Enclosure of the terrace with your own hands: design options, recommended materials
Most modern cottages are equippedterraces designed for outdoor recreation. A feature of such sites is that they are located above the ground level, so in most cases a perimeter is installed around the perimeter, preventing a person from falling from a height. Terrace fencing is not always envisaged by the project, and there are situations when the presence of protective structures becomes necessary already in the process of operating the veranda. At this stage, the owner must decide on the design, material and method of mounting protective elements. Today we will consider, from which it is better to make a terrace fence, in which options it can be executed and how to cope with the task independently.
Types of structures
For functional purposes, there are closed and open fences.
The first view is established in order to protect the site from extraneous views, wind, rain and other atmospheric phenomena.
Open-type fencing construction inmore performs the decorative function. It does not block the view of the site and does not prevent the sun's rays from reaching the veranda. Making a choice in favor of this or that decision, it is necessary to consider, for what the given construction is most often used. For maximum contact with nature, sunbathing, growing plants or holding celebrations in the open air, open options are best suited. That's only in this case you need to be prepared for the fact that suddenly started wind or rain can disrupt your plans.
What are the criteria for choosing the material for the handrail?
First of all, the selected materials should beas harmoniously as possible in the surrounding interior. Also important is the weight of the future design. It is desirable that the products do not weight the terrace, the base of which was calculated for a certain load. The chosen option must withstand the impact of the environment, be unpretentious in care and easy to install. You should pay attention to the availability of products, so that in the event of repair, you could easily purchase an element for replacement.
Synthetic materials
The terrace guard made of syntheticmaterials, attractive in that it does not require special care and treatments. This element of the exterior is very resistant to moisture, temperature fluctuations and thus has a very impressive appearance. This category includes products made of polyvinyl chloride and wood-polymer composite (DPC).
The latter material is very similar in appearance topainted natural wood. It is made by mixing polymers and wood pulp, resulting in a plastic mixture that allows you to perform the most unusual compositions. It should be noted that, despite its similarity with wood, this species is completely devoid of all the negative qualities inherent in natural raw materials. It is distinguished by its high strength, resistance to moisture, is not prone to deformations and does not lose its original appearance during use. Excellent performance characteristics inherent in the DPC make these products very popular - they gain more and more liking from the consumer.
The PVC fences attract their cheapness andsimplicity of installation, but the fragility of plastic does not allow him to make an equal competition with natural materials. Most often it is used as decorative elements, not designed for the impact of any loads.
Metal enclosures
Metal rails provide the highestthe degree of security for visitors to the veranda. Sturdy and stable structures perfectly withstand mechanical stress and prevent falling from the platform. However, it should be borne in mind that the fencing of the terrace made of metal must have a very elegant appearance, since thick elements can heavily weight the structure and, as a result, the foundation will not withstand the additional load.
For the manufacture of wrought iron handrails is preferableUse stainless steel grades that have a longer service life in high humidity conditions. Speaking about the financial side of the issue, it is worth mentioning that the metal fencing of the terrace can not be established without the use of special welding equipment, which significantly affects the cost of the entire structure. The design can be cheapened by combining several materials. Recently, a combination of wooden and metal parts is very fashionable, so the resulting fence will be not only durable, but also stylish.
Wooden constructions
The fencing of the terrace of wood is ideal forWhere the house and the playground are made of the same material. Such products are most popular, because the wood is quite simple to process, which makes it possible to make rails of the most diverse design. To their positive features can be attributed to the fact that wooden structures are very stable and have a small weight. Treatment with protective solutions allows minimizing the shortcomings of natural raw materials and prolonging the life of the product in outdoor conditions. If necessary, railings made of wood are easily amenable to restoration and repair.
Skillful owners choose this particular material,because it makes it possible to manufacture and install the fence with your own hands, without special equipment. Taking this fact into account, we will next consider the method of manufacturing and assembling wooden structures.
Basic ways of positioning the material
By the way of execution it is possible to distinguish the following variants of fencing of terraces:
- vertical (when all columns, slats and other elements are perpendicular to the ground);
- horizontal (meaning the appropriate location of the jumpers, balusters and supports);
- Cross (masters have all the elements of the fence so that they intersect each other).
Choice of wood
Going to make a terrace fencing ofwood, special attention should be paid to choosing the right type of wood. This step should be approached as responsibly as not every tree species is suitable for use in street conditions.
The best option is pine. Its structure contains a large content of resin, which protects the material from moisture, prevents drying out and prevents the formation of rot, fungi and mold. Also, you can use more noble and expensive varieties. These include oak, beech and Siberian larch. The latter option is very strong - you can do without a protective coating.
The use of spruce is possible only after preliminary heat treatment. Ash wood, because of the instability to atmospheric phenomena, is not at all suitable for outdoor works.
Preparatory work
Before proceeding with the manufacture of handrails,you should create a detailed drawing of the future design, which will indicate the width and height of the terrace fence, as well as the number and parameters of all parts.
For sites located high above the ground,it is better to install fences of not less than 1 meter. For low verandas, you can use fences of any size. The next step is to calculate the number of supports required. They are installed on all corners of the terrace, and if it is large, then every 120 cm.
As mentioned before, the fencing of the terrace canPerform in a variety of options, which differ in the way they are installed. We will consider the simplest installation technology, which does not cause any special difficulties.
Mounting technology
Based on the parameters obtained during themeasurements, proceed to manufacture fencing. First of all, the supports are installed. For them, take a square beam, the thickness of which depends on the expected load and dimensions of the veranda. These elements should be tough and strong enough, because they depend on the safety of tourists on the territory of the summer area. The height of the supports should be 20 cm above the rails themselves (in the event that the roof does not rest on the first ones).
On the perimeter of the veranda, the layout of the places on which the poles will be installed is done.
For their fastening in the rack, cut a step inthe floor of the tree. The width of the notch should correspond to the thickness of the base plank. The resulting step is installed on the beam and screwed to it with the help of furniture screws.
Fastening of handrails
Most often, handrails are fastened in the same way asand the main columns. As a handrail, use cut slats or pre-prepared balusters. Also, it is possible to produce a railing in the form of a frame, which after assembly is installed in the opening between two supports. Its lower part is attached to the base of the veranda, and the rail is fastened to the top rail. At this stage, the wooden structure is tested for strength and stability. With the help of the building level, all errors are identified and eliminated.
In places of greatest load, it is recommendedInstall additional ribs in the form of small wooden racks. They are located so that they do not interfere with the comfortable movement of the tenants of the house.
At the final stage of installation, the decorative inserts and various elements necessary to decorate the fence are fixed.
At the end of the work, all wooden elements are treated with protective solutions and covered with coloring compositions that impart a decorative effect.
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