The Ultimate Buyer's Guide for Purchasing Railway Fencing

Planning for Your Fence

Doing a little research and planning before getting too far in the process will make installing your fence a breeze! Just follow the tips below to properly prepare for you new fence. Purpose: Consider why you are constructing a fence. Do you want more security or privacy? If you want more privacy, you will want to construct a tall fence with small gaps. If you want to keep your pets or children in your yard, you may not need to have a tall fence, but you will want to ensure that your fence is sturdy and secure. Likewise, the gaps in your fence need to be small enough so that your pets or children stay out of harm's way.

Building Codes: Contact your local building authorities, homeowners, or neighborhood association to see if your fence needs to meet any requirements regarding the height, appearance, location, and/or materials. You may need to acquire a special permit before you install your fence.

Utility Lines: Most fences require some digging for installation. For your safety, call your local utility company to check if there are any utility lines buried in the area where you plan on digging or installing your fence. Many utility companies offer this service for free. Materials Loading... Uneven Terrain Solutions

If you have to work around a slope, you can install raked fencing or stepped fencing. Your landscape and personal preferences can help you make the decision.

Stepped Fencing
In this method, the fence "steps" up or down the slope, resulting in the rails remaining in a horizontal position and the posts extending to accommodate the variation in terrain. The finished product will mimic a set of stairs, increasing in height with the slope.
This method works as follows:
1. Hold the measuring tape horizontally as you measure from the last stake to the next one.

2. In order to figure out where your next stake should go, use a 2 x 4 board (or material of your choice) to stretch from the previous tape measurement to the terrain. If it forms a 90° angle with the board, then you have the right position for your stake.

3. Do this for the remainder of the slope to successfully install your fence.

The downside to the stepped fencing method is that there will be gaps at the bottom of your fence. If you have a small pet, they may be able to escape. Alternatively, small pests may be able to find their way into your yard. Some homeowners find the gaps unsightly, but one potential solution is to place planters along the fence.

Raked Fencing
In this method, the rails are parallel to the ground, and the pickets point straight up. The distance between pickets and the ground remains the same, so you will not have gaps. However, raked fencing can't be installed on too steep of slopes. You also need loose components for this technique. In other words, preassembled fence panels will not work. Gates

Menards® offers a variety of gates to complete your fence. Preassembled gates or gate kits are available for most vinyl and metal fencing. Wood gates are typically fashioned on-site, but wood gate kits are available to simplify the process. If you're not sure how to install a wood gate, see the steps below: 1. Decide which swing direction you'd like your gate to have. Gates on boundary lines are typically mounted so that they will swing into the property. However, you can also design your gate to swing both ways.

2. Set the gate posts (the posts that the gate is attached to via a set of hinges) with extra concrete to ensure the post is solid.

3. Measure the space between each of the gate posts. The width of your gate should be approximately 1 inch less than this number so you have space for the hardware, and the height of your gate frame (the structural members of the gate) should be much shorter than the fence.

4. Assemble the gate frame using screws. Double check that the corners are square, and then verify that the gate frame fits between the posts. Make adjustments as needed, and add diagonal supports from corner to corner for strength. 5. Fasten pickets to the top and bottom rails of the gate frame. After predrilling, screw the hinges into both of the hinge-side rails.

6. Try opening and closing the gate. See if the door clears the latched side of the post, as well as the ground. Make adjustments as needed.

7. After removing the gate again, predrill screw holes for the hinges. Secure the hinges to the gate posts, and then mount the gate latch (the fitting designed to hold the gate closed).

There is one thing common between you and us. We both have an eye for beautiful things. Like the Buckley Steel Fencing System. If you're considering our favourite Steel post and Rail for your horse property, then you might already know it's the only engineered Steel Fencing System available in Australia and New Zealand.  

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However, it's also a premium product and we want to make sure you avoid any frustration through your journey and get the best out of your investment.  

Born and designed in America, Buckley Posts and Rails have travelled the world and are loved by horse property owners across North America, Canada, Mexico, Europe and of course our own continent.  

This fencing system is made with 2-side pre-galvanised steel, treated with a phosphate conversion coating for added protection and finished with an architectural grade polyester powder coat.'Safe for the horses, these stunning fences bring your dream property to life. They look closer to traditional Timber fences, with strong and straight fencing lines and make a statement.  

At Stock & Noble, we are the exclusive suppliers of Buckley Steel Fencing System in Australia and New Zealand. Buckley is our flagship product and if you're considering purchasing it, we want to make sure you have a smooth buying experience and get the most out of it.  

In this article, we will discuss the 5 tips to remember while buying the Buckley Steel Post and Rail fencing. It will help you remove any challenges you might face and get the complete worth of your investment from the Buckley fencing system. 

1. Plan your fencing layout well
2. Choose the exact number of gates and rails
3. Check the lead time early on
4. Follow the installation documents 
5. Order an extra rail for future maintenance

5 tips to remember while buying Buckley Steel Fencing System

On your journey to find the finest horse fencing solution, you come across a lot of different fencing options. If you've finalised Buckley or even if you're considering it as one of your top choices, then these 5 tips will lead you in the right direction.  

Tip 1: Plan your fencing layout 

When it comes to Buckley, planning is extremely important. It's an engineered system, so the more accurate you are in your planning, the better results you will get. Not to mention you will prevent any wastage of time, energy, and money. 

It will be great if you can create a rough sketch on paper and visualise how you want your dream fencing to look. Here's what you can do to plan your fencing: 

Map your fence 

Start planning your fence with a free interactive tool like, 'Map My fence.' It will give you a rough meterage as well as cost of your fencing project. Win-Win! 

Decide if you need gates 

While planning your layout, do mark out what, where and how many Buckley gates you'd need. It's important to determine the cost, overall look and quantity needed. 

Decide how many rails you want 

Buckley Fencing System has the options of 1, 2, 3, 4 or 5 rails. So, choose how many rails you want once and for all. Buckley rails are pre-cut, and posts have pre-drilled holes for the rails to fit in. So, take your time, make your decision, and stick to it. Because once you decide to go ahead with the preferred number of rails, it cannot be changed post-purchase or on-site. 

Tip 2: Get a CAD design made

Buckley is an engineered fencing system, so it's important to know the exact meterage, the position of gates, as well as position of the posts. To achieve this, we offer our clients a special service of creating free CAD designs on request. These are extremely detailed drawings made by a computer.  

Goto Dishun to know more.

This helps horse property owners to see every single detail of their project laid out in front of them. And plays a significant role in ensuring they order the accurate number of fencing materials, needed for the project.  

If you too would like to have one made for your property, reach out to one of our fencing consultants and it will be done.  

Tip 3: Check the lead time early on

Buckley Steel Fencing System is an imported product. In the post-covid era, timelines for sourcing and supplying high-demand products have significantly changed. You can learn more about how to plan your fencing and avoid 6-12 months of delay. 

The next best thing to do is speak to one of our fencing consultants early in your planning stage, and let them know what colour, and quantity of Buckley you are interested in. We will work with you and let you know the lead time based on your requirement. 

For example, while Buckley's black 2, 3 and 4 Rails are always in stock, the rest are made to order and have a longer lead time. 

So, checking about the availability early on will make sure you avoid unexpected price rises or supply issues when you're ready to install. 

Tip 4: Follow the installation documents

This is probably the most important tip of all. When you purchase Buckley Steel Fencing System, you receive a set of detailed documents on how to install the fence. You or your fencing contractor, whoever is responsible for installing the Buckley Posts and Rails must follow these instructions to the T. Else the warranty will be void. That's true.  

The reason being Buckley is an engineered fencing system, every part has been thoughtfully created and is assigned an exact place and position. 

Staying true to the documents will make the installation easier, faster and give you the exact look and results you visualised. If you face any difficulty during the process, you can always reach out to us, and we will make sure your questions are answered. 

Tip 5: Order an extra rail for future maintenance

Buckley Steel Fencing System is known for needing extremely little to no maintenance. The complete product, including the powder coating has a 15-year manufacturer's warranty. The paint won't chip, peel or crack and is also resistant to rusting, fading, and chalking.  

Rails are also maintenance-free, just like paint. The rail might need to be replaced if there has been a serious impact, such as a panicked horse, a fierce storm, or fallen trees. Our recommendation is to order an additional rail or two along with your purchase order since replacing a Buckley Rail takes approximately 20 minutes. Whenever unforeseen damage occurs, you'll be ready with a spare, so your fencing line will remain beautiful. 

Are you prepared for the Buckley Steel Posts and Rails?

In this article, you learnt the 5 tips which will make sure you don't face any problems while buying Buckley Steel Fencing System, your investment is well planned and gets you the highest returns.  

Now you know the things to keep in mind while ordering Buckley Steel Fencing System for your horse property. While researching and buying a premium product it's good to educate yourself completely. So, dig deeper into the Buckley Steel Fencing System with Buckley FAQ and Buckley Installation FAQ. It will give you detailed information on the design, dimension, and installation of these steel fences. 

Want more information on Railway Fencing? Feel free to contact us.