H-Brace Wiring Question

[meloout831]

I recently spread wood posts to 160 ft. and finished building my H-Braces. When I wired both sets of braces, I ended up installing the diagonal wire towards same direction (left post, wire at bottom - right post, wire on top). will this hurt my fence over time? Is there a need for the diagonal wires facing opposite directions (H-Brace 1: like picture below; H-Brace 2: left post, top wire; right post, bottom wire)? Both H-Braces were installed as the picture below (identical - see wire setup). I hope I'm not confusing anyone.

Thanks.

 

[greybeard]

Are we talking about a straight line fence with an H at each end--or a fence corner, with 2 H 90 degrees perpendicular to each other?

If straight line, this would be correct:

 

[meloout831]

Yes, greybeard! It's a straight line fence, H at each end... I do not have the H's like your picture. Both H's were installed the same like my image posted. Should I fix it before stretching wire? Or, will it be OK if I leave it the way it is? Thanks!!!

 

[Bruce]

I'm no expert but I would reverse the one that is wrong, as shown by @greybeard. The purpose of the brace wire is to keep the wire fence from pulling the top of the "inside" post toward the fence line. If you have it reversed it isn't doing anything of value and the post will be pulled in a direction you don't want. This of course ASSUMES you plan to put a fair bit of tension on the fencing as most people do to keep it tight. If you are just attaching it hand tight, it won't matter. But then you wouldn't need the "outside" post either.

 

[greybeard]

Yes, greybeard! It's a straight line fence, H at each end... I do not have the H's like your picture. Both H's were installed the same like my image posted. Should I fix it before stretching wire? Or, will it be OK if I leave it the way it is? Thanks!!!

Yes, you should fix it before stretching the wire, and it's easy enough to do. Leave both the diagonal wires just as they are, but add one diagonal wire in the opposite configuration to the end that is wrong, forming an 'X' on that particular end. I sometimes do the 'X' if a gate is installed in the middle of a straight run. When done, your fence should look like this:

How I sometimes do the diagonals if the 'H' is in the middle of a run or if a gate is in the middle of a run--this ensures there is no post movement in either direction:

 

[meloout831]

Thank you so much!!! I will definitely, do the "X" as there will be a 4ft. gate to hang. I'm so glad you guys responded. I like doing things right! I have not done fencing in a while and had my doubts. Thanks again, and for for the images.

 

[kevytj]

Thank you so much!!! I will definitely, do the "X" as there will be a 4ft. gate to hang. I'm so glad you guys responded. I like doing things right! I have not done fencing in a while and had my doubts. Thanks again, and for for the images.

Hey thanks for posing the question. The answers above from @greybeard helped my questions regarding the gate in the middle of the run as well

Thanks guys

 

[kevytj]

Yes, you should fix it before stretching the wire, and it's easy enough to do. Leave both the diagonal wires just as they are, but add one diagonal wire in the opposite configuration to the end that is wrong, forming an 'X' on that particular end. I sometimes do the 'X' if a gate is installed in the middle of a straight run. When done, your fence should look like this:
View attachment 22945

How I sometimes do the diagonals if the 'H' is in the middle of a run or if a gate is in the middle of a run--this ensures there is no post movement in either direction:
View attachment 22948

Helpful. Thank you.

 

[farmerjan]

Welcome to the forum @kevytj ... fencing "answers are timeless. You responded to a thread that is 8 years old, but the information is timeless...

Tell us about your operation/farm/homestead.... and please go to your name top right, down to account details and down to location and put in something like state or general area... things are different in East Texas to West Texas, and from @SageHill out in CA to those of us here in Va.... it helps when some questions are more specific to the area... and we like to hear from everyone from different places... @Alaskan just shared pictures of his pond that the ice just finally left....

 

[R2elk]

Thank you so much!!! I will definitely, do the "X" as there will be a 4ft. gate to hang. I'm so glad you guys responded. I like doing things right! I have not done fencing in a while and had my doubts. Thanks again, and for for the images.

I do the X on all of my H braces.