A fence is not just wire mesh. That mesh has to be anchored to solid ground, and the foundation of a good chainwire fence is a strong corner. Terminal posts, the corners, ends and gate posts, hold the most tension in the whole structure. Get them right and the fence lasts; get them wrong and no amount of good wire will save it.
Why terminal posts matter
Weak terminal posts make weak fences. If a terminal post is too thin, too short or badly rooted, it gives way under the weight of the mesh, the pull of the rails and the load of wind and debris. A strong, warp-resistant corner anchors the whole run and keeps it in good shape for years. This is the part of a fence where cutting corners, literally, costs you the most.
What is a terminal post?
Terminal posts are large stakes, wood or metal, set into the ground to support a fence. They act as the scaffolding that outlines the perimeter and bears the pressure of the entire structure. For chainwire fences they are usually galvanised steel.
They are taller and larger than line posts, which are the vertical supports spaced about 3 metres (10 feet) or less apart along the run, carrying the mesh and any horizontal rails between the corners. The terminals do the heavy work; the line posts fill in between.
The three kinds of terminal post
- Corner posts sit at each turn in the perimeter and must resist tension pulling from two directions at once.
- End (terminal) posts finish an open run of fencing.
- Gate posts carry the extra load and hardware of a gate, sized for anything from a 1-metre single pedestrian gate to a 6-metre double, and for manual or automated operation.
What makes a good terminal post
- Depth. One end must be buried securely, and how deep depends on the ground. Sandy or soft soils need more depth to hold.
- Diameter. Terminals need to be stout, commonly 5 to 6 inches across, to resist the tension of wire stretched over them and give heavy-duty fencing a firm base.
- Treatment and strainers. Posts should be treated before installation, and an in-line strainer can transfer tension down to the base of the corner post near the ground, where the anchor is strongest.
Setting them right
Installing terminal posts starts with planning the whole run: mark the corners, the gates and the ends, which also define your property lines. Then dig footings sized to the soil and set each post so it will hold under load. This is the part of the job that most rewards experience, because a terminal post with a poor foundation undermines everything attached to it. Plan the corners first, set them deep and solid, and the rest of the fence follows.