If you are a homeowner, you understand the benefits of having a perimeter fence around your property. It helps keep pets and children safe in their yards.
The easiest fence to install yourself is the wood panel fence.
If you don’t have a fence or the one you have is sagging or broken, it’s time to look at installing a new one.
The best option is to hire an experienced fence installation expert. However, if your budget is tight or you have extra time, you can check out the most uncomplicated fence to install yourself.
You can save even more money if you learn how to build the fence yourself.
Why Install a Fence For a Perfect Backyard Living Space
There are many benefits of having a fence in your front or backyard. The saying good fences make good neighbors is popular for a reason. Below are some of the biggest reasons for having a good fence.
Fence Offers Privacy
Of course, when installing a fence, the first thing that comes to mind is how you can relax in your yard in your bathrobe or comfortably relax in your house without worrying about noisy and distractive neighbors.
If you have a pool or hot tub in your backyard, you can’t fully enjoy its benefits without some privacy. The only way to achieve that is by erecting a fence around your home.
A fence is a barrier for neighbors and strangers who spy on you subconsciously and gives you the feeling of seclusion.
You also get the freedom to invite a few friends and family for a small party without the intrusion of your neighbors.
Enhanced Aesthetics
Today, you can find some beautiful fence designs on the market that can make your home more attractive and add value to your home.
You want to consider the style of the fence you want for your home and if it fits in with your current house style. Many people also look for garden fence ideas to go around their backyard gardens.
Whether you use wood, vinyl, or metal for your fence, make sure it adds to the beauty of your home. That includes the patterns formed on your fence, matching the wood with your interior design, and other features.
Marking the Boundary
Disputes about land boundaries have been on the rise today. One of the best ways to mark your land is by using fences.
Such legal cases can be easily solved if you have a fence erected around your property, verifying that it is following your property line, as confirmed by your property survey.
It is also a great way to prevent your kids and pets from entering your neighbors’ yards. Additionally, a good backyard fence prevents land encroachment. Your neighbors may not know where their land reaches, but the boundaries will be clear once you put up a fence.
Promotes Home Value
Besides the other benefits of having a fence, many prospective buyers will most likely go after the well-fenced property. A professionally created fence can significantly impact the property’s value and curb appeal
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If a buyer has children and/or pets, they’ll want a fenced home already on the property so they don’t have to install one themselves.
Security
Many homeowners need clarification when it comes to privacy and security. The two can be used interchangeably, but safety is more about keeping threatening people and animals away from your property.
Not only can it keep children and pets in your yard, but a fence can also keep other people and animals out of your yard and inside your home. A fence around your property is among the best ways to ensure your family and belongings stay safe.
Which Fence Can You DIY?
There are so many fence styles in the current world. The complexity of each type depends on the material used and how well it was installed. The quickest and easiest fence to install is with wood panels. The wood panels are not always the cheapest, but they save time rather than installing the rails and pickets separately.
Installing a Wood Fence
Wood fence is a material that has been used for a long time when erecting perimeter fences around residential and commercial properties.
The main reason is that this type of fence is easy to install and durable, depending on the type of wood you use. How long your wooded fence lasts will rely a lot on keeping up with maintenance.
In addition, it is the most effortless fence to install because the process is not complicated, and the required materials are locally available in many places.
If you want a high-quality wood fence, you can always contact professionals in the fencing industry. However, if you want to do it yourself or are on a tight budget, the following steps will help you handle the project successfully.
Get the Required Permit
It is recommendable to check with the local authority if any permits are required when erecting a fence in your area of residence. No permit is needed in our area as long as the fence is less than 8 feet tall.
If no permit is required, the local building department will guide you appropriately on the height specifications.
While at it, you also know where your property’s exact boundary lines lie. If you had a survey done when you purchased your house, you would know exactly where the boundary lines are located.
It would be best to discuss your plans with the neighbors to ensure that the fence you put up will not inconvenience them.
Mark the Layout
You should first call 811 to have the local utility companies check any underground utilities before you start marking your line or digging.
Not doing so and hitting a cable line or, worst, a water line will cost a lot to fix and the aggravation of being without water, cable, and/or internet. Having them verify that you can safely dig your post holes doesn’t cost you anything.
After gathering all the information from the local administration and the neighbors, it is time to mark where the fence will be installed.
The first thing is to measure the entire fence line, including where the gate will be. Then, you can use spray paint or chalk to mark out this line and indicate the gate’s position.
Get the Necessary Tools and Materials
Constructing a wood fence may not be complex, but you need the right tools, equipment, and materials to ensure success. Some of the basic materials and tools required for such a project include:
Fence panels
Fence posts to hold the panels in place
Nails to attach the panels onto the posts
A hammer to drive in the nails
A tape measure to get the correct measurements
Screws (related screws vs. nails)
A power drill to drive in the screws
A posthole digger to make holes for the posts
mason string
Concrete mix that will support the fence posts at their base
Gravel to go below the post and concrete for drainage
Dig Holes
Use your posthole digger to make holes for the posts. For the best results, it is recommendable to have about six or eight feet between two poles. Most fence panels at the big box stores come in 8 ft lengths.
The holes you dig should preferably be 1/3 of the posts’ height. So if you’re building a 6-foot high fence with an 8-foot tall post, you would bury the post 2 feet. If your fence is closer to 8 feet, you should use a 12-foot post with 4 feet in the ground. The taller the fence, the more digging is required so the position won’t be top-heavy and unsteady.
For a 6-foot tall post, you should dig at least 30″ deep, with the bottom being wider than the top of the hole, like an upside-down V
Tamp the bottom of the hole, then pour 6″ of gravel into the hole. Place your post in the hole and verify the position of your post is correct before pouring your concrete mixture into the hole.
Use your post level to verify its level on all sides while the concrete mixture is still loose for any last-minute adjustments. Don’t worry if your post is slightly taller than 6 feet, as you will trim the tops of each post after the fence is completed.
Install all corner posts first. Let the concrete dry, then place your mason string tightly around each corner post to get a straight vertical line for the other posts’ placement. Measure your panel to set the distance between each post.
I install the string towards the top of my post, so it doesn’t get in the way of digging my other post holes. You can now dig the rest of your post holes with the string set.
Attach the Fence Panels to the Posts
After the concrete mixture is completely dry and set for all posts, you can install the fence panels. This should be smooth as long as you have the proper measurements.
Attaching the panels to the rails can be done using a hammer and nails/power nailer or a power drill and screws at least 3 inches long. If you use nails, use galvanized ones for better weather resistance. Same with screws, ensure they’re outdoor-rated polymer-coated or stainless steel. You should have 2 nails or screws per rail on each side of the panel.
You may have to cut down a panel at the end of your fencing run. If you do, measure the required distance from the corner post to the last post and cut the rail, so you have room to install on the post, generally 2-3 inches extra for each post.
Gate Installation
The last and most complicated step is installing your gate. Gate posts are installed the same way as fence posts but with bigger posts to carry the weight of the gate, especially if each gate is longer than 6 feet.
Most fence posts are 4x4x8, while a gate post should be 4x6x10 or 6x6x10. You want to dig deeper for a gate post to support the extra weight of the gate.
The most accessible gate to install, especially if it is close to 6 feet wide, is with the Adjust-A-Gate kit. This kit will ensure that you have a large gate that won’t sag and fall apart like other gate kits. The kits include the hinges to attach to your posts and the latching mechanism to keep them secure.
I have used this gate kit for several friends and built several all-wood gates, and I can personally attest that this gate holds up better due to the metal construction than an all-wood gate.
Conclusion
You may have put off installing a new fence due to the costs or lack of experience, but hopefully, this article will give you the confidence to DIY your new fence and enjoy your private backyard.