There are two types of flanges that can be used for this application. The most durable post-to-surface mounting attachment we offer is welded flanges for posts. Factory-welded, then powder coated, these durable, welded base flanges are ideal for mounting a post to hard surfaces such as concrete. They are sized appropriately for each type of post’s base and then welded to the base. For best results, use welded flanges when the surface grade is level or near-level. Shimming can sometimes work if the surface near level. Attractive skirt covers are available to conceal the weld as well as the bolts and shims used to secure the post to the surface. An alternative is our two-piece wedge flanges for posts. Though not as strong, they can be more versatile because they enable you to cut each post on location, which can be useful in keeping the top of the fence level when the grade below fluctuates. For a durable and versatile installation without the use of flanges at all, you may want to consider coring a hole into the concrete surface and installing your posts by re-cementing. Properly executed, this can be a very effective installation approach, but we strongly recommend you contract a professional concrete cutting company to do the coring.
Category Archives: aluminum fencing
The view is better with aluminum fences!
The best attribute of Integrity™ aluminum fences is that your view is not obstructed by the fence. This means you can easily keep an eye on the pool area. Beyond your pool there may be a beautiful lake, a wooded area, or just wild flowers. Integrity™ aluminum fences let you continue to enjoy your surroundings with minimal obstruction, especially when ordered in bronze or black. When privacy is important, we recommend landscaping with natural foliage as a barrier on either side of your Integrity™ fence. Most local codes do not permit privacy fences taller than 6′, which means you’ll be boxed in while others from a distance may still be able to look in. Take a look at our extensive photo gallery and then ask yourself, ”How could a big tall plastic wall be this attractive?”
Aluminum fence shop drawings are available
Architectural shop drawings of Integrity™ Aluminum fence products are available here for download, making it convenient for architects and contractors to attach fence schematics to their plans. Homeowners too, often need to submit technical drawings of their proposed fence for local government or homeowners association approval. We make it easy!
Aluminum fence installation tips
Question from a recent aluminum fence shopper planning for his project:
We are installing a gate at the sidewalk next to our house. The sidewalk itself has a slight grade incline up from the gate. How do we deal with this issue when installing an aluminum gate?
Our answer:
Here are the potential solutions:
1. Have the gate open out and away from the incline in the opposite direction. (Gates are universal and can swing in either direction unless prohibited by code, which may be the case if this is a pool project.)
2. Set the gate and the fence higher off grade – just enough to not scrape.
3. Narrow the width of the gate so that it’s reach into the grade incline is minimized.
4. Order a gate slightly shorter than the adjacent fence. The top will then correspond to the adjacent fencing, but the bottom will not. (This will be more obvious with a flush bottom fence.)
5. Go with a classic bottom fence, then shorten gate at bottom on site as needed. At least the bottom rail will still correspond to adjacent fencing. (Note: “Classic bottom” means the vertical pickets protrude down below the lowest horizontal rail.)
This is an example of our customer service. The above answer was taken directly from one of our email correspondences. Welcome to iFenceUSA.com!
BOCA pool safety code | aluminum pool fences
Swimming Pool Fences Are Usually Subject to Strict Guidelines
Integrity Aluminum Products™ places a high priority on safety and we want you to be aware of potential hazards for children. Always remember that when a pool is involved, pool fences are subject to more restrictions for the safety of children. Please take the time to review our pool safety link.
Pool-safe Latches and Hinges for Swimming Pool Fences
Ordinary latches and hinges just don’t cut it when you are enclosing a swimming pool. The gates must be auto-closing and self-latching. Additionally, the latch mechanism that opens the gate must be positioned at least 54” above grade according to the BOCA pool safety code. This may seem to be in conflict with some fence styles that only have to be 48” tall to meet the same code that requires the latch to be 54” above grade! This rule can be satisfied with specially designed latches that attach to the gate but have a release mechanism that protrudes above the gate as needed. We carry a full line of gate latches and hinges, featured in our product gallery .
How Tall does a Pool Fence need to be?
That depends. And we’re not trying to be smart. Often, there is confusing and conflicting information about pool fence height requirements. Yes, a pool fence must be at least 48” tall. But not all 48” fences comply with this minimal requirement. Any fence that has more than 1.75” of space between vertical pickets (and most do) must then pass another hurdle: the lowest horizontal rail (some might call it a bar) must have a clearance of at least 45” from it to the top of the next higher horizontal rail. Let’s call this the 45” rule. This is to prevent children from slipping their feet between the vertical pickets and climb on the “bars”, using them like rungs on a ladder. So many fence styles with 3 horizontal rails must be taller than 48” in order to comply with the 45” rule. In fact, most flat top metal fences need to be 54” tall to comply, and most spear top fences need to be 60” tall to comply. How the bottom rail is positioned on a fence can also impact the overall height needed for compliance. For instance, a flush Bottom Rail can make the difference needed for a pool fence to comply in a slightly shorter overall height. Feel free to call us at 800-762-8876 if you need more information about whether a pool fence style complies with the B.O.C.A. pool safety code. We are happy to answer your questions.
Installation Tips for the Safety of Small Children
Keeping pool fencing a safe distance away from objects outside the pool area such as air conditioner units is addressed by the BOCA pool safety code and is almost universally enforced by inspectors. This is a good idea for the protection of children. When retaining walls are involved and it is not possible to maintain adequate clearance from the incline, consider installing your aluminum pool fence on the high ground! All of our Resort Collection™ aluminum pool fences comply with the rigid safety standards of BOCA!
Local Pool Fence Safety Codes Can Vary
While some communities have very relaxed codes, others have adopted more stringent safety laws. We recommend you review your local pool fence legal codes before ordering your aluminum pool fence, as these laws often vary from B.O.C.A. pool safety standards. If a permit is required, we recommend you obtain the permit before ordering your aluminum fence. Often, a neighborhood association may have restrictions as well. Sometimes, these restrictions are in conflict with the local government codes and this needs to be worked out (usually, government trumps the neighborhood). We provide the fence specifications you need to determine B.O.C.A. code compliance, but we don’t guarantee compliance with your local laws so it is important that you do your homework to determine what local codes you will be subject to, whether government- or association-initiated.
More Information about Swimming Pool Fencing
Visit is at iFenceUSA.com to learn more.
How to buy a metal gate in the right size
When planning to install a metal (or any) gate over a concrete walkway, keep in mind that the gate needs to be wide enough so that you are able to install the gate posts on each side of the concrete, therefore, we recommend leaving yourself a little extra space. For instance, if you are going to want a 48-inch wide gate, an ideal limit for the width of your walkway is 45 inches. Pavers can be more forgiving, but it’s still better to plan for success .
With pools, the fence is often ordered in advance of the installation of the concrete, so you’ll want to go over this point with the concrete installers. Don’t assume anything! Talking about these details with your concrete professional will ensure the success of your project!
If the concrete has already been poured and the walkway is wider than the the gates typically available from metal fence suppliers, relax! A metal gate can be very cost effectively welded in the specific size you need!
One more thing, when hugging the concrete with your pool fence, there is a key point to remember. Where the walkway meets the pool deck it is common for the concrete’s corner transition to curve rather than abruptly turn 90 degrees. This means that your 45-inch wide walkway is going to flare out just where you intend to put your gate posts and your gate is rendered too narrow. This type of mistake will probably delay the completion of the installation and likely cost you more money! Don’t let this happen to you! This issue is resolved in one of two ways: by narrowing the walkway or, by buying a wider gate. Advise your contractor of your decision! Of course, at times, attaching posts to concrete by use of welded flanges is another possibility but this, too, needs to be planned out.
Our FAQ link addresses these circumstances and the best way to plan for success! If you have unanswered questions, SmartTools™ are excellent and easy-to-understand resources. Or, you may prefer to call us and ask us directly. We welcome that approach and are here to serve you!
How to plan for a swimming pool safety fence
When considering a new swimming pool, it is very important to plan ahead for a safety fence to protect children from the possibility of accidental drowning. For instance, swimming pools can be enclosed by a fence surrounding the pool while totally detached from your house or other “pass through” structure. Another plan is to use the house itself as a partial barrier, with fencing extending out from it to enclose the pool area and then terminating back at the house. The latter plan may comply with your local community pool safety codes (usually with alarms on all points of entry into the pool area from within the house), but it is our considered opinion that a separately enclosed pool area offers children a greater degree of protection. A child that “slips” outside would still have another layer to get through.
We encourage you to thoughtfully plan for the safety of children, not only your own but also others who may visit, and make decisions based on what you think is best, and the governing laws in your community. These laws, or codes, often comply with what is known as the BOCA pool fence safety standard. Some communities offer more relaxed versions of this standard while others demand more stringent standards. Usually, you can find out what the laws in your community are by simply getting on line and searching the name of your county, township or city along with “pool code” or “building code.” If this doesn’t work, call the appropriate government office directly and ask for a copy of the code. Additionally, it is a very good idea to see if you have a neighborhood association and whether this association has additional binding requirements.
At iFenceUSA.com, we specialize in pool fence designs that comply with the BOCA code for pool safety. We can also modify fences, as needed, for more stringent requirements. Please visit our link on pool safety to learn more about the BOCA pool safety standard. You can also call us for compliance assistance. We are happy to review any document you provide us with, as well as supply you with architectural drawings that give detailed dimensions of our products. These can be very useful as governing authorities often require this information at the time permit(s) are pulled for your project.
We cordially invite you to put our experience to work for you. No pressure, just good old-fashioned service. No kidding.
Learn how to order an aluminum fence with Integrity™ SmartTools™
Integrity Aluminum knows exactly what you need to know to execute a successful fence project strategy. Our SmartTools™ link offers a complete how-to guide to buying aluminum fencing. Accept our invitation to ”pick our brains” by using the smartest consumer information tools in the business, SmartTools!™ Our goal is to provide you with detailed information for every process, but our level of direct involvement is dictated by you. We are happy to guide you along the way or we can step aside while you take the reins!
Small Dog Fences
Beautiful aluminum fences are typically made with vertical pickets just shy of 4 inches apart. This spacing is common largely due to pool codes which demand a gap between pickets of no more than 4 inches. Originally, aluminum fencing was a great rust-free alternative to wrought iron ornamental fencing. Then, it really took off as a popular swimming pool safety fence. Small dogs, however, can often slip in between the vertical pickets. Our answer is Puppy Pickets™, which means that the lowest part of the fence has about twice as many vertical pickets, spaced under 2 inches apart so your little pup can’t escape. This smart feature can be added to any of our 18 styles of gorgeous maintenance-free aluminum fencing. Get a visual of the different configurations of Puppy Pickets™ in our interactive iDesign Fence Studio™.
Interactive Fence Design Studio allows you to visualize your fence!
Integrity Aluminum Products™ proudly presents this interactive and exciting way to explore and visualize fencing and railing possibilities for your home! Choose from a wide selection of styles, landscapes, colors, gate options, post caps, and other designer accents. Whether your goal is security, landscape enhancement, or pool safety, iDesign Studio™ is a powerful tool to assist you in your decision-making process.
To launch iDesign™ Fence Studio, simply click iDesign Studio™ and you’ll soon be able to visualize your perfect fence or railing in a front or back yard setting. You will love it! Integrity™ means Fences Without Limits!™