You can install a wooden privacy fence by yourself if you have to. Of course, it’s always easier with two or more people. So if you can enlist help, take all you can get.
Before you can actually start on the fence, do your math and measure it out. Boards come in different widths, so you will have to figure out approximately how many boards you will need after you choose your design. Buy some extras to allow for warped or cracked boards. Figure how many four by four by eights you will need for posts by allowing one every eight feet. And you will need three two by fours by eight for each eight foot section. All of this wood should be pressure treated lumber. Also remember to allow for gates. A tip here: make sure the gates are large enough to allow anything that must fit through to fit, for example, riding lawnmowers or four wheelers.
Don’t buy the prefab sections of wooden fence. They are heavy and awkward to handle. One person can not put them up by himself. And even worse, they tend to twist and pull out of shape. You will end up taking them apart and putting them back together, costing you more time.
Of course, you will also need cement to set your four by four posts. Allow at least one to one and a half bag of cement per hole.
The hardest part of the whole fence comes now, digging the holes for the posts. You can do this a few holes at a time or all at once, depending on how long you can wait for your fence. The post holes should be at least two feet deep. Set your corner post and end or gate post first. Run a string between these and get them level. Leave the string in place. Now you have a guideline for the height of the rest of the posts.
The next step is to finish setting the posts. Start at the corner and measure over to the fence or end post. If the last section is less than two feet wide, you may want to adjust a little on the first section out from the corner. You could make it shorter, therefore adding more to the end or gate section or you can simply make your gate a little wider. Set the posts eight feet apart and make sure they are level verticaly. After the cement is poured around the posts, allow forty-eight hours for the cement to set up. Congratulations! You have conquered the hardest part of fence building.
Once the cement is dry, it is time to put your cross boards in place. This is the time to decide if you want the pretty side of the fence inside where you see it or outside where other people see it. Most people do place the smooth side of the fence facing the street or outside. That means the four by fours and cross boards are on the inside.
Start putting the cross boards or two by fours by eight on next. They will go on the outside of the four by four post toward the street. The first
two by four should be level with the top of the four by four posts. Remember
to allow half of the four by four for the second two by four to attach to. Secure the two by fours with #16 nails, screw nails, or three to three and a half inch wood screws. Wood screws are generally the easiest and fastest, as well as less stress on the fence when you are putting it up if you use an electric drill.
Now measure up approximately six to eight inches from the bottom of the four by four. Mark this spot and do the same on the next four by four. Run a two by four between these two posts, making sure it is horizontally level. You may have to adjust it up or down a little to get it level. Now measure the distance between your top post and the bottom post. Divide it in half and mark it. This is the center where you will put your center cross board. Keep in mind that the board, although it is called a two by four is actually only one and a half thick by three and a half wide. So when you nail your cross board onto the four by four, you should have about one and three quarters of an inch above the center mark and the same amount below the center mark.
I know this sounds complicated, but once you get the first set of crossboards up, the rest are easy. Just line the next set up with the first set, get them level and attach them.
After you have your crossboards on, the fence boards are next. Attach one at the corner post at the height you want. Here you should use one and one half inch wood screws. It is generally a good idea to attach the boards up off the ground. This will help keep them from soaking up and holding moisture. Attach the next board at the end post at the same height. Run a string between the two and get it level. You now have a guideline for your fence boards.
Attach the rest of the boards, using nails or screws, through the crossboards.
The last part is the gates. Many fence companies are now using galvanized pipe to make the frames. These frames seem to hold up better than wooden frames. Be sure to use metal screws when attaching the boards to the metal frame.
Last, attach hinges and latches.
Congratulations! You now have a privacy fence. You can let it weather naturally or you can stain, paint, or put wood preservative on it.
