If you’re new to agricultural fencing, it’s possible that you’ve never heard the term “T-post” before. But, t-posts are a very important part of fencing for livestock, crops, and more.
A t-post is a metal post with an anchor built into the bottom. This anchor keeps the post buried securely in the ground so it can support wire fencing and keep the fence taught along the fence line.
T-posts are very popular, as they are affordable and very effective. However, they are only effective if you choose the right size for your fencing project.
Firstly, let’s establish one simple rule: your t-posts should be about two feet longer than the height of your fence. This is why t-posts are typically sold at lengths between 5 and 10 feet. A tall t-post (for example, one that is seven or eight feet) can be very useful if you want to have a particularly tall fence that your animals can’t jump over.
Maybe you aren’t worried about your animals jumping the fence. Instead, your greater concern is that they might wander onto a neighbor’s property, or that local kids might try to get into their enclosure. In this case, a shorter fence can serve your purposes just fine — and that means you’ll be able to benefit from a shorter t-post to go along with it.
Most commonly, t-posts come in two weights: 1.25 and 1.33 pounds per foot. For most applications, a t-post weighing 1.25 pounds per foot is ideal. When looking for something to withstand high-pressure, it’s best to use a 1.33 pound per foot t-post.
There’s one big question you need to ask yourself before you pick a t-post for your fence: what purpose will the fence serve? The primary purpose of a fence is to keep animals in or out. However, there are different purposes for different types of fences on a farm.
For example, horse fencing needs to be tall enough to prevent horses from jumping over it, climbing it, or mowing it down with a good canter. Cattle fencing should also be tall, as well as strong enough to withstand leaning or chewing on the wires, while hog fencing should be a bit lower to the ground to prevent the pigs from digging or rooting under the fence line. Once you determine the purpose your fence will serve, you can figure out the size you’ll need for your t-posts.
Finding t-posts in the correct size is only the first challenge you’ll face in your fencing project. You also need to install the posts correctly if they’re going to give your fence enough support. Luckily, installing fence posts is a fairly simple job. If you have the right tools and enough hands, you can do it on your own.
To install t-posts, you’ll need:
You will also need wooden corner posts to install your fence completely, but here we’re going to focus solely on installing your t-posts (to learn about installing your wooden posts, check out this blog).
The tools you’ll need to install your t-posts are the following:
Once you have all the materials and tools you need for your fence installation project, go out to your fence site and follow these steps:
Just like that, you have a durable wire fence that’s secure and sturdy for years to come.
Whether you’re brand new to farm and animal fencing or if you’ve been working in agriculture your whole life, Red Brand has the tools, materials, and tips you need for success on your property. Check out our website today to see how we can help you!
Your fence may be one of your biggest property investments this year, so be sure it’s properly installed by using the correct materials and installation techniques. We can’t stress enough that fencing is only as strong as the fence post it’s secured to. The best fencing product in the world can’t protect your livestock if it can’t withstand animal pressure and the elements.
Corner posts and brace assemblies serve as the foundation for the entire construction process. These elements are critical to the overall stability of a fence. By anchoring the fence at its corners, these posts give the fence its strength. All the extreme tension from the fence structure is held at the corners. Therefore, proper selection, installation and bracing of the corner posts is essential to prevent fence failure.
The principle of bracing a corner post is simple. The greatest tension is along the horizontal wire furthest from the ground. As a result, wire fence will exert tremendous pressure on the corners. With each horizontal wire potentially tensioned to several hundred pounds, the pull on the corner posts can be immense. Other factors adding stress to the corner posts are changes in temperature, which will cause the wire to expand and contract, and animals leaning against or challenging the wire. For these reasons, the importance of the corner brace in the overall durability of your fencing cannot be overstated.
Typically, corner posts are made of treated wood. Never use steel t-posts, as they’re just not strong enough to serve as the foundation for your fence. Select posts of an adequate size and material to withstand stress, and take care to ensure that the corners are well grounded and braced.
Line posts support the material intermittently along the length of each side of the fence. A proper installation will include both wooden and t-posts.
T-posts are a popular alternative to wooden line posts because they are easier to drive into the ground. Additionally, they weigh less than wood and can serve as grounding against lightning when the soil is moist. Red Brand T-Posts are American-made, assuring the same reliable quality as all of our fence products. The combination of red-topped T-Posts with any of our Red Brand fence products creates a professional, finished look that stands out in any field, while providing exceptional durability.
Red Brand fence products are an investment in quality, and posts play a critical role in determining longevity. When properly installed, a Red Brand fence can be expected to last 20-25 years or more. Whether you choose to hire a contractor or prefer to install fencing on your own, we can’t stress correct installation practices enough. Ensure that your fence is installed properly by using correct materials and bracing techniques.
To help walk you through the entire process, Red Brand has created a comprehensive library of instructional videos that demonstrate the steps of fence installation, including Setting Posts and Bracing. For more information on installation techniques, visit redbrand.com or ask your local Red Brand dealer for assistance.
In most instances, you will place your fence on the animal side of the post. This will prevent the staples from being pulled out as the animal puts pressure on the fence. The exception will be on property lines; check local regulations to ensure compliance when placing fencing along boundaries. Check out more Fence Planning FAQs at RedBrand.com.
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