There is a certain satisfaction in building objects with your own hands that you can use every day and a wooden fence is definitely a good project to start from. This is a fairly straightforward job for even beginners to do as it requires few tools and skills. Don't forget that this way you can be able to save considerably! Read on to learn how to build a fence around your home.
Steps
Part 1 of 2: Ensure Success
Step 1. Check all local laws and regulations
You need to be sure your fence isn't illegal before building it! If there are any restrictions on this, whether they are neighborhood or municipal, and you break them, know that your job could be cut down. Check with your town hall technical office or neighborhood association before proceeding with your project.
Step 2. Apply for permissions
Most municipalities require you to have a building permit to install a fence. That way you can stay safe! In fact, many electrical, gas, sewage and water systems run underground to the depth at which you will dig. When you ask for permission to build, the Municipality will check and let you know which are the areas where you can dig without problems.
Step 3. Choose the materials
Obviously, it is advisable to get wood that will last for a long time. If you use the best woods and treat them properly, the fence will last even twenty years or more. But if you buy the wrong material, the structure may not exceed 5 years. Contact a sawmill in your area to find the right wood for your needs.
Step 4. Decide on a style
There are many aesthetic models for a wooden fence. Do some research before you start so you won't have any remorse in the future. There are picket, lattice, concave or convex fences, with side-by-side boards, coffered and many other styles that further diversify into a thousand variations. Each model has specific construction techniques that must be followed and particular methods of fixing the panels.
The instructions in this article are general and apply to many types of fences; however, you may need to find more specific information to complement this, based on the fence style you choose
Part 2 of 2: Building the Fence
Step 1. Mark the boundary
It is of fundamental importance to understand where your property begins and ends before proceeding with the work, to avoid trespassing. Usually, when you ask the municipality to build, the technical office provides you with cadastral maps to understand exactly, in collaboration with the neighbors, where you can erect the fence.
If there is already a fence, make sure it respects the necessary boundaries correctly
Step 2. Decide the height
You need to know how tall it will be before you are too far ahead with the work. Usually a fence that has the purpose of protecting your privacy is 180 cm high, the one to contain livestock of 120 cm, while the decorative fences are 90 cm. Once you know the total height of your fence, you can buy the right size support posts.
Be sure to consult your municipality's technical department as in many areas there are specific regulations for the height of the fence which must be measured from the road surface
Step 3. Stake the corners of the property
Place them in the places where, more or less, you foresee the corners of the building.
Step 4. Determine the boundary
Join the pegs at the corners with string to outline your property. Use a spirit level or square to make sure the angles are 90 degrees.
You can also check that the corners are right by measuring the string you have stretched. On one side measure 3m and put a mark, on the adjacent side measure 4m. Now measure the diagonal distance that separates these two points (the hypotenuse): if it is equal to 5 m, the angle is 90 °
Step 5. Stake the points where you will place the intermediate posts
Along the string you stretched, measure 240 cm long segments (or less) to define the support points.
- Usually we proceed by measuring the total length of the fence and dividing it by 240 cm to understand how many bearing posts you will need. If your value is not divisible by 240, then segment the fence into smaller parts. For example if your fence is 720cm long, you will need two intermediate posts to create three 240cm segments, but if it is 750cm you will need 3 intermediate posts 187.5cm apart to maintain a uniform appearance of the building.
- To find the length and number of segments into which to divide a fence that is not divisible by 240, do the following: divide the length by 240 and only consider the number of units and add 1. Then divide the total length of the fence by this number, you will have thus obtained the length of each segment.
Step 6. Dig the holes
Use pliers to drill holes in the places you staked out. Each pole must be buried for about 1/3 of its length (for example a 240 cm high pole must be buried for 80 cm). For this reason, dig a hole equal to 33% of the length of the bearing pole plus a few extra centimeters.
- The hole should be large enough to leave some space around the pole once inserted.
- Since the ground conditions can be different and you need to take into account the height, style and other factors of your fence, remember to calculate the depth of the holes for your specific needs.
Step 7. Place the bearing posts
Put 7-10 cm of gravel at the bottom of each hole, insert the pole so that it is perfectly plumb. Make sure that the angles are always 90 ° with the help of a spirit level. Also check that they are all at the same height.
Step 8. Pour the concrete into the holes
Keeping each post still in its position, pour quick-setting concrete into each hole, filling it 2/3 full. Add some water and use a stick to mix it with the concrete. Stabilize the post using temporary brackets if necessary and wait for the concrete to solidify according to the manufacturer's instructions.
Step 9. Fill the empty space that remains in the hole with soil once the concrete has hardened
Step 10. Add mason's twine
Pull it from pole to pole always at the same height from the ground, preferably on top of the supporting poles. It will be a guideline to keep the height of the fence constant throughout its length.
Step 11. Add the support beams
Cut crosspieces of 5x10 cm section of the right length so that they join, from center to center, two bearing posts at a time. If you prefer, you can also use a long crossbar that connects multiple poles at a time. Make sure they are no more than 60cm apart from each other, so you may need 2 or more sleepers. Secure them with outdoor wood screws.
Step 12. Add the planks
Now that the crossbars are in place, you can attach the vertical boards that close the fence. There are many ways and styles to proceed to this stage of the work, depending on the look you want to give your fence. The most used method is that of side by side boards with a minimum distance between them. Use spacers to ensure even construction.
- These planks usually have a section of 2.5x15cm and are rough, but you can also buy finished and bespoke ones.
- If you nail the planks by hand, use 8d galvanized spiral shank nails.
Step 13. Treat the planks
Now that the structure is installed, you need to treat the wood to make it durable. You can paint the fence, treat it with a primer or a simple water repellent finish, that way it will look great for years!
Often these products contain silicone or flaxseed oil. If you decide to paint the fence, use an oil-based sealant, an oil-based polyurethane paint, or exterior enamel
Advice
- Wood treated with chromated copper arsenate has been taken off the market due to the negative consequences. Wood treated with quaternary copper alkaline salt is fine, but be sure to do an additional treatment for the part that will have to go underground. Also, be aware that some types of wood decompose very hard and usually last as long as treated pine or fir. Much of the wood can also be painted easily, but you should still choose a durable or pre-treated one.
- Contact the offices that manage the various utilities to find out where their lines pass, even if you do not have all the utilities (cable TV, electricity, gas, telephone, etc.), otherwise you could risk ruining someone else's day or even, kill yourself and your neighbors.
- Use screws; nails do not stay stuck in old fences.
- The underside of the posts should be impregnated with linseed oil or another insulating material.
- Use suitable wood for the posts and the fence. There are treated woods that are resistant to insects and do not rot. Aromatic cedar, juniper and cypress hardly deteriorate.
- If you are building the fence on the border line with the neighbors, check with them before you begin to see if they have any objections and to make sure you agree on the border line. An appraiser can help you determine the boundaries in case there are any conflicts. You should also discuss it with whoever is responsible, as your municipality may require permits.
- Building a fence on hilly or steep terrain can be challenging. Place the main posts where the angle of the ground changes, and calculate the height of the fence so that it looks the best possible. If your property has more than two changes in altitude, you will likely need to enlist the help of a professional.
- Smoothing the tops of the posts and covering them with vinyl or metal will help prevent moisture absorption and will make the wood last longer.
- Check if there are any regulations on the construction of fences in your municipality; know that there are always laws, the important thing is to know what they are.
- 10x10 cm poles tend to twist and deform, especially in areas with a lot of humidity. A good alternative would be to use 2 x 5 x 10 cm boards nailed together instead of a 10 x 10 cm one. Two axes tend to stabilize each other, thus obtaining a pole that remains straight.
- There are vinyl fences and poles that are moisture proof and maintenance free.
Warnings
- Digging holes by hand in hard or rocky ground can be very difficult. You can rent a drill from a shop that rents construction material, but be careful as it is very dangerous.
- Make sure you know where your property boundary is before you start building the fence.
- Check with the appropriate office for any necessary permits before erecting your fence. Some neighborhood associations have guidelines or ordinances governing construction.
- Wear protective eyewear and gloves when working.
- Determine the path of the various utility systems and / or irrigation pipes before starting to dig. You may need to call the companies that run them individually to come to your home and tell you their lines, but there may also be a single helpline number that works for all of them.
