after a few months. (Their recommendation for conventional trim applications is for the material to be nailed to the substrate at intervals of no more than 16.)

-Steve

That's a definite possibility and I would be more comfortable running it vertically between 8ft posts with two nailers. I did speak to one of their reps and he seemed to think it would work.

Yes, I've looked into concrete-based siding/fencing but have never seen in its application. Does anyone have experience with this? I'd love to see pics

Ahh, here we go: rocfencing.co.uk http://www.rocfencing.co.uk/

have you seen this:

http://www.livemodern.com/forums/dwell/dwelllabs/590891238824/332272108012

http://www.obxdeck.com/fencing/fence8.htm(in the usa):

and another below from http://www.dfwremodeling.com(in the usa):

not the prettiest stuff: http://designerconcrete.com/?

and, 'fiber cement board' is what it's called, it think

here's actual hardifence (aussie, of course) http://www.jameshardie.com.au/Products/FencingandLattice/HardiFenceSystem/:

Check out the Modern Phoenix website. Look for the Allison residence. There is a very cool fence with polycarb or tuffex. Simple and mod!

Since we're on the topic, what would people recommend to span 6' horizontally? I was thinking of going with 1X 2 cedar with a verticle brace in the middle. The catch is that I don't like the look of aged cedar and wouldn't want to have to refinish the slates every 3 years or so. The 'fake' woods out now don't have nearly the rigitiy that wood has.

Have you considered using the Brazilian wood, Ipe?

This fence has horizontal pressure treated 4 x 4's bolted to vertical posts. The front/back horizontals were staggered to so that it blocked all view through it.

A closer view:

Corner detail ...

Although it looks as if the 4 x 4's were ripped (to make a triangle cross-section), they are actually only notched at the ends where they meet the posts.

Lots of carriage bolts!!!

I just saw something on the Resolution 4A website that looks REALLY great. Unfortunately, due to all of the use/abuse :wacko: of flash, I can't seem to create a direct link to it. Once you get to the [url href=http://www.re4a.com/website/index.html]website[/url], click on Projects, then Archive, then Residential. At the bottom of the screen, to the far right, click on the box titled Franco Residence. You'll now see a picture of the fence, but there are more close-up pictures if you click exterior.

This appears to be a wall created with sheets of some sort of weathering steel (Corten?) on hidden wood or metal posts. I guess the concrete base is there to support the weight of the sheets on the posts. Anyway, I just love the look of it- very rustic but very modern too- with a slate-like look and texture. I even like the little cut-outs. I just wonder whether this material is practical for fencing and how much it would cost. :zz:

I have a friend that installed a fence using 1/8 steel sheets, each 4' x 8'. He put the 8' side on the ground and stacked them 2 pieces tall for an 8' fence. All the seams were welded and then it was all painted black. Very clean look, low maintenance and a surprisingly positive response from the neighbors. He said it was only slightly more expensive than a wood fence.

Ipe would be interesting. But I imagine a bit on the pricey side?

My local lumber yard will rip down any engineered wood product, so I'm going to do a bit more looking into that.

I used Calibamboo...you can find them on the net. Product is awesome and easy to use. I laid it horizontal in 8 ft x 4 ft sections with a wood frame. There site has a lot of pictures and ideas. Good easy company to work with material wait time- approx 2 weeks.

thanks, aleisha. Interesting material. I don't think Bamboo is what we're looking for, but I've definitely added that one to my bookmarks list. ;o)

Saw in Trends magazine a bidillion dollar house with 5' sheets of frosted glass set 4 apart for a fence.

It was gorgeous.

Don't know where you'd get it or how you'd install it, but it was gorgeous.

Had to have cost as much as my first car.

There is a fun article about artistic fences in today's (Saturday) San Jose Mercury News -
http://www.mercurynews.com/mld/mercurynews/12851786.htm

You may have to register to read this article and it will go to archives in about a week.

Please avoid ipe for fencing, decking or siding. It's about 80% illegally logged and even legal logging is highly damaging to the fragile rainforest ecosystems. Logging is the single greatest factor leading to the destruction of rainforests.

Even certified ipe is still being logged from old growth rainforests, with new roads being bulldozed by the loggers.

Better to go with a recycled material.

tim keating, director
Rainforest Relief