Wooden Poles And Split-pole Fencing

By Author: Louie Dale
Total Articles: 104
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Poles of all sorts are so much a part of modern existence that people normally do not give them much thought. Poles are everywhere. They hold up phone lines and form part of fencesthat keeps livestock from straying, for example, and are most often created either from wood or metal.Wood posts are generally popular because, not only does timber give an organic, traditional feel to a construction, it is also really beautiful to look at. What is more, it's a lot more eco-friendly than steel and plastic, provided that it's been cultivated in a sustainable manner, however. In the home setting, treated wood poles are often employed in the construction of thatched roofs, lapas and climbing equipment like 'jungle gyms' for children. Wooden yard fences are usually constructed either from circular poles or from spilt poles and it is the latter that is going to be the primary focus of this article.'Split poles' is actually a phrase which refers to wooden poles that have been sawed length-wise into individual boards. In many instances, these individual panels are labelled as being 'wet of saw' because they have not been smoothed using a ...
... wood plane and are so named because they retain the coarse surface created by the saw which was used to cut them. It is this lack of smoothness that gives split-pole fencing its distinctive 'rustic' appearance. That being said, split-pole fences must be treated just like any other sort of outdoor wooden construction to protect it against undue weathering.Should the split poles used to make your wood fence have come from a reputable wood pole producer then it will most likely be the case that they conform to the requirements of a regulating body like the SABS (South African Bureau of Standards). Before wood poles are cut longitudinally into planks they first need to be seasoned to attain the right moisture content and then treated with chemicals in a high pressure procedure. Chemical processing not only helps make the wood more durable, it also helps to shield it from mould and wood-boring insects further down the line. In the interests of sustainability though, it is best to check to make sure that the lumber producer you get the timber for your split-pole fence from uses environmentally friendly, and therefore sustainable, methods of growing trees for timber. What is more, you will need to maintain your split-pole fence by coating it at regular time intervals with a substance like creosote, for example. Creosote is derived distilled tar and is a cost-effective preservative make use of on wooden outdoor structures like fences but it possesses a very strong smell when initially that's off-putting to some people.Like the tar it's produced from, creosote is a blackish compound that will naturally make the wood it's applied to seem really dark. The advantage of using creosote is that it's quick to apply and keeps fences in great shape for a long period. However, if you do not like the scent or physical appearance of creosote then there are other sealants, varnishes and stains available on the market which you could use to achieve a lighter-colored fence. Do remember, however, that varnishes don't normally stay looking good outside for very long.For more information about pole, go to our website, http://www.vukacmd.co.za