| Building a fence is a good idea. You get privacy, it | | | | the holes. Dig the holes as you go along, with a |
| acts as a weather barrier, it gives protection to you | | | | posthole digger. Try to get a gas powered machine |
| and your family (as well as your pets) from intruders, | | | | for this purpose, as it's quite strenuous. Make sure |
| and it can even be decorative. So with some thought | | | | that you're using treated wood, that will resist rot |
| and planning, and some good effort, you can pull off | | | | and decay. Put in 5 or 6 inches of gravel at the |
| a great fence. In this article, we give you directions | | | | bottom, this means that any water that might collect |
| on how to build a fence. First up, you need to decide | | | | at the bottom will be drained away. |
| what kind of fence you want. You can go to your | | | | Set the corner posts first, with concrete, then check |
| local supply house and check out the shapes, designs, | | | | for plumb, both ways. Use a 4-foot level, and center |
| and sizes that you can get. But you also need to | | | | on the mark. Then drive in the rest of the posts, |
| know whether you need any permits or special | | | | taking care that at least 2 feet are below the soil. |
| permission, because there may be legal issues that | | | | When the posts are set, trim the tops of the poles |
| you need to consider. | | | | to the required height. Next, you'll need to put in the |
| When it comes to directions on how to build a fence, | | | | panels, for directions on how to build a fence. Put in |
| let your imagination run free. Look through books and | | | | stringers, which run left to right between the posts, |
| magazines to get an idea of what kind of fence you | | | | they will support the boards. Use galvanized nails. |
| would like. There are many options available - ranch | | | | The panels can be of any design, vertical pickets, |
| style, panel, picket, chain-link, etc. Before building, do | | | | pre-made panels, or lattice - everything's great, so |
| be sure to check that you're not going over any | | | | you can use your creativity. But do be sure to keep |
| utility lines. A good tip would be to have a surveyor | | | | the panels symmetrical and consistent. If you're going |
| check out the area before going about the process. | | | | to put in a picket fence gate, use two cross pieces |
| Now stake out where the fence will go, and pull a | | | | and a diagonal piece for support. Then attach the |
| string between them. | | | | panel design for the support pieces. When they are |
| This will help you drive the posts into a straight line. | | | | nailed together, you can set the gate in place, with |
| Use the 4-6-8 triangle measurement to calculate the | | | | blocks to keep them at the correct height, and |
| right angle, where you start your fence. locate the | | | | spacers will ensure that they are at a proper distance |
| position of your first post, then mark out the rest of | | | | from the posts. |