How to Install a Fence Mounted to Concrete (A Better Approach)

This post will show you how to mount a privacy fence to a concrete slab…

…by using a metal frame fence kit that’s perfect for residential or commercial property owners.

This fence kit is being used by thousands across the nation to create unique fence designs from wood to bamboo to metal, vinyl & more.

So let’s get right to it.

Rooftop Horizontal Wood Metal Fence

When You Need to Install a Fence in Concrete

The reasons why you want to install your fence in or on concrete may vary…

But they usually fall into one of a few common scenarios. Maybe you want to:

Mount your fence on the edge of an existing concrete pad
Mount your fence on top of a retaining wall
Create a privacy screen on a concrete patio or courtyard
Create a privacy screen around pool pumps, HVAC, or utility equipment
Add a perimeter fence around a commercial property
Add a fence that sits adjacent to an exisiting concrete slab or pool deck

Or, maybe you just want to eliminate of the hassle of weedeating under under the privacy fence around your house.

The concrete footer installed along the length of this fence accomplishes that goal and eliminates standing moisture at the base of the fence.

Beautiful Horizontal Privacy Fence

If you’re mounting a fence to concrete, you’ll want to use metal fence posts.

While some companies make metal post brackets to mount wood posts to concrete, a privacy fence built with metal posts can outlast a wood fence by decades.

Leaning Privacy Fence

You’ve seen fences like this.

This fence is not leaning…

The wood posts have actually broken off at the ground, and the entire fence will need to be replaced.

This a fairly common occurrence for privacy fences built with wooden posts. Most of these types of fences only last 7 to 10 years.

Now, let’s take a look at some better options for building a fence mounted to concrete.

Surface Mount Fence Post With Anchor Bolts

If you have an existing concrete slab, and you want to mount fence posts directly to the slab, you can use metal fence posts with base plates.

Sometimes called anchor plates, a base plate is essentially a flat metal plate at the bottom of your fence post.

The plate includes holes, through which you can install drilled concrete anchor bolts to hold the fence post in place.

Here is an example.

Surface Mount Fence Post Base Plate With Anchor Bolts

Metal base plates are welded to the bottom of each post.

Holes are drilled into the concrete with a hammer drill. Finally, each base plate is secured to the concrete using concrete anchor bolts.

If your application does support the use of anchors, you can consider core drilled holes.

Core Drill Holes Through Concrete

When installing a fence on an existing concrete pad, some fence installers prefer to core drill through the concrete and set posts the traditional way – embedded in concrete underground.

Using a rented core drill, you can drill a hole through your concrete slab for each fence post.

Core Drilled Metal Fence Post

After drilling through your concrete, you’d set the posts similarly to how you set posts in soil – pouring concrete around the bottom of the post and finishing the concrete flush with your existing slab.

This video shows how a core drill works.

If you don’t yet have a concrete slab in place, you may use a third option.

Set Posts Then Pour Concrete Slab or Footing

You can pre-set your posts prior to pouring your concrete slab, then pour the slab or footing around the posts.

This can be a useful option if you are pouring a footing underneath the length of your fence.

Or if you are building a fence adjacent to an existing concrete slab.

Poured In Place Metal Fence Post in Concrete

When installing a fence onto concrete, the method chosen depends on your current slab situation and how you want the finished result to look.

Now, let’s take a look at how you can build a custom fence with the exact design you want.

A Better Way to Build a Custom Fence

Perimtec offers a system that is changing how fences are built.

Our system combines the strength advantages of steel with the infill material of your choice to create a fence that is as unique as your property.

A patented fence panel system…

…that utilizes a U-channel frame between metal fence posts to hold fence infill materials securely in place.

FenceTrac Commercial Privacy Fence Under Construction

Side channels are attached to each metal post with self-tapping screws, and top and bottom channels attach to the side channels with bolts.

Simple assembly… this system requires no nails and no screws to securely hold your fence pickets in place.

Here’s how it works.

FenceTrac Assembly Diagram

Our steel channel fence frame can accommodate infill materials up to 1-inch thick.

Finally, you can build a fence that does not warp.

And the system works especially well to build a horizontal fence.

You simply slide your fence materials into the fence frame for a secure & finished look.

Perimtec fence systems offer the strength of steel fence posts combined with a steel fence frame. A fence that can stand strong for decades.

In addition to complete fence systems, we offer gate kits for fence gates or yard gates that can be mounted to masonry fences, stucco, concrete or block walls.

This fence system opens up a world of possibilities in terms of fence design. So, if your looking to mount your fence to concrete, go head and expand the options of what you can do with your fence.

With our system, we’ve seen fences built out of a wide variety of materials: slatted wood, wood & iron, welded wire, cattle panels, reclaimed wood, corrugated metal, ribbed metal, stone veneer panels, brick veneer panels, bamboo, wrought iron, hardie board, metal screen, wood rails, black slats, white slats, metal sheets, metal panels, perforated metal, etched metal, lattice, wood pallets, barn wood, vinyl, composite, PVC.

Here are several photos to show you various fences mounted to concrete slabs or walls.