It’s no contest when it comes to which fencing option is the most practical and suitable for a range of uses while still being affordable and stylish. For these reasons and more, aluminum fencing is becoming the number one security solution for homeowners, property owners, and business owners nationwide.
One of the factors that has helped aluminum fencing to achieve its popularity is actually seldom talked about. Aluminum fencing is not only available in a variety of gorgeous styles, but also can have a range of fence post options. These options help your fencing to suit a wide range of functions and feel more tailor-made to your unique property.
With that in mind, in this article we’ll be taking a closer look at some of the different types of aluminum fence posts you can choose from when purchasing the parts for your project.
Aluminum Posts VS Traditional Posts
Traditional fence posts, such as those made from wrought iron, need brackets and bolts between the posts and the panels.
This can make installation quite difficult, particularly on properties with uneven gradients, potentially leaving fencing looking uneven or forcing property owners to step their fencing, instead of racking it when that might not be their preference.
Aluminum fence posts, however, have holes punched in them, which are designed to perfectly fit the aluminum fence panels at the desired angle for easier and neater install.
Post Types: How to Tell the Difference
The main factor which will determine which posts are best suited to your project is the intended location and layout of your fencing. Each type of fence post is designed for a different purpose, so bear this in mind when you are making your supply orders.
There are five standard types of aluminum fence post to choose from: line, end, corner, gate end, and blank. When it comes to identifying these, it is actually quite simple to distinguish between the types, meaning that if you order two or more types for your specific project identification is usually rather simple.
- Line Post: Has two opposite sides punched
- End Post: Has one side punched
- Corner Post: Has two adjacent sides punched
- Gate End Post: Has one side punched, but is made of thicker aluminum
- Blank: Has no holes punched and is made of thicker aluminum
Post Types: A Closer Look
End Post
An end post has only one side punched. This is because its purpose is to be freestanding on one edge. This type of post is perfect for fencing installations designed to have an open section, or fencing that is meant to delineate a space and not close it off, such as what may be desired in residential garden to mark off patio space.
Line Post
Line posts are probably the most common type of fence post, and are used to connect lines of panels. Basically, they are the posts that connect everything ‘in between’ the end posts. Because of this role, line posts will always have holes punched on opposite sides.
Corner Post
As the name suggests, this type of post is used to navigate the corners of your fencing, or to help your fencing change direction, such as navigating immovable objects on your property such as large trees.
Because of this, corner posts have punched holes on adjacent sides, which means the sides next to one another.
Gate End Post
This post is similar to the end post. However, as previously mentioned, this type of post is thicker, and also has a slightly different purpose. The best way to tell the difference is to note the thickness as well as the weight of the post, as a gate end post is much heavier in order to properly support the gate.
A gate end post also has a gate connection, such as a hinge or a latch. Fencing that uses gate end posts is great for stopping children and pets from entering dangerous areas such as the poolside, while still allowing you to access to those areas when desired.
Blank Posts
Blank posts are typically not used in straightforward fence installations, and are typically reserved for specialized situations, such as mounting an aluminum gate across a driveway without fencing. This type of fence post is heavy like the gate end post, due to being made of thicker aluminum, but has no punched holes.
Easy Installation
Knowing the different kinds of aluminum fence posts will help ensure you choose the right parts for the fencing project you have in mind. It will also benefit you when it comes time to install your project, allowing you to select the right post for the right part of your project, making the task at hand quick and easy. This will help guarantee your project is a success and that you achieve results to be proud of!
