You don’t have to pay someone for building a fence. With these tools and instructions, you can start and finish it by yourself.
Required Tools and Materials
Hammer
Saw
Nails or screws
Treated lumber
Concrete mix
Hole digger
Stakes
Blueprint or sketch layout of fence
Water resister (optional)
Make a detailed sketch of the fence. This will give you an idea of how many fencing materials are needed. This will also determine the lumber size needed. For a 6 ft long fence, 10’ 4 x 4 lumber will be suitable.
Step 2
Use the stakes to mark the areas where you will set the posts.
Step 3
Dig holes in the areas marked by the posts. A hole 2 ½ to 3 feet deep will be sufficient. Pour the concrete into the hole. The digging depths given will make it resistant to rot. It will also prevent frost heaving.
The post increments are up to you. Most would recommend 6 foot increments. You can also set it to 8 feet, but the wood may sag.
Step 4
Put the post in the hole with the concrete. When building a fence, you can also put the posts in before pouring the concrete. Assess the plumb and level of the post. It must be level on all the sides. Make sure the concrete is thick. At this point, you should still be able to adjust the post if needed.
Step 5
Repeat the step above for all the posts.
Step 6
Give the concrete time to dry. This will vary per concrete product, but most require 48 hours. Note: if you don’t want to use concrete, pack the post’s surrounding area with dirt.
Step 7
Put 2 x 4s at the posts’ bottom length parts. The result is a flowing fence instead of the stair step type.
Step 8
Cut a couple of 2 x 4s that is a foot or two shorter compared to the fence panel you have selected. Connect these to the posts vertically. Attach them to the bottom rail too.
Step 9
Screw or nail the fence parts on. Begin with the side that is close to the ground. Just go with the contour of the 2 x 4 at the bottom.
Tip: You can use a water resister on the fence. This is not necessary, but it can make the fence more durable.
The importance of planning when building a fence cannot be overstated. You need to be certain of the type of fence you want to create.
