So you’re pressed for money, but you still need to build your fence? No problem! We’re here to teach you how to do it yourself; it isn’t as hard as some people may think. And after all, you know the old saying “If you want something done right, you have to do it yourself?”
There are more than one type of fence you can create, so we’ll look to go through the necessary steps that one needs to follow to build the right fence for their needs. Apparently, before starting out, you should have an idea in your head about the look and design of the wall. For this article, we’ll go with a classic wooden fence as that is usually the most popular option, and the one you’ll be most able to build on your own.
Do the Correct Measurements
We’re going to do this professionally. You need to correctly measure the area your fence will cover so you can first and foremost determine precisely how much material you’ll need. Don’t go by the eye test, as this can and will end up costing you money. Knowing the exact area will allow you to know exactly how much wood you’ll need, how big of a gate etc.
Get Your Hands on The Right Materials
Now that you know your measurements and the exact space you’ll be building your fence on, you can determine how many posts and what amount of fencing you need. The primary materials you should be looking for are cement, 1 or 2 shovels (if you have helped), post digger, nail gun, a string line, a level and two saws – a circular one and a chop saw. Once you gather all of these (you should have some of them available to you already), we can get to the building part.
Installing The Fence Posts
Every hole should be dug 18 inches deep, and for this, you’ll use your post digger. Each post should have a 6 feet distance from other posts for the entire area you are covering. Once you have your posts in the ground, it’s time to mix cement and pour it in, to secure the posts. Always make sure they are level with the ground, and allow it to dry out for 24 hours. After that time has passed, you can move on with the installation.
Installing Fence Rails
You will need two rails that should be attached at the top and bottom of the posts, no more than 4 feet away from one another. The fencing planks will come onto these, so it is essential that the distances are perfectly balanced.
Installing Wooden Planks
Next up it’s time to place all the wooden planks onto the fence rails. You need to do this plank by plank until you are done with your fence. If the planks are of good quality, they should go correctly one next to each other, without leaving any space in between. It’s important when buying your fence planks to make sure they are of good quality. Of course, you could intentionally leave small equal spaces in between each plank if that’s the design and look you are going for.
Install Your Gate
If you’re feeling extra crafty, you can build your wooden gate, or if that’s too much for you to handle, you can always go for a prefabricated one, as they come in all shapes and sizes. You’ll have to attach this to the fence post by the use of a hinge. The gate closure needs to be connected to the other fence post, and voila, you’re done!