Fencing Posts & Stays

Fencing Posts & Stays buying guide

Veldkraft lists 48 fencing posts & stays, priced from R12 to R1 651, from brands including Barnes. Orders are delivered to all nine provinces and to Namibia, Botswana, Zimbabwe, Mozambique, Lesotho and Eswatini.

Which posts does a wire fence need?

A wire fence needs strong corner and straining posts at ends and changes of direction, stays to brace them, line posts or Y-standards along the run, and steel droppers between posts to keep the wires evenly spaced. Veldkraft lists fencing posts in light and medium duty, along with Y-standard steel fence posts, stays, square posts and droppers, so you can plan each part of the fence line from one category.

Y-standards for straight runs

Y-standard steel fence posts are driven into the ground along straight runs, which makes them quick to put up without concrete. They are listed in 1.8 m, 2.4 m and 3.0 m lengths, including a 2.4 m version with holes. Choose the length as the fence height plus the depth you will drive the post, and drive deeper in soft or sandy soil. Use a proper post driver and wear eye and ear protection.

Corner posts and stays carry the strain

Corner and straining posts take the full pull of tensioned wire, so use heavier posts there and brace each with a stay. Corner posts are listed in a 2.4 m medium-duty size, and stays in 2.4 m lengths with a painted finish. Set corner posts in concrete and angle the stay from high on the post down to a solid footing, so the strain pushes the stay into the ground instead of pulling the post over.

Steel droppers keep wires spaced

Steel droppers are tied to the wires between posts to hold the spacing and stop animals pushing strands apart, which allows posts to be spaced further apart. Droppers are listed in lengths of 1.2 m, 1.25 m, 1.4 m, 1.85 m and 2.45 m, and some listings give the weight per dropper as a guide to how stiff it is. Choose a length close to your fence height, and tie droppers on with soft galvanised tying wire.

Square posts and veranda columns

Square steel posts suit boundary fences, gate surrounds and light structures where a neat finish matters. They are listed in 76 mm sections at 1.8 m and 2.4 m, in powder-coated (PC) and hot-dip galvanised (HDG) finishes, along with a 3000 mm, 76 mm square veranda column with a 1.6 mm wall. Hot-dip galvanising suits wet or coastal sites, while a powder-coated finish should be touched up wherever it is chipped.

Y-bar for concrete work

Y-bar is high-yield steel reinforcing bar, listed in 6 m lengths in diameters that include 5.6 mm, 8 mm and 16 mm. It is commonly used to reinforce concrete footings and bases, including the concrete around corner and gate posts. Choose the diameter the job's design calls for, keep bars covered by enough concrete to stop rust, and wear gloves and eye protection when cutting and bending.

Fencing Posts & Stays: common questions

How far apart should fence posts be?

Spacing depends on the wire type, tension, terrain and the animals you keep, so there is no single figure. High-strain fences with steel droppers allow wider post spacing than slack or mesh fences. Add posts at dips, rises and bends, and always use braced straining posts at corners, gates and on long straight runs.

How many steel droppers do I need?

Fix the post spacing first, then decide how many droppers go between each pair of posts based on your wire spacing and the animals you keep. Multiply droppers per panel by the number of panels in the fence line. Sheep and goat fences generally need closer dropper spacing than cattle fences, because smaller animals push between wires more easily.

What is the difference between a post and a stay?

A post stands upright and carries the fence wires. A stay is a brace set at an angle against a corner or straining post to stop the pull of tensioned wire from leaning it over. Stays are used at corners, gates, fence ends and along long straight runs wherever wires are strained.

How deep should a fence post go?

Deep enough to resist the load. Corner and straining posts carry the most force and are usually set deepest, often in concrete, while Y-standards are driven along the line. Soft, sandy or wet soil needs more depth than firm ground. Buy a post length equal to the fence height plus the depth you plan to set it.

How much do fencing posts cost in South Africa?

Veldkraft lists 48 fencing posts, stays, droppers and related steel items priced from R12 to R1 651. Price depends on length, section, wall thickness and finish: short droppers cost least, Y-standards and line posts sit in the middle, and square galvanised posts, veranda columns and heavier items cost more.

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