???? Checking for buried utilities like you point out is a MUST, given the proximity to your electric meter, but I would add that you should also mark your lawn any sprinkler lines you might have - I speak from personal experience! In areas with a significant slope, use shorter rails rather than spanning several posts with long rails. Run the string line to represent either the outside or inside perimeter of the fence. For batter boards next to the house, transfer the string locations to the house in case you need to remove the batter board to dig. Wash your hands after working with treated wood. * Wood fencing material cost is based on the national average for 6′-0 high wood fencing (material only). This shadowbox fence has pickets alternating on each side, offering some privacy but allowing you to look through the fence at an angle. Set each picket on the board as you're installing along the slope. I do not like the industries treatment process of 4x4 posts. Determine a layout that'll allow you to use full pickets at the corners. anchor 3x3x1/4 angle iron in the concrete and bolting the posts to them keeping them completely above ground. Our local stores do not honor online pricing. The posts are 4x4 pressure treated beams, and the slats added later are cedar fence slats. For holes next to the house, use a shovel, post hole digger and digging bar. Consider gate hardware. Use a string attached to the adjacent fence runs as a guide to position the pickets. If you're working next to the house, make sure the rails extend to the house so the pickets will provide full coverage. Building a fence is the easiest way to give your property some extra safety, security and privacy from the road or your neighbours. The screws were installed with a socket wrench. It is what our PA utility poles are now installed with. When drilling your holes, remember that about 1/3 of your post will be under ground, and that the lower rail should be about 1 foot above ground level. This is a character-driven design and one of the great things about … On slopes, be sure to split the difference in height of the adjacent outside pickets. Indicate the locations for the lower edges of the top rails and the upper edges of the bottom rails to make it easier to see the marks when you position the rails. Attach the rails to the posts. Note the post locations and gate locations. At that point, they call the wood "barn wood" and sell it for 3x what it initially cost. And I filled out forms for a permit, but had the fee waived which was great. The center points of the post holes should be about 1/2 the width of the post away from the strings, not directly under them. Use string and batter boards to lay out the fence. You may build a 6-ft. high privacy fence only to find that the next-door neighbors can easily see over when they’re lounging on their deck. These are just basic Home Depot gate hinges which come with lag screws for installation. But metal posts are definitely a good long-term choice, especially in a climate as you describe. Cross pieces were added with exterior grade screws. Install the next picket flush against the spacer to get the proper 3-1/2-inch spacing and to keep the picket plumb. This can reasonably be checked and adjusted before you actually install the gate, but I knew it was going to be really close so I just waited till after it was fastened in place. I took advantage of the short length of this fence to aid in getting all of the posts perfectly inline. Use a post level to make sure the post is plumb and then add braces to hold it in place. My father owned a custom fence company for over 30 years. The Prefab Fence. I used cedar fence slats and do not plan to finish them in any way. The hardware keeps the gate square and prevents sagging over time. How do you know how strong it gets? Know your property lines, and discuss your plans with neighbors along your proposed fence line. Fill the bottom of the first hole with about 6 inches of dry concrete mix. Attach “rot boards” Instead of just using a 2×4 at the bottom, we also used a “rot board”. It allows for wood changes, and makes post removal a heck of a lot easier (lighter) should that become a necessity.Better living thru technology! To speed up the building process, make sure all the rails are in position before starting to attach the pickets. Set a 2 by 4 on its face to use it as a 1-1/2-inch guide along the bottom. A job which will be easier much with the angle iron in pace. We always set the gate posts and corner posts with concrete so over time the fence … Step 6 - Join the Posts It may have small air pockets, but they don't hurt anything. Home supply stores now sell a quickcrete brand set foam, for ~$12.50. A solid or close boarded fence is, as its name implies, a design which consists of upright or horizontal strips of wood, some 6in (15cm) wide and 1in (2-2.5cm) thick. Check the requirements for your hardware. For more on batter boards, watch Making and Using Batter Boards. Follow these steps to mark the layout and establish the post locations. The strings help you line up the posts. I love your thoughts in the design process. Use blocks or brackets for rails that are used on the posts' bodies. To securely set the posts, fill the bottom of your hole with a layer of gravel and place the … In fact, one of our neighbours said our house looked like a ‘ghost house’ because it was so dark and eerie! In general, posts for wooden fences should not be more than 8 feet apart, both to prevent sagging and to take advantage of common-length lumber. This easy to follow guide will show you what you need to build a fence, the different styles that can be created and the two important things to check before you begin building… Making the gate frame, you're screwing into end grain. Find a helper. Save some to top off the post holes once the concrete sets. I am a bit confused as to which diagonal is the main one that is flush with the front of the fence vs the other one which helps with the warping? To build a picket fence, you can either purchase the fence panels which come with the rails or purchase the pickets and rails separately. Make sure it's plumb, then nail it in place. Material cost is an estimate for fence pickets, posts, and cross-rails (stringers)and does not include building materials such as gates, cement, fasteners, rental equipment, etc. For fence posts, some will need holes straight through for the straight sections of your fence. Follow the product manufacturer’s guidelines for preparation and application. Pressure-treated lumber should be stained or painted every few years. Make. Galvanized posts like you show in the photo would have been much better, and equal work. 5 months ago. The first section of fence I had to remove had 8 posts. Removing Fence Posts. The remaining slats were added to complete the side sections, and the fence was done. Question Take down your batter boards and strings. The gate was made by first creating an external frame of 2x4s that were screwed together with exterior screws installed through pre-drilled and countersunk holes. Typical spacing is between 6 feet and 8 feet on center (from the center of one post to the center of the next). A diagonal cross brace was then added. Consider if you want a 4 ft fence, a 6 ft fence or an 8 ft fence. This will keep the gate square and prevent sagging. The strings help you line up the posts. You can choose between regular-set and fast-set options. Prices and availability of products and services are subject to change without notice. Before beginning any excavation, call 811 to check for underground utilities. The fence I planned was simple: cedar picket, fifty feet, with a swinging gate in the middle. The slats were cut individually as needed and installed with exterior grade deck screws. Use wood rated for ground contact when necessary for the project. Pickets may have a slight green color from the treatment process, but it'll fade over time. I am guessing that the diagonal that controls warping goes in first and is not flush with front or back and then the other one goes in flush with the front of the gate. Share it with us! The diagonal between these points should be 5 feet. Let me see if I can clarify.Under normal circumstances you will only need one angled brace for a gate like this, the bottom of which should sit next to the bottom hinge, and this brace should ideally keep the gate from sagging over time.In my case I added an extra board to deal with a specific issue with the gate I had built. The first thing to do is decide where you want your fence. Nice job. I live in a desert region, and 4x4 PT posts in concrete seem to be pretty common without any trouble. I drilled pilot holes with a tapered, countersinking bit and used a long, coarse-threaded screws for these corner joints. 4 Materials. Again, this is just a common style I picked up from Home Depot. I'll update it! You'll need an extra set of hands for this project. For this fence, with 6-foot pickets, the lower edge of the top rails will be 5 feet, 4-1/2 inches above the ground. Dry Stone Wall. 1 year ago. If the ground is too sloped or uneven, use a short 2-by-4 board across the top of the pickets as a guide. Cut and attach the piece if needed, and take it into account when measuring for the gate rails. The final picket at a corner should be flush with the rail ends. My gate ended up with a slight warp, so a second brace was added to counteract the warp. For sloped areas, you can mark three to four posts at a time. Go dig out some old fenceposts. For example, with posts spaced about 8 feet apart, use 16-foot boards as the top and bottom rail to span three posts. $300. Sorry for the confusion. This was done with stakes and screws, as shown in the photos. You should be made aware with the instructions on how to build a welded wire fence or barbed one before you start working. When building a wood fence, you’ll need to determine what lumber and hardware you need and how much of each.For most wood fences you need posts, rails, pickets, and nails or screws. After establishing the post hole locations, use a pencil to mark the positions of the string on the batter boards. I finally saw that this puts the compression load from the brace into the gate hinge, rather than into thin air--like on the sagging gate into my back yard. Gate pickets should be flush with the inside faces of the posts. As this fence was to be built across a narrow side-yard (rather than along a property line), I actually had several choices of where exactly to build it. Product costs, availability and item numbers may vary online or by market. I grew up working with my hands building fence. The rails for the next run should overlap these rail ends and be flush with the rail faces. The strips are nailed to two or more supporting rails at the rear of the panel. You’ll also need 2 end posts with holes only in one side, and corner posts with holes that DON’T go all the way through, but instead are set so the rails can come off at two different angles. Chain This fence was made specifically with her in mind, but is part of a much larger full makeover of my yard. Line up the tops of the remaining pickets with the string, and don't push on the string while installing. Don't attach the hinges to the end grain of the fence rails. I know we use it reliably building wheelchair ramps etc. Stagger the rail joints on different posts to add stability. Diagonal cross-braces like this should always angle downward to the lower hinge. Drill pilot holes in the support board and attach the gate with screws. If you put a block of 2x4 inside each corner, and screw into that from both directions, your joints will be far stronger. If you read my last Lockwood reno post you will know that when we moved into our house it was surrounded by trees. All the hard work is mostly done! The pickets on the opposite side will line up over the 3-1/2-inch space, creating a shadowbox effect. 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