2 Days. Some additional support boards had to be added and a lot of boring out holes with spade bits and careful routing were required. Dry Stone Wall. Go dig out some old fenceposts. With the gate in position I was ready to start adding fence slats over which I'll install the hinges and other hardware later on. Regular-set concrete mix takes a little longer to cure but is less expensive than fast-setting mix and allows time for adjustments. Use the 2-by-4 method above to position it at the correct height. 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. Fill the bottom of the first hole with about 6 inches of dry concrete mix. The worst thing to do would be to not think through the location and weigh all possible considerations, and then build a fence in a … Cut the post tops flush with the top rails. The strips are nailed to two or more supporting rails at the rear of the panel. The rails for the next run should overlap these rail ends and be flush with the rail faces. Continue installing pickets along the run, spacing them 3-1/2 inches apart. However, where I live is pretty dry so fences ultimately turn just turn gray and keep standing until someone takes them down. A fence built in this manner will withstand gusty winds and if it is treated with water-repellent coating, should … 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. Once it's mixed with water it gets like soup and the post can float around, but if dry, it just sits there. ???? How do you know how strong it gets? Use a jigsaw to cut the pickets to fit around posts as needed. If you are planning to paint your picket fence, do the steps before you start installing it. Not sure about that either? 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. The space between the pickets will be 3-1/2 inches. The gate was made from common framing lumber (2x4s), and it's holding up great to this day. 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. Codes may also specify post hole requirements. Set each picket on the board as you're installing along the slope. Make sure the lower rail is a minimum of 2 inches from the ground. These are just basic Home Depot gate hinges which come with lag screws for installation. I like what my father did to allow untreated posts. Hang the spacer on the top rail, against a corner picket. Keep your tape measure level for accurate spacing. The hinges were added at this point. This method is helpful in areas where the slope is uneven and changes frequently. I used cedar fence slats and do not plan to finish them in any way. Use blocks or brackets for rails that are used on the posts' bodies. Place a picket on the first post, with the bottom approximately 1" above the ground. Reply You should be made aware with the instructions on how to build a welded wire fence or barbed one before you start working. Place the batter boards just beyond where your fence corners will be located and run strings between them. Let’s say you’d like a perimeter fence, but you aren’t confident in building your … Alternatively, you can use a table saw to rip the picket — cut along its length — to the correct width. Step 6 - Join the Posts Rails running along the fence should butt together at the middle of the posts. Anyway, the needed moisture comes from the surrounding soil and gets superstrong. Before beginning any excavation, call 811 to check for underground utilities. 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. In fact, one of our neighbours said our house looked like a ‘ghost house’ because it was so dark and eerie! See notes in photos for more details. The upper edge of the bottom rails should be about 9-1/2 inches above the ground. Pallet Dog Fences. The strings help you line up the posts. While at the same time – increasing the value of your home. You'll reattach them before you set the posts. Begin by installing the pickets on the exterior side of the fence. Attach the wood fence rails or wood fence panels to the posts. The Costs of Fence Construction . Concrete was then added to these holes. Measure the horizontal distance between gate posts and subtract the space needed for the thickness of the hinges and latch. Although it's possible I had some extra deck sealant and sprayed it all down with that (like "Thompsons WaterSeal" brand but honestly I can't recall). You might also need to remove an old fence prior to starting. Consider gate hardware. Now's a good time to check the gate's swing clearance. Plan your gate size to use full pickets. I mixed and added concrete to the post holes. You simply break the inner catalyst, squish it around for a few minutes then pour it around the post base in your post hole. Drill pilot holes in the ends of boards to prevent splitting when you nail or screw them together. This process works best in areas where the slope doesn't change much. Don't use pressure-treated wood as mulch. Repeat! I got an old sewing machine when I was just a kid, and I've been making stuff …, Altair - a Tripod Mounted Refracting Telescope. Attach a short block of 2 by 4 to the back of a longer, straight 2 by 4. 1 year ago Batter boards allow you to adjust the strings easily. To speed up the building process, make sure all the rails are in position before starting to attach the pickets. After a bit of fine tuning I had a handle and latch in place and working properly. Use string or a 2 by 4 as you did on the outside pickets to maintain the correct height. I don't recall putting any kind of finish on any of the wood. Continue installing pickets, using your spacer periodically to check for plumb. The following steps show how I built and installed the sturdy little gate. For mine, the distances between posts were dependent on how wide I wanted my gate, which was 36 inches. But metal posts are definitely a good long-term choice, especially in a climate as you describe. Know your property lines, and discuss your plans with neighbors along your proposed fence line. Mason’s line is a good choice because it is strong and flexible enough to be pulled tightly. Cut two horizontal gate rails to length. The hardware for the gate on this fence required an additional built-out piece on the latch-side gate post. However, if they show any signs of weakening I will certainly add blocks as you suggest; that's a very good tip, thanks! Some towns might require this plan for an approved building permit. 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. Consider creative options like this when building your own fence. I build ramps for homes with wheelchair users (as a volunteer) and we found, to our surprise, we're better off dumping and tamping dry concrete mix in the holes around the 4x4s than mixing it with water. A job which will be easier much with the angle iron in pace. 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. Determine a layout that'll allow you to use full pickets at the corners. 4 Materials. Cut all of your wood before you go any farther. While pre-assembled wood fence panels make installation faster, a component-built fence follows the contours of your yard better. Let the concrete cure and then remove the braces and top off the holes with dirt. It is what our PA utility poles are now installed with. If the ground is too sloped or uneven, use a short 2-by-4 board across the top of the pickets as a guide. The posts are 4x4 pressure treated beams, and the slats added later are cedar fence slats. Please ignore the nasty dead grass in some of the photos - the plan is to tear it out put in a paver walkway surrounded by gravel, which I may or may not get to this decade. This 2nd brace was installed with a little pressure in the opposite direction as the warp, which pulled everything nice and flat (see photo notes). Follow these five steps to dig your post holes and set the fence posts. Good question, sorry I didn't mention it in the project itself. Dispose of sawdust and waste according to local regulations. 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… Set the first post, and after leveling and securing it, mark a … Clear away the dirt you removed to prevent killing the grass. Prices, Promotions, styles, and availability may vary. Before you learn how to build a wire fence, carefully plan and mark the location of the fence posts and gate. Use string and batter boards to lay out the fence. Wait a few months before staining or painting to allow the lumber to dry completely. In this tutorial, we’re going to show you how to build your very own picket fence. On short runs, rip-cut the pickets as necessary. Step 1: Start on the Highest Ground. wow, nice job! For the middle rail, use an 8-foot board across two posts. Did you stain or paint the common framing lumber? Drill pilot holes in the support board and attach the gate with screws. 2. The post hole diameter is typically about 3 times the width of the post. 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. Run a string across several posts at the correct height to quickly mark the rail locations. One of the keys to installing fence pickets is keeping the tops at a uniform height. Follow the same steps to set the rest of your posts. The hardware keeps the gate square and prevents sagging over time. A diagonal cross brace was then added. Remove the strings because this will make digging post holes easier. 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. Read more about pressure-treated lumber and wood preservatives. You'll need an extra set of hands for this project. A spacer will simplify the installation of the remaining pickets. Some codes might require the depth to be below the frost line — the level at which water in the soil typically freezes — to help prevent heave (when the ground pushes up the posts) during a freeze. I would think that the dry mix would get wet and harden unevenly, creating pockets of dry mix that never harden, thus a weaker structure. I'd recommend removing old posts using a hi-lift jack. I do not like the industries treatment process of 4x4 posts. 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! 4 years ago. The pickets on the opposite side will line up over the 3-1/2-inch space, creating a shadowbox effect. Take down your batter boards and strings. Removing Fence Posts. To securely set the posts, fill the bottom of your hole with a layer of gravel and place the … Follow the manufacturer's instructions for mixing. With the two end posts in place, I screwed a 10-foot board across the span and used this to position the interior posts and mark their precise locations. You got me wondering why, so I went to other websites and saw the same thing. "Diagonal cross-braces like this should always angle downward to the lower hinge.". Depending on where you live, you may also need a building permit. Set a 2 by 4 on its face to use it as a 1-1/2-inch guide along the bottom. See our Nailer/Nail Gun Buying Guide to learn about selecting and using a nailer. The final picket at a corner should be flush with the rail ends. But in a normal situation, this board would not be needed - you'd only need the one showing behind, that angles down toward the lower hinge (hinge is hidden in that photo as it is on the other side of the fence). Add concrete mix to the post holes. I understand the posts are typical pressure treated pine(??) Cut and attach the piece if needed, and take it into account when measuring for the gate rails. 5 months ago. To build a picket fence, you can either purchase the fence panels which come with the rails or purchase the pickets and rails separately. I did. If not, adjust the strings on the batter boards. Again, this is just a common style I picked up from Home Depot. Your use of the supports is needed mainly on the uprights that surround the gate. Dry stone is another ancient method for building standalone or retaining walls from … It may take a couple of days to set all of the posts. I tied a string across the top of the fence to indicate where I wanted the tops of the slats to be. Due to the natural movement of wood and to help the gate always close all the way without binding, it's good to leave a little gap on the hinge side rather than install the hinges with the gate and post mashed up against each other. 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