Fence solutions enclosed within

Whether you are building a new fence or updating an existing one, there are a few simple questions to ask before you rush out and buy the same materials you always have.

Creating your own design may save you time and money when building and maintaining your next fence and will likely give you a better performing fence in the longer term.

Official program and field day guide and COUNTRYMAN newspaper August 22

Waratah Fencing rural product manager David Byrnes said there were a few things to consider when designing your fence.

"Firstly, map your property, using a sketch, Google maps or similar," he said.

"Then mark out your boundary fence lines, corners, angles and gates. Done to scale this will help calculate the length of your fence lines.

"You can also mark-up the usage of certain areas of your property, be it for grazing, laneways, yards or cropping.

"This will help you determine the pressure your fences face, so you can decide to use more posts and wire for high pressure areas, and less for the low.

"The key to designing a fence that will do the job is to consider what you are trying to keep in or out.

"Waratah has developed a methodology called OUT (over, under, through) to act as a guide when planning a fence to prevent animals from getting in or out.

"Whether keeping out feral animals such as wild pigs, dogs or kangaroos, or containing stock to certain areas of a property, a fence can be breached three ways: going over it, under it or right through it.

"By considering what you are up against, you can pick the right products for your needs.

"Also, consider terrain. If your property is rocky and hard, consider using shorter steel posts that you don't need to drive in too far and are easier to install.

"For loamy and soft soils, consider using larger profile steel posts that you can drive in further to establish better ground holding.

"Think too about the slope. For flat ground, post spacings may be increased and most wire products are suitable, but for sloping ground, post spacings may need to be closer to assist with wire attachment."

An ongoing consideration must also be natural disasters.

If fire is a common occurrence, consider using low-medium tensile Waratah wire, which helps minimise the chance of the wire snapping or losing tension under the heat of the fire.

"If flood is a common occurrence, consider using JIO MaxY posts to strengthen the fence line and Longlife wire for the best protection from corrosion," Mr Byrnes said.

Waratah's new catalogue provides checklists for designing a fence and much more.

It contains excellent information about designing, building and maintaining existing fencing, as well as an introduction to the wide range of premium Waratah fencing products, designed to work seamlessly together, making fencing easier, faster and more cost effective.

"Waratah does not just develop and manufacture innovative fencing products, it also provides genuine fencing solutions. With over a century of fencing experience, Waratah knows how to manufacture products for tough conditions and help you to use them effectively," Mr Byrnes said.

To download the new catalogue, or for more information on Waratah's OUT methodology, including a selection of commonly used fence designs, head to onesteelwaratah.com.au.