Fence pickets and metal fences
Metal picket fencing on a corner plot: planning both street boundaries
In brief
A corner plot is seen from two sides. A fence that forms a calm frontage on one street becomes a long garden boundary on the other. Metal fence pickets allow both sections to share a common appearance. There is no need, however, to give them an identical degree of screening. The key is to identify the places of entry, access and rest. The division of bays then follows from how the property is used, rather than from randomly repeating one configuration. Start by marking the pedestrian gate and the driveway gate. These define the most intensively used stretch of fence. The second side may have a different function, although it remains clearly visible from outside. With such a layout, it is worth identifying one main accent. This may be the gate area or a consistent line of fence posts. The sheet-metal pickets should form an orderly backdrop for it.
Choose the main point of entry
Do not force the entrance to fit a ready-made bay spacing at all costs. First check convenient access from the house. Then draw out the fields between fixed points. Narrow remnants at the corner or gate are usually the result of skipping this step. If they appear on the sketch, the division can be corrected before ordering material and setting the structure.
Assess visibility on both streets
Metal fence pickets set with gaps give visual contact with the surroundings. However, the degree of openness must be assessed from the right place. A driver sits lower than a person standing by the bay. Also, an oblique view differs from a straight-on view. A sample section helps to see how the profile and spacing affect observation of the surroundings.
At the corner and the driveway, it is not worth assuming on your own that any height and density of fence will be suitable. The layout should take into account safety of use and local conditions. In case of doubt, an assessment of the design is needed. The choice of pickets does not replace checking the course of the boundary, the required visibility and the feasibility of the driveway in a given location.
Unite the two sections with one order
Consistency is easiest to achieve by keeping the same cross-section, colour and finish of the pickets. The widths of individual bays may differ. What matters is that their rhythm looks planned. The corner post is a good organising point. The two sections do not have to pretend to be one plane wrapped without a break.
When drawing it out, pay attention to the last picket on each side. A very small gap from the post on one side and a wide gap on the other create a random effect. It is better to compare the layouts of the edge gaps in advance. Do not widen or squeeze the profile beyond the rules of the given system just to hide a calculation error. The layout is adjusted, not the product deformed.
Separate the need for privacy from the street appearance
The long side of the property may adjoin a terrace or the windows of living rooms. There, a smaller gap is sometimes useful. In the area of the representative entrance, a more open infill can be left. The change is worth making at a natural division, for example at a post or corner. Thanks to this, the metal fence pickets still look like part of one whole.
If a two-row layout is planned, it must be taken into account when selecting the structure. Additional elements change the weight and the degree of enclosure. Offset pickets restrict the view through part of the gaps but do not provide full screening from every angle. It is also worth checking the inner side. On a corner plot, it is often precisely the long side that will be most frequently viewed from the garden.
Allow for different light on the two sides
The same coating can look different on sections facing different directions. One side will be in direct light for part of the day, while the other stays in shade. This does not have to mean a difference in the colour of the material. Gloss and the spatial profile further reinforce changes in appearance. Comparing samples in one place does not show the full effect.
Place the samples on both sides of the property. Look at them in the morning and in the afternoon, next to the planned fence posts and the plinth. For wood-effect decor, also check the direction of the pattern. Metal fence pickets should have a clearly defined variant for both sides. In the specification, it is worth recording one agreed set of characteristics instead of ordering further sections solely by the colloquial colour name.
Plan for handover and subsequent maintenance
Two long frontages mean a larger number of elements to check. Before installation, divide the delivery according to the sections. Mark the lengths and their intended locations. Do not lay the entire material directly on the ground. The coated surface requires protection from scratches and from moisture in the pack. Storage conditions should correspond to the instructions for the specific material.
After the fence is completed, pay particular attention to the lower edges and the corner. They may collect dirt from two directions. Access for cleaning and for checking the fixings should remain convenient even after planting. Metal fence pickets offer great freedom of composition on a corner plot. The best effect is achieved when both frontages share a common order but respond to the actual needs of each part of the property.
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