Building a fence is a good idea.
You get privacy, it acts as a weather barrier, it gives protection to you and your family (as well as your pets) from intruders, and it can even be decorative.
So with some thought and planning, and some good effort, you can pull off a great fence.
In this article, we give you directions on how to build a fence.
First up, you need to decide what kind of fence you want.
You can go to your local supply house and check out the shapes, designs, and sizes that you can get.
But you also need to know whether you need any permits or special permission, because there may be legal issues that you need to consider.
When it comes to directions on how to build a fence, let your imagination run free.
Look through books and magazines to get an idea of what kind of fence you would like.
There are many options available - ranch style, panel, picket, chain-link, etc.
Before building, do be sure to check that you're not going over any utility lines.
A good tip would be to have a surveyor check out the area before going about the process.
Now stake out where the fence will go, and pull a string between them.
This will help you drive the posts into a straight line.
Use the 4-6-8 triangle measurement to calculate the right angle, where you start your fence.
locate the position of your first post, then mark out the rest of the holes.
Dig the holes as you go along, with a posthole digger.
Try to get a gas powered machine for this purpose, as it's quite strenuous.
Make sure that you're using treated wood, that will resist rot and decay.
Put in 5 or 6 inches of gravel at the bottom, this means that any water that might collect at the bottom will be drained away.
Set the corner posts first, with concrete, then check for plumb, both ways.
Use a 4-foot level, and center on the mark.
Then drive in the rest of the posts, taking care that at least 2 feet are below the soil.
When the posts are set, trim the tops of the poles to the required height.
Next, you'll need to put in the panels, for directions on how to build a fence.
Put in stringers, which run left to right between the posts, they will support the boards.
Use galvanized nails.
The panels can be of any design, vertical pickets, pre-made panels, or lattice - everything's great, so you can use your creativity.
But do be sure to keep the panels symmetrical and consistent.
If you're going to put in a picket fence gate, use two cross pieces and a diagonal piece for support.
Then attach the panel design for the support pieces.
When they are nailed together, you can set the gate in place, with blocks to keep them at the correct height, and spacers will ensure that they are at a proper distance from the posts.