Glossary of Definitions A - Z

 

Aluminum fence and gate shopping, ordering and installation is easy. 
These definitions are here to assist you in your order processing/installation:
 

2- horizontal rail (or 2 rail) vs. 3 horizontal rail (or 3 rail) comparison - In GRADE 1: Residential and GRADE 2 - Reside-Wide, 2 rail configurations are only available in fencing/gate systems up to 4 feet high.  Moving to 54 inch height fencing and gate system (or higher) in these 2 grades will require you to have, at minimum, a 3 horizontal rail (or 3 rail) configuration.  6 foot high fencing and gates in GRADE 1: Residential and GRADE 2: Reside-Wide, similarly, requires you to have a 4 horizontal rail (or 4 RAIL) configuration. 

NOTE:  STYLE 3, STYLE 7 and STYLE 8 are never available with only 2 horizontal rails because of the style type.

*Sample comparison showing the difference between a 2 horizontal rail (or 2 rail) configuration and a 3 horizontal rail (or 3 rail) fence panel configuration.  The following picture illustrates this difference on our STYLE 9.

A

Aluminum Railing - a separate product from our 4 grades of fencing/gate systems.  This product (available in black, white or bronze) has a beautiful flaired out, curved top horizontal rail.  Aluminum railing is a gorgeous product and is typically used for balconies decks and porches.

 

B

Back Plate - is a rectangular (painted) piece of cast aluminum and is used in conjunction with self-closing hinges in order to surface mount a gate to a column without using posts.  The back plate fits together with the self-closing hinge and gives the gate hinge a flat surface so that you can mount your single-swing gate or double-swing gate to a house, building or column.  NOTE:  Wide Commercial and Industrial single-gates wider than 6 feet and double-gates wider than 12 feet include Heavy Duty gate hinges.  Heavy Duty hinges already include a flat surface mountable piece and therefore you will not need a back plate for these larger, wider gates.

BOCA - is a swimming pool fence code that many but not all jurisdictions follow when it comes to pool fencing. 

Blank Post - is a four-sided post with no holes punched.  Typically used for stair-stepping fence panels on a hill or slope.

Breadloaf - is a term used to describe the shape of the top rail on our Aluminum Hand Railing product (not our 4 grades of fencing).  This special, flared out top rail is curved and perfect for residential or commercial porches, decks, ramps or balconies.

 

C

Clearance - is a term we use to describe the spacing that is between the bottom of your fence panel and/or gates....and the ground.  Clearance is important for many reasons:

     1.  A lot of people will ask us how far their posts need to go into the ground (for "in ground" applications only).  Well, that depends upon how much clearance you decide that you want for your fencing and gate system.  Let's say, for example, that you have a 48 inch high fencing and gate system that you are ordering.  The recommended length of the posts you will need for this configuration is 70 inches.  Therefore, if you have a 48 inch high fence/gate system and you decide on 2 inches of clearance (typical), then your posts will go into the ground approximately 20 inches.  One of the many benefits of our fencing and gate system design is that we do not need to what clearance you want;  you can decide this on-site after you have received your product shipment.
     2.  Clearance also comes into play when ordering Welded Plates for a "Deck Mount" application; that is, when you will be mounting posts on top of an existing deck vs. inserting them into the ground.  Because our posts are pre-punched for fence panel insertion, you must tell us (during checkout in the Customer Notes text box) how much clearance you will need so that we can fabricate your Welded Plated posts properly in advance.  Please note that you are only required to opt for Welded Plates (vs. deck mounts) when the height of your fencing/gate system is higher than 4 feet. 

     The Customer Notes text box is available in Part 3 of 4 of the checkout process:

Corner Post - a post that is prepunched on 2 adjacent sides so that you can easily insert 2 fence panels at a 90 degree turn.

Custom Gates - are gates that have a non-standard height or width.  Unlike our fence panels (which have set widths), we can fabricate any of our gates to whatever width opening you need.  It's also easy to order custom-width gates on our website.  Just add the next higher-up standard width gate to your shopping cart.  When checking out, you will see a Customer Notes text box during the checkout process (prior to placing your order).  All you need to do is WRITE what width you would like your gate fabricated to.  See also DLO.

 

D

Deck Mount - is a separate product that is used in conjunction with our posts in order to mount the post on top of a deck.  Deck mounts are only available for fencing and gate systems up to 4 feet high.  Deck Mounts can be ordered separately OR along with your posts as you are adding your posts to your shopping cart.

DLO - Daylight Opening Measurement.  This is the measurement between 2 structures.  Typically used when ordering a custom gate, the DLO is the measurement between 2 existing structures.  Let's say you have 2 columns already built on your property and the exact spacing between these 2 columns is 11 feet 4 inches.  Well, you would want to add a 12 foot wide gate to your shopping cart and then specify in the Customer Notes text box (during checkout) that you would like this gate to be fabricated down to fit within an 11 foot, 4 inch opening (or DLO).

Double Punched - is a service/process that we can do to some or all of your fence panels (not gates) in order to allow the fence panel to flex or "rack" more than the standard 6 or 7 inches per panel.  We are basically over-punching the holes where the vertical pickets go through the horizontal rails to allow the fence panel to have more room to flex or "rack" on-site during installation for a larger hill or slope (around 28 to 30 degree slope).

Designer Arch - an optional gate (not fence panel) configuration whereby during the fabrication process we add a gorgeous arch to the top horizontal rail(s) of any single-swing or double-swing gate.  Our most popular upgrade for our residential clientele, designer arches add height as you move to the middle of any single-swing or double-swing gate.

Dog Panel - is an optional add-on whereby we fabricate extra, short, vertical pickets into your fence panels or gates. STYLES 1 through 6 and 9 only.

 

E - F

Finials - are cast aluminum (not cheap plastic) ornamental decorations that can be installed on top of all of your vertical pickets or post caps.  We carry 2 types of aluminum finals (Type A and Type B).  Finials are only for fence panels, single-gates and/or double gates in STYLE 1, STYLE 2, STYLE 3, STYLE 5, STYLE 6, and STYLE 8.  You can add Decorative Finials to your fence panel or gate within the product page just prior to adding your product(s) to your shopping cart.

Fleur-de-lis - one of 2 types of decorative finials that we offer.  The other type is the Quad.  Made of painted cast premium aluminum and guaranteed not to fade or rust for as long as you own them.  Lifetime warranty coverage just like all of our other products.

 

G

Gate Hinge - We carry 2 different types of gate hinges.  Self-closing gate hinges which are automatically included with any single-gate (up to 6 feet wide) or double-gate (up to 12 feet wide) purchase.  Our Heavy Duty gate hinge is automatically included with any single-gates (wider than 6 feet) or double gates (wider than 12 feet).

Gate Hinge Back Plate - a rectangular (painted) piece of cast aluminum used in conjunction with self-closing hinges to mount the gate hinge to a flat structure (vs. a post) like a wall, building, house or column.

Gate Operator - a motorized device used to automate the opening and closing of our single gates and double gates.  We do not sell gate operators; however, almost every gate operator available in the U.S. market will work with our gates.  We recommend Elite and Mightymule.

Grade - refers to the size and dimensions of our fencing and gate products.  We have 4 different grades with the same 9 styles in each grade.  As you move up in grade you first move to a much larger horizontal rail and then (with Grade 3 and Grade 4) you will also see larger vertical pickets.

H

Horizontal Rail - sometimes referred to as the "stringer", is the rail spanning the entire width of any fence panel, single-gate, double gate or aluminum railing panel or gate. 

HD Hinge - Heavy Duty Gate Hinge.  Automatically included with your purchase of any single-swing gate wider than 6' and/or double-gate wider than 12'.  Narrower gates include our Self-Closing gate hinges.

Heavy Duty Gate Hinge - a stronger, heavier gate hinge automatically included with any purchase of a single-swing gate WIDER than 6 feet or double-swing gate WIDER than 12 feet.
 

 

I

In ground - a term used to describe one of the ways in which you can install a post.  This type of fence/gate application requires you to use cement to set the posts. 

 

J

J-Bolt - part of the Heavy Duty gate hinge.  The J-Bolt goes through your gate upright and is bolted to support the gate.
 

 

K - L

Line Post - A post pre-punched in advance for you to accept 2 fence panels in a straight run.

Locinox - an optional gate lock.

 

M

Magna Lock - is a special, child safety gate lock (required by BOCA) that can be installed on any of our single-swing gates and double-swing gates.

Middle Rail Hand Rail Mounts - this is a product only needed for a 3 horizontal rail configuration for our Aluminum Railing Product (not to be used with our 4 grades of fencing/gates).  You can order this mount for straight connections, vertical connections (for stairs) and horizontal connections for non-90 degree turns.

 

N

Non-90 degree turn - is a turn or angle in any fence run.  For 90 degree turns, Corner Posts can be used. 

 

O

On-Center Spacing Chart - a helpful chart which shows you the width measurement of 1 aluminum fence panel (from the center of 1 post to the center of another post) after the panel has been inserted and set into both posts.  This chart is helpful in showing you how far apart to dig your fence panel post holes for in-ground applications.

Online Store - the product pages on this website where you can add items to your shopping cart and then checkout and place an order.

 

P

Prepunched Posts - all of our posts (except for Blank Posts) are pre-punched based upon the location of the post AND your specific fence panel configuration.  This makes for an incredible streamlined installation.  For example, a Line Post is pre-punched on 2 opposite sides of a 4 sided post so that you can easily insert and install two fence panels in a straight run.

Post Cap Finials - are an optional product that you can use to dress up your posts.  All of our posts automatically include a standard post cap.  This product, however, is an additional cost and is very popular for higher end homes.  There are 2 types:  Type "A" (Quad) and Type "B" (Fleur-de-lis).

 

Q

Quad Finial - 1 of the 2 types of decorative ornaments that can be added to the top of your fence panel or gate vertical pickets (in lieu of the standard Pressed Spears).

Quick Ship - We carry 5 fence panel configurations in Grade 1: Residential (only) that are so popular, we have them in stock.  All other orders are made to order and are put "in line" for fabrication.  Matching gates (no arch) and posts can also be included and still qualify.  However, there are restrictions:  Matching single gates must only be 4 feet wide and matching double gates can only be 8 feet wide.  Also, you cannot include any designer arched gates, welded plated posts, dog panel option or rings.  Adding any of these options will take your order out of Quick Ship and will have to go through the normal fabrication process and lead time.

 

R

Reverse Arch - the opposite of a designer arch.  This arch loses height as you move towards the middle of the gate.  Reverse arches are not available in our seucre, online store at this time.  Therefore, you would need to telephone us to order.

Rack - to shift or flex.  This term applies to our fence panels (not gates) which have the ability to be shifted on site to follow the contour of a slight slope, medium slope or steep slope or stairs.  The homeowner/business owner or installer has the ability to do this on site prior to installation.  Racking is but one of many benefits to using our products; we have a fencing system that gives you the ability to install our fence panels on a hill or slope.

Rings - ornamental circles that are fabricated into some of our fence and gate styles.

 

S

Single Gates - Gates that hinge off of 1 post, column, or building.  Single gates include 2 gate hinges, hardware and a standard gate latch.

SC Hinge - Self Closing gate hinge.  Automatically included with your purchase of any single-gate up to 6'wide and/or double-gate up to 12'wide.  Wider gates include our Heavy Duty gate hinge.

Stair-step - a type of fence panel installation on a hill or slope.  Basically, you are connecting 2 fence panels to a post at different height.  We recommend using Blank Posts along with Wall Mounts to accomplish this.  Connecting each panel to the post by mounting the panel onto the post (vs. inserting the panel for straight runs) allows the installer the latitude of making connection decisions on-site without any placement issues.

Sunburst Designer Arch - an optional gate (not fence panel) configuration whereby during the fabrication process we add a gorgeous arch to the top horizontal rail(s) of any single-swing or double-swing gate. 

 

 

T

T-Posts - are prepunched in advance for you so that you can easily insert 3 panels perpendicular to one another.

Type "A" Arbor - also known as a single arbor.  Arbors are you used to accentuate gates to enhance the entrance/exit to your property.

Type "B" Arbor - also known as a double-enclosed arbor.  Arbors are you used to accentuate gates to enhance the entrance/exit to your property.

Type "A" Finial - also known as a quad finial.  These are optional, painted, cast aluminum add-ons to the top of any exposed vertical pickets on fence panels and gates.

Type "B" Finial - also known as a fleur-de-lis finial.  These are optional, painted, cast aluminum add-ons to the top of any exposed vertical pickets on fence panels and gates.

 

U - V

Vertical Swivel Mounts - special mounts that allow you to attach a triple-punched, "racked" fence panel to a post. 

Vertical Picket - the vertical members that make up each fence panel or gate. 

 

W

Wall Mounts - mounts that allow you to attach one end of a fence panel to a column, house, building or existing structure in lieu of inserting it into a post.

Welded Plate Post - an optional item whereby we fabricate a flange (square piece of cast aluminum) on the bottom of a post with 4 pre-drilled holes.  This is for applications that require you to mount your posts on top of an existing deck (wood, cement....etc.). 
If you have an application where you are using welded plated posts AND regular posts (going into the ground), always begin your installation with the welded plated posts because that will set the template for the height for your entire fencing and gate project.  You cannot modify welded plated posts on-site but you can modify/cut down regular posts on-site that are going into the ground.

WAVE Designer Arch - an optional gate (not fence panel) configuration whereby during the fabrication process we add a gorgeous arch to the top horizontal rail(s) of any single-swing or double-swing gate. 

 

XYZ

 

*Single Gates and Double Gates will match the rail configuration that you choose for your fence panels.