Whether you're installing a new security fence to surround a dangerous industrial site, a commercial building full of valuables or your own home, the materials you choose are integral to how much security your fence provides and how difficult it is to bypass. This applies to the fence posts as much as the fencing panels themselves, and your security fence should be held up with strong, sturdy posts that cannot easily be bent, broken or wrenched out of the ground.
For this reason, most security fences are held in place with fence posts made of solid steel, and the many advantages provided by this enormously durable metal make it easy to see why. However, steel fence posts also have a couple of drawbacks associated with their use, so you should take the time to familiarise yourself with the pros and cons of steel fence posts before using them in your new security fence.
What are the advantages of choosing steel fence posts?
Strength
A fence made of the strongest, most secure materials available can still be bypassed with ease if the posts that hold it up can be easily bent or broken. Choosing steel fence posts is one of the best ways to ensure your fence cannot be toppled easily, and can even withstand ramming from heavy vehicles as long as they are properly installed.
Durability
Steel fence posts are as durable and long-lasting as you would expect, and will last for many years without losing any of their vital strength or structural integrity as long as they are well protected from rust. Unlike timber fence posts, they are immune to rot, fungal decay and attacks by wood-boring insects such as termites.
Looks
Steel fence posts aren't exactly conventionally attractive, but they do have an unmistakably strong and impassable appearance, especially when left easily visible behind chain link fencing. This formidable appearance often prevents potential intruders from even attempting to bypass a security fence fitted with steel posts, saving you the cost of repairing the damage they may otherwise cause.
Easy maintenance
Depending on the treatments used to protect them against mould and termites, timber fence posts will need to have these treatments reapplied periodically (in some cases every year), a time-consuming process that may necessitate temporary removal of your posts. Steel fence posts, on the other hand, require very little maintenance, as even the cheapest rustproof coatings can be expected to last for several years.
What about the disadvantages of choosing steel fence posts?
Rust concerns
Rust is the main disadvantage of using steel in any outdoor capacity, and is a particular concern for fence posts that spend their working lives partially buried in moist earth. However, rustproof coatings are inexpensive and effective, and some (such as powder coatings) can last for years or even decades before they need to be renewed.
Cost
Steel fence posts are also more expensive than timber fence posts, although steel merchants will often provide significant discounts for bulk orders.