subject: Wood Posts And Split-pole Fences [print this page] Posts of all kinds are so much an integral part of modern life that most of us usually do not give them a lot of thought. Poles are all over the place. They carry phone lines and form part of fencesthat keeps agricultural livestock from straying off, for example, and are usually made either from timber or heavy metal.
Wooden poles tend to be well-liked because, not only does wood give a natural, traditional feel to a construction, it is also really attractive to look at. What is more, it is a lot more eco-friendly than steel and plastic-type material, so long as it's been cultivated in a sustainable manner, of course. In the residential setting, treated wooden poles are typically employed in the making of thatched roofing, lapas and climbing equipment like 'jungle gyms' for kids. Wooden garden fencing is usually made either from spherical poles or from spilt poles and it's the last mentioned that's going to be the focus of this short article.
'Split poles' is actually a phrase that refers to wood poles that have been cut lengthways into individual planks. In many instances, these individual planks are labelled as being 'wet of saw' in that they haven't been smoothed with a wood planing instrument and are so named because they retain the rough surface produced by the saw which was used to cut them. It's this absence of smoothness which gives split-pole fences their distinctive 'rustic' appearance. However, split-pole fences must be treated just like any other type of outdoor wooden structure to protect it from unnecessary weathering.
If the split poles used to make your wood fence have come from a reputable wooden pole manufacturer then it will most likely be the case that they comply with the specifications of a regulatory body like the South African Bureau of Standards (SABS). Before wood poles are cut longitudinally into planks they first have to be seasoned to attain the right moisture level and then treated with chemicals during a high pressure procedure. Chemical processing not only helps make the wood more durable, it also helps to protect it from mould and wood-boring bugs further down the road. In the interests of sustainability however, you should always check to make certain that the lumber manufacturer you get the timber for your split-pole fence from employs environmentally friendly, and therefore sustainable, methods of growing trees for lumber. What's more, you will need to maintain your split-pole fencing by painting it at regular intervals with a substance like creosote, for instance. Creosote is derived distilled tar and is actually a cost-effective preservative to use on wooden outdoor structures such as fencing but it has a very strong smell when first applied that is off-putting to some folks.
Much like the tar it is produced from, creosote is a blackish substance which will naturally make the wood it is applied to appear really dark. The advantage of using creosote is that it's quick to work with and keeps fences in good shape for a long period. On the other hand, if you do not like the smell or appearance of creosote there are other sealants, stains and varnishes available on the market that you could use to get a lighter-colored fence. Do remember, however, that varnishes do not generally stay looking good outdoors for a very long time.
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