Building a fence can be daunting, especially after a storm damages your property.
Today, we’re sharing our step-by-step experience constructing a backyard fence following Hurricane Sally, highlighting practical tips to help you build efficiently, effectively, and economically.
Why We Like This Recipe
This fence-building plan is straightforward, budget-friendly, and adaptable, even for beginners. It effectively utilizes standard materials like posts, pickets, cross beams, cement, and nails, ensuring durability without excessive spending. We especially appreciate the built-in flexibility for obstacles such as trees, clear guidelines on material calculations, and the option to correct mistakes or return unused materials.
What You Will Need
- Fence posts
- Wooden pickets (approximately 5.5 inches wide)
- 2×4 cross beams
- Quick-setting concrete mix (such as Sakrete)
- Galvanized nails/brad nails
- Outdoor screws
- String, spray paint, and level
- Post hole digger (PhD)
- Air compressor and brad nailer (optional but recommended)
Step 1. Marking the Post Holes
Begin by marking spots for your posts every 8 feet along your fence line to match the length of the 2×4 cross beams. Use tight string and spray paint to mark precise, straight post locations.
Step 2. Digging and Setting Posts
Using a post hole digger, dig each hole approximately 30 inches deep. Position posts loosely, adjust soil underneath to ensure level alignment. Fill halfway with water, add concrete, and mix lightly on top to ensure solidity.
Step 3. Attaching the Cross Beams
Using cinder blocks, set your bottom 2×4 cross beams, securing them to each post with screws. Measure 23.5 inches upward for middle beams, repeat for top beams. If working alone, secure one end first, then carefully level the opposite end.
Step 4. Installing the Pickets
Secure pickets with galvanized brad nails initially. To maintain consistent height, stretch a tight string from picket to picket as a guide.
Use a thin wood spacer between each picket for uniform spacing. Reinforce with outdoor screws afterward to prevent long-term warping.
Step 5. Final Adjustments and Tips
Overlap pickets slightly at corners to achieve a clean appearance. Continuously use a level to ensure vertical accuracy. Remember, having assistance greatly simplifies this step.
Allow concrete to fully cure before applying additional weight or pressure.
Other Details Display
- Fence Length: Approximately 104 feet
- Total Posts Used: 16 (including extra posts for tree box)
- Total 2×4 Cross Beams Used: 45 (including 6 extra for tree box)
- Total Pickets: Approximately 250 (227 calculated plus extras)
- Cement Bags: Initially 16 (some returned unused)
- Recommended Hole Depth: 30 inches
- Spacing Between Posts: Standard 8 feet (shorter around obstacles)
- Tools Recommended: Post hole digger, brad nailer with compressor
Summary
Following this comprehensive guide, you can confidently build a durable backyard fence, effectively managing materials, costs, and unexpected obstacles, turning an overwhelming project into a successful home improvement experience
This plan is a contribution by [AustinB104]. Project Via Instructables – Get the PDF Instructions here.