Building a better fence with metal

I read with interest your article about building fences [“Nailing Down the Details,” June 23].

I had two wooden post fences rot at the posts and fall over a couple of years ago. Not wishing to repeat the problem, I decided to engineer a better fence, and I think I did so.

Basically, I put in metal poles in concrete. I then used galvanized straps to hold the rails (treated wood).

Then I attached the fence boards, which hide the metal poles.

One can make a “good neighbor fence” by using double rails and then putting boards up on both sides.

Putting wood in the ground, no matter how treated it might be, always leads to the same conclusion: rot. Then an otherwise good fence falls over. That’s why I think metal is a better option.

Ed Garren

West Hollywood

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