When purchasing an aluminum fence, you will need to buy more than just the panels. For a successful aluminum fence build, consider all the other components that go into an aluminum fence, like the gates and posts.
In this blog, we’ll outline the essential parts you need to buy alongside your panels, using an example project of 80 lineal feet of the 4-foot tall Bradford aluminum fence with a single gate. This would be a backyard fence with the home on one full side.
This guide is not intended to be an authoritative source about exactly what you should order for your specific fence. These are general guidelines, but every property and project is different. You should use our Fence Builder program to generate a more reliable product purchasing plan for your project, and if you have ANY questions, you should call or email the staff at Fencing Direct at sales@fencingdirect.com.
Planning Your Panels
First, you must figure out the total length of your planned fence. This measurement determines the number of panels you will purchase. For our example, we’re planning 80 lineal feet of aluminum fence. Here’s how you can determine the right number of panels:
- Measure the total length: For our example, it’s 80 feet.
- Panel length: Each Bardford aluminum fence panel with posts is 6 feet wide, center of post to center of post.
- Calculate the number of panels
The best way to start is to first subtract the gate. For our example, 80 feet of fence minus a 4-foot-wide gate would equal 76 feet of paneling needed.
Divide the total length, minus the gate widths, by the panel length. In our example, 76 ÷ 6 = a little over 13 panels. You should round up and plan on cutting one of the panels, so you need 14 panels.
Extra panels: We recommend buying at least one or two extra panels to account for any cutting mistakes or future repairs. For our example, let’s add one extra panel, bringing our total to 15 panels.
End Posts
End posts are required at the start and end of your fence line. Since our example is a U shape, with no breaks other than the gate, we will only need a starting end post and a finishing end post.
- Start and end of the fence: 2 end posts.
Gate Posts
A gate post is a heavy-duty end post designed to withstand the extra weight and impact of a gate. For our example, we assume the gate is between two-panel sections. For aluminum fencing, we suggest one heavy-duty gate post on each side of the gate opening.
- Gate Posts: 2 posts
If the gate was starting or finishing the line of fencing, we would replace one of the heavy-duty gate posts with a heavy-duty blank post so there were no unnecessary holes on one side of the post.
Line and Corner Posts
Line posts support the panels while allowing the fence to continue in a straight line. Corner posts are used when the fence turns a 90° corner. The general rule, for non-curving fence lines, is to have a total of one fewer line and/or corner posts than the number of panels.
Our example assumes the gate will be placed between two complete panels. If your plan calls for cutting panels to fit the gate between irregularly sized panels, then you would not subtract 1 line post.
For our example:
- Number of panels (not including spares): 14 panels.
- Subtract one: 14 - 1 = 13 line/corner posts.
- Adjust for gate posts: Due to our gate location, we need to reduce the number of line posts by 1.
- Total line and/or corner posts: 12 posts.
Gate Hinges and Latch
Every gate requires 2 hinges and a latch. At Fencing Direct, gate hinges are included with the gate purchase. Here’s what you need:
- Gate hinges: 2 hinges (included with gate purchase at Fencing Direct).
- Gate latch: 1 latch.
We should note that our example is a single gate. If you plan to create a double gate, you will also need to buy a drop rod for each gate leaf to lock them in place when closed or open and add stability.
Two types of latches are offered with aluminum fencing. One will meet pool code, and the other may or may not. If you are installing an aluminum pool fence, be sure the latch you purchase complies with local regulations.
Example Summary
To summarize, for an 80-foot Bradford aluminum fence with a single 4-foot gate, you would need:
- Panels: 15 panels (14 for the fence, 1 extra).
- End posts: 2 end posts.
- Gate posts: 2 gate posts
- Line or corner posts: 12 posts.
- Gate: 1 - 4ft wide gate
- Gate hinges: Included with gate purchase.
- Gate latch: 1 latch.
Mounting Your Aluminum Fence
Your fence mounting components will depend on your plan.
If you plan to install your fence in the ground, you should consider renting a hole digger and always call Miss Utility to make sure you don’t hit anything vital when digging. We suggest dry-packing your posts with mixed concrete. You should avoid quick-drying cement with aluminum fences, but if you must use quick-drying cement, we recommend ONLY using mortar-based quick-drying cement.
If you plan to surface-mount your fence on existing cement, brick, or wood, you must also purchase surface mounts for each post.
If you plan to mount the start or the finish panel on a wall, you will need to purchase flat or angle brackets which come 3 to a packet. One bracket is needed for each rail that will be connected to the vertical surface.
For more information about installation, check out our resources page.
