Careful planning and accurate measurements are essential steps in making a picturesque wooden fence. First, check your local building codes before planning your fence’s layout. Then, dig the post holes, install the fence posts, and attach the panels.
In this article, we’ll discuss how you can build a wooden fence to increase your home’s privacy and curb appeal.
| Project difficulty: Intermediate Estimated time to complete: 2 to 5 days Drying time: 1 hr. to 2 days, depending on the type of cement used Project cost: $150 for all necessary items; tools used are not included in the cost. |
What You’ll Need
Supplies:
- Tape measure
- Graphing paper
- Wooden stakes
- String
- Level
- Cement
- Rag
- Bucket
- Wooden fence posts
- Wooden fence panels
- Deck screws or galvanized nails
- Fence gate (optional)
Tools:
- Post hole digger or power auger
- Power drill or hammer
- Ladder
- Shovel
- Tape measure
- Hand saw
Safety First!
- Wear work gloves and safety glasses to protect yourself from dirt and sediment while working on this project. Additionally, put on a face mask when you’re mixing the cement.
- Ask a friend or family member to assist you. You’ll need an extra pair of hands to lift and support the different parts of the vinyl while you’re installing it.
Step 1: Check Your Local Regulations
Before you build your vinyl fence, you’ll need to check your local building codes, lot boundaries, and homeowners’ association (HOA) regulations. Then, request any necessary building permits.
Tim McCullough of McCullough Fencing, a family-owned and operated company based in Philadelphia that specializes in red cedar wooden fences, emphasizes how every yard and fence is unique.
“Every yard is unique, as well as every situation. The first thing I do when I arrive at an estimate is find out what the needs of our customers are. I take a look at the grade of the ground and explain that the fence will follow the grade to provide tightness to the ground while also looking great everywhere else.”
Before planning the fence design, McCullough explains how property lines and township regulations still need to be followed.
“If the property is not surveyed and clear property lines are not identified, we always recommend getting a survey done. This will ensure that you are not encroaching on a neighbor’s property. The next step is to confirm the township’s regulations to make sure the style is within their allowed regulations.”
Additionally, you’ll need to contact a utility company to check if the fence might run into any gas, water, or electrical lines. Mark the utility lines with flags or labels to avoid damaging them while building your wooden fence.
Step 2: Plan Your Layout
Once you’ve identified where to build your fence, you’ll need to measure the length of the fence line. This will help determine how many fence posts, panels, and other materials you’ll need.
Measure the Fence Line
Use a tape measure to find the length of each section of your fence line. Measure the length in separate sections where the fence line goes in one direction.
Sketch the Fence Layout
The easiest way to plan your fence layout is to sketch on graphing paper. Keep your local regulations in mind as you map out the most important parts of your fence line: the main or terminal posts at the corners, the gate location, and the end of the fence line.
In addition, take note of any utility lines, sloped terrain, and trees or obstacles along your fence line when sketching its layout. Take as much time as necessary to get the measurements and layout as accurate as possible.
While graphing paper is a great option for DIY-ers, McCullough shares how he carefully maps out a fence layout using specialized software, “We […] use our software to build a site plan, labeling all major structures, the location of the fence line, as well as gates.”
Accurate measurements of your fence line will help you estimate how many fence posts, panels, and bags of cement you’ll need to build your wooden fence. You’ll also use this information to lay out your fence in the next step.
If you want to take the guesswork out of planning your shopping list, you can use this calculator to estimate the materials for your wooden fence.
Step 3: Mark the Fence Line
Before you finalize the locations of the post holes, you’ll need to map them out using wooden posts. You’ll need to start at the corners and identify the locations of the gate and the end of the fence line.
Place Wooden Stakes
Firmly place a landscape stake into the ground to mark each main post, the gate location, and the end of your fence line. Always start placing the stakes at each corner of your fence line to help you visualize how the direction of the fence line changes.
Once you’ve mapped out the fence line using the stakes as temporary placeholders, measure the length of each section using a tape measure again and cross-check with your sketch of the layout. Afterward, make the necessary adjustments.
Connect the Wooden Stakes with String
After you’ve placed the stakes, tie some string around the stakes to connect the corners of the fence line. These stakes will be the anchor points that the fence post markers should align with in the next step.
Mark the Fence Posts
Then, it’s time to place stakes on the ground where the fence posts should be. The usual distance between fence posts is 6 to 8 feet. Note that this distance is measured from the middle of each fence post to the other, which you’ll need to do when you install the fence posts.
If your fence line is 30 feet, it’s best to use 6 fence posts to make them evenly spaced. To map this out, firmly place 6 wooden stakes 6 feet apart.
Step 4: Dig the Post Holes
Digging post holes with the correct depth and diameter ensures your fence posts will be stable once you install them. Before you dig, find a local facility where you can dump the leftover dirt after you’ve installed your vinyl fence.
Determine the Depth and Diameter of the Post Holes
The rule of thumb when inserting fence posts into the ground is to dig a hole that’s a third or half of the height of the post. So, you’ll need to dig a 2- or 3-foot hole for a 6-foot fence post.
The frost line is the maximum depth where the ground freezes in colder climates. The National Weather Service regularly monitors and reports the average frost line per state.
Some areas don’t have a frost line, but if your state has an average frost line of 6 feet, dig a 7-foot hole to prevent the fence posts from freezing and warping.
The diameter of each hole should be about three times the width of the post, so you’ll have enough room to mix the concrete in the later steps. A 4-inch-thick wooden fence post should have a post hole that’s 12 inches in diameter.
Dig the Holes
Once you’ve determined the depth and diameter of the post holes, use a post hole digger or power auger to dig the post holes. You can rent a power auger from your local big-box store to save time and effort, especially if you’re building a fence on a large area.
However, be prepared to use a shovel to break through the dirt whenever the soil is too hard or dense for the post hole digger or auger. Add water to the ground if you’re having difficulty breaking through dry, compact dirt while digging the hole.
Step 5: Place the Fence Posts
Each fence post should be placed in the middle of its respective post hole. While holding the fence post, ask your helper to use a level and adjust the post until it’s plumb.
Backfill the Holes with Gravel
After digging the holes, add 6 inches of gravel around the fence post to backfill each hole to prevent rot. Tightly pack the gravel into the hole to help stabilize the fence post once you add the cement in the next step.
Step 6: Pour Cement into the Post Holes
You may use regular or quick-drying cement, but always follow the manufacturer’s instructions for the mixing proportions and drying time. When using quick-drying cement, pour it into the hole and mix based on the manufacturer’s instructions.
Use a trowel to push the cement about 2 inches above ground level toward the fence post. Aim for a triangular shape sloping downward to allow water to flow away from the fence post. This is another way to prevent the wooden posts from rotting.
Afterward, remove the cement splatter from the fence posts before the cement dries. Dip a rag into a bucket of water, wring it out, then wipe it against the fence post to remove the cement splatter.
In addition to installing the fence posts, you’ll need to keep them plumb and aligned with each other.
Now it’s time to wrap up for the day and let the cement dry according to the manufacturer’s instructions.
Step 7: Attach Fence Panels
Use wooden or pre-made panels from your local big-box store for your privacy fence. Regardless of the type of wooden panel you’re using, use deck screws or galvanized nails to attach the panels to the fence posts.
There might be areas in your fence line where the corresponding wooden panels won’t fit. Trim these panels to the right length before attaching them.
If you prefer to attach individual pickets on the fence rails, read our guide on How to Install a Picket Fence.
Wooden Panels
The fence post’s height will determine how many screws you’ll need to attach the panel to it. Place the screws or nails 6 to 8 inches apart on your fence post. The size of the screws will depend on the thickness of the panels.
Pre-made Panels
These ready-to-use panels already have pre-drilled holes so you can easily attach them to the fence posts. Secure a panel to its respective fence posts using a deck screw and power drill. Repeat this process for the rest of the fence line.
Step 8: Install a Gate (Optional)
If you want to install a gate on your wooden fence, you’ll need to determine the locations of the hinges, latch, and other accessories you want to use. Installing a prefabricated gate is as simple as attaching the hinges to one fence post and the latch to another. Custom gates may be a little more complicated.
Home Gnome delivers the best home service experience at the click of a button. Book reliable, skilled services in seconds and leave the rest to us.
| Meet the Expert Tim, his brother, Ryan, and their father, Sean, have been installing wooden fences since 2016. They started McCullough Fencing by completing small projects during the weekends. Since then, they have built up their family-owned and -operated company to what it is today. Wooden fences are McCullough Fencing’s most popular fence style. Aside from their expert craftsmanship, they also keep their customers’ needs in mind while planning and building fences. They install various fencing styles, including aluminum, wood, vinyl, and chain link. McCullough Fencing serves Philadelphia and all surrounding counties. You can find more information about their projects on McCullough Fencing’s Instagram page. |
What to read next:
Main Photo Credit: bellan / Adobe Stock
Related Posts:
