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Do-it-yourself privacy fence

Installing a privacy fence in your backyard can be a very rewarding experience, in more ways than one. A little hard work is good for the soul, and you'll feel great knowing you saved yourself some money. The steps outlined below should lead you down the path to a beautiful new privacy fence.

  • Always check with city hall to find out if you need a permit and what the height and set-back specifications are.
  • Run a string along the perimeter of your home where the fence is to be built, about a foot off the ground, and keep it taut. This will be important when setting the post and keeping them aligned.
  • When it comes to materials, you have many different options, such as wood, vinyl, metal, and plastic. For the sake of simplicity, let's say you're putting up a durable, pressure-treated wooden fence.
  • Measure the dimensions of your property as precisely as possible. Take these measurements to the lumberyard and they should be able to help you figure out how much wood you will need.
  • When purchasing your wood, remember that it is better to choose individual pickets instead of prefabricated panels. Individual pickets will allow you to better follow the contours of the particular piece of land you are building the fence on. They are also much less expensive than prefabricated panels.
  • Investing in a nail gun for this job is a wise choice. The job will go much faster. Just be sure to follow all safety precautions, and, if necessary, have someone instruct you in the proper use of the tool. Also, be sure you have a pair of safety goggles.
  • The types of nails you use are also important. Galvanized nails are long-lasting.
  • The first step is placing your posts. The post should be placed about 6 to 8 feet apart from one another. You will need about an 8 inch auger posthole digger to make your holes. You want to dig the holes deep enough so that you can place about a third of the post into the ground.
  • Nail pieces of scrap wood around the part of the post that goes in the ground if necessary to keep it flush. Use a level to make sure it is balanced.
  • Pour a bag of fast setting concrete in and around the hole to set it in place. It should harden in about one hour.
  • Now it's time to place the top rail. The recommended height for the top rail of the fence is between 58 and 66 inches. Use a level to make sure your rail is even with the ground and attach the rail to the post using 10-penny nails. Space the lower rails out evenly from one another and repeat the process.
  • Be sure that all the rails are attached before you begin putting in the pickets. Attach a picket to each post with the bottom of the picket approximately one inch from the ground. Then run a string along the tops of each post around the perimeter.
  • Then attach each individual picket should be positioned about a half inch below the string. Use only one nail on the top rail for each picket. Then use a level to make sure it is parallel with the horizon. Once it is level, add two more nails to the top rail, for a total of three, then repeat the process for the other two rails.
  • It's always advised to use some sort of weather-proofer on your wood for extra protection.