Wooden privacy fences look great when they are first built. However over the years of exposure to many different weather conditions a wood fence may start to look worn. The railings tend to sage under the weight of the fence boards, posts get tilted from wind gusts and boards end up looking uneven. If you are planning on taking on the job of building your own traditional wood privacy fence this article will provide you tips to keep your fence looking great with step-by-step procedures to follow.
Step 1: Getting Started
Before you begin the fence building process the first thing you should do is contact all your surrounding neighbors. Get their input on building a wood fence and who knows you may even end up with someone to not only share the cost of materials, but also someone to lend a hand when it comes to digging posts holes and putting up fence boards. After you have gotten input from the neighbors the following steps should be considered:
1) Find out al the local building codes and fence bylaws in your neighborhood.
2) Contact all your local utilities and have them mark the lines, this includes: gas, electric, cable, phone, sewage, etc.
3) When it comes to property lines it is always a good idea to hire a professional surveyor to help you with locating them because having to relocate a fence can be costly.
Step 2: Planning
Now that all the lines are marked and your neighbors have been informed it is time to plan your fence design.
1) You should always start a plan on paper, so it is a good idea to measure out the area where your fence will be located.
2) After you have drawn up your plans, use wooden stakes to mark where you will be digging holes for your posts. Make sure that you set your posts no longer than 8 feet apart.
3) Take all measurement a second time, noting the distance between each post.
Step 3: Deciding On Materials
Now that you have your measurements you know how much wood will be required.
1) The first to decide is what type of wood that you will want to use for your fence. There are many types of wood for fencing but two of the best types for fences are cedar and pressure treated.
2) The next material to decide on will be the fasteners, screws or nails. Screws are the better choice for a couple of reasons. They will not be worked out do to weather conditions like nails do and if a portion of a fence has to be repaired screws are easier to take out than nails are. One thing to keep in mind if you decide to use screws is to make sure they have been coated so they will not rust.
Step 4: Acquiring The Tools
To make sure wooden fence looks great and will be sturdy enough to weather the elements you have to make sure you have the right tools for the job. Listed below is a list of tools you will need:
1) Measuring tape
2) String and chalk
3) Level
4) Screws / Nails
5) Drill / Hammer
6) Power saw / Handsaw
7) An auger to dig post holes
8) Shovels, buckets, wheelbarrow to mix concrete
9) Paint or outdoor stain
10) Safety goggles, gloves etc.
STEP 5: Setting The Posts
All you materials have arrives and you have all your tools lined up, it's time to get dirty.
1) Using a power auger dig all your posts holes. You want to be able to set the posts 1/3 of their total length underground, which will help the fence to withstand high winds, so make sure you dig those holes deep.
2) Set your end posts, the posts located at either end of the fence or at the corners, and tie a string between each one. This will help keep the other posts level.
3) Once the end posts are level, add the concrete and brace the posts with stakes. Repeat the steps for the remaining posts and allow the concrete to dry for 24 hours.
STEP 6: Adding The Rails
Now that all the posts are set it is time to attach the rails. Typically you can get away with using a upper and lower rail, but for added sturdiness you may also want to add a third rail in the middle.
1) Attach the rails to the fence posts. There are a few different ways to do this but one of the easiest is to use metal brackets to secure each side of the rail to the post.
2) Make sure you measure each post to ensure the rails are at the same height for the length of the fence.
STEP 7: Adding The Boards
If you had taken all your measurements and drawn up your plans you could save some time by asking the lumberyard to cut your panels to size.
1) Secure the first board of the section between two posts.
2) Use a spacer to align the next boards. If you are alternating the boards, on the front and the back of the fence, simply use a board for a spacer.
The process of building your own wood privacy fence can be a slow and physically demanding process, but act of putting up a sturdy fence yourself can be very rewarding.
Author Resource:-
Corey Rozon offers ghostwriter services in Canada.
This article about how to build a wood fence with researched with the help of local Boston wood fence contractors.
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