How to Build a Wooden Fence Yourself

Before you decide on building a fence, do you know what kind of wood is best for the job? Do you know how often you will need to treat the wood to make it last? Do you know whether or not the nails used are weather proof? How about the posts that will be put in, do you know whether or not they will begin to rot within a couple of years?

These are some questions that every home owner should be able to answer if they are dead serious about putting in a new wooden fence. The problem is most home owners do not know the first thing about any of these problems. They have their families and their careers to worry about and usually look to a contractor or a handyman to take care of this problem, which is understandable. The only problem with that is most contractors and handymen don’t take time to ensure the quality of the fence.

So let’s say that you are going to build your fence yourself. Where do you start?

Step 1: Measure

Before you start looking at the price of wood, it is smart to figure out how long your fence is going to be. Make sure to measure one side at a time and record your discovery before moving to the next part. In your backyard you will have three parts; the back of your yard and two sides. Do not assume that both sides will be the same in length because that is not always the case.

Step 2: Decide on Materials

This step is crucial in my process because everything you do depends on this step, the cost especially. The first thing to look into is the type of wood that you will want to use. There are several types of wood for fencing but the only two that I would ever recommend are the two best kinds for outdoor carpentry; cedar and pressure treated. Cedar is the best but as you have probably already guessed, it is also the most expensive. The benefits of cedar though are worth it. Cedar is a strong, long lasting wood that you will never have to treat. It is actually the only wood that you won’t have to treat yearly. Plus it will stand strong for several years if it is put up correctly. The benefits of pressure treated wood are that it is not only cheaper than cedar but it will last almost as long, if it is treated properly and put up correctly.

Also, you will need 2×4’s. Three for each section is ideal but you can get away with using only two. These should be pressure treated and nothing else.

Let’s assume that you are going to use cedar though. Next you are going to need to know what kind of posts you will use. The options are basically between wooden posts and metal posts. I myself prefer the metal because they will never rot or wear down, they are lighter and they also look good. If you decide on the metal posts, look at later deciding what kind of caps that you will want. Also, count on getting three brackets per post to hook the 2×4’s to.

Then you will want to decide on whether you want to buy the wood in already made panels. There are benefits to buying the panels, one is that they are already put together and the job will go fast. The bad part is that they are usually made in a hurry and are not of the greatest quality. Your best bet is to build the fence as you go.

Finally, you need to decide on whether you will go with screws or nails. Screws are better because the suck the wood together and will not weather out. Nails will start loosening out as the fence warps, which means within a few years you will be looking at having to replace those nails as regular maintenance. With screws you won’t have that problem and can always pull them out easier later on if need be. Just make sure you go with a screw that has been coated and will not rust.

Step 3: Shop Around for Quotes

Next go to the phone book and make a list of lumber yards. It is not a good idea to go through Home Depot or Lowes because they will be considerably higher in price than regular lumber yards. Call around for quotes on how much the materials will cost per ft and find out how much money it would cost for them to deliver it to your home. From there, go with the deal that will best suit you.

Step 4: Get the Tools

To make a great looking, sturdy fence, you need to do it the right way and that means getting the proper tools. You will need a drill, circular saw, string line, measuring tape and a level. This is the minimum. It also wouldn’t hurt to have a saw horse but this of course is not required. Also you will need a bucket, a shovel and a saw that will cut metal for when you concrete in the posts.

Step 5: Tear Down the Old

Tearing down the old fence is a pain, but it also should go quickly. More than likely the wood is old and worn down, which means it probably won’t take much to knock it over. Make sure you pull out the old posts, concrete and all.

Step 6: Getting Started

Decide on how high you want you posts, then at one end of the fence tie an end of the string line at that height and do the same at the other end. Make sure that the string is tight. Now, all of your post should be right at that height so go ahead and concrete them in.

Do the same with you 2×4’s, make sure you decide on how high you want each one to run and make them flow along with the string. Then do the same for when you are putting in the fencing slats.

Using the string line will ensure that your fence has a nice flow to it and it will look even and level through out. Understand that the ground will not level, so using the string line will help.

Step 7: Make Your Cuts

Cut the tops of the posts to where they are even with the string line. The easiest way to do this is to use a saws all. You can rent one from the Home Depot for fairly cheap since you will only need it for one day.

After your 2×4’s are run, it’s time to start running your slats. The best way is to take the slat and see if the top is even with the string line and then look and see how much room you have at the bottom. You do not want your wood to be touching the ground because that will cause damage, but you also do not want a huge gap. 3-4 inches from the ground is always good.

The best way to make your cut is to flip the slat upside down and make your mark at the bottom of the slat. The make your mark where the string line is touching the wood. Use the circular saw to cut the slat and then your ready to screw it in to the 2×4’s.

Step 8: Enjoy

The process can be slow and physically demanding at times but you will enjoy the reward of putting up the sturdy fence yourself when you see the results. Hopefully you had help but this is a job that can be done on your own.