R-Panel Metal Fence Installation in East Texas

R-panel is the ribbed metal sheeting you see on barns and metal roofs all over East Texas. Turned vertical and hung on a fence frame, it makes the most solid privacy fence we build: no gaps, no boards to rot, no stain to keep up, and a surface that takes a pressure washer without complaint. It is a common choice for equipment and storage yards, dumpster and mechanical screening, back property lines on rural lots, and for homeowners who want full privacy and are done with wood.

Where R-panel fits

Full privacy and wind block along a road, a neighboring business or an open field.
Equipment, storage and commercial yards that need screening and a fence that shrugs off abuse. See commercial fencing.
Dumpster and mechanical enclosures. See dumpster enclosures.
Noise, where a solid panel between a yard and a road makes a real difference.
Matching a metal building, so the fence and the shop share a color and a look.

Frame and panels

The panels are only as good as the frame behind them. We build R-panel fence two ways. A steel frame uses pipe or square tubing posts set in concrete with horizontal rails welded or bolted on; it is the longest-lasting option and the one we use for commercial work. A treated wood frame uses heavy treated posts and rails, which lowers the cost and gives a warmer look, especially with a cedar cap and trim. Either way the posts go deep in concrete, because a solid fence catches every bit of wind that an open fence lets through.

Panels are 26- or 29-gauge Galvalume or painted steel in the standard barn and roof colors, fastened with color-matched screws and neoprene washers. Panels are hung vertically with the ribs plumb, overlapped one rib, and trimmed at the top with a cap or a wood rail so there is no sharp edge.

Heights and gates

Six feet is the usual residential height; eight feet is common on commercial yards. Gates are framed in steel so they stay square under the weight of the panel and hung on heavy posts. Wide double-drive gates for trailers and equipment are standard on commercial jobs, and openers can be added.

The Texas Rural Fence longhorn mascot carrying a roll of fence

Wind matters on a solid fence. An open fence lets a storm through; a solid one takes the full load. That is why our R-panel posts go deeper and closer together than on a chain link fence of the same height, and why we will not build it on a light frame to hit a lower price.

Upkeep

Rinse or pressure wash it when it gets dusty. Check the screws every few years and replace any with a tired washer. If a panel is ever damaged, it unscrews and a new one goes in. Compared with a wood privacy fence of the same size, the lifetime cost is hard to beat, which is the whole argument for it.

What affects the price of R-panel fence

The frame is most of it. A steel frame on pipe posts costs more than a treated wood frame and lasts longer. Height adds panel and posts; eight feet adds deeper footings for the wind. Color-matched trim and a cedar cap dress it up and add a little. Gates framed in steel are the other variable, and a wide double-drive gate is a real line item. We price the whole fence on site, and if you are comparing it with a wood privacy fence we will price both.

Frequently asked questions

What is R-panel?

R-panel is the ribbed steel sheeting used on metal roofs and barns. Hung vertically on a fence frame it makes a solid, long-lasting privacy fence that does not rot, warp or need staining.

Is an R-panel fence loud in the wind or rain?

Rain on it sounds like rain on a metal roof, which most people stop noticing. Properly fastened to a stiff frame it does not rattle. A fence built on a flimsy frame will, which is why we frame it heavy.

Can R-panel be combined with wood?

Yes, and it is a popular look: treated or cedar posts and rails with metal panels between them, or a wood cap and trim over the panels. It softens the industrial look while keeping the metal's lifespan.