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Started By
Message
re: How difficult is it to build your own fence?
Posted on 12/16/19 at 8:34 pm to jeffsdad
Posted on 12/16/19 at 8:34 pm to jeffsdad
I hired my done and a friend of mine and his guy put it up. I watched!
Some things he did I would not have thought of but I like--
1) I wanted clear Sherwin stain with a white pigment added and fungicide mixed in. We put three coats on it to get the white wash look I was looking for. And put that on the boards before we started building the sections. It was 8 foot cedar. Looks very good with that white wash look. No mildew now two years latter.
2) built the sections to fit the post spaces--we did a shadow box type fence--and then stood the sections up and bolted them on the post. All boards were attached with ring shank galvanized nails.
3) on the back of the fence on every post we put an angled board to brace post. It leans into the post---they are about 30 inches tall.
posts are 4x6 treated pine
Some things he did I would not have thought of but I like--
1) I wanted clear Sherwin stain with a white pigment added and fungicide mixed in. We put three coats on it to get the white wash look I was looking for. And put that on the boards before we started building the sections. It was 8 foot cedar. Looks very good with that white wash look. No mildew now two years latter.
2) built the sections to fit the post spaces--we did a shadow box type fence--and then stood the sections up and bolted them on the post. All boards were attached with ring shank galvanized nails.
3) on the back of the fence on every post we put an angled board to brace post. It leans into the post---they are about 30 inches tall.
posts are 4x6 treated pine
1
Posted on 12/16/19 at 9:29 pm to I B Freeman
Did they use imported Chinese lumber?
Posted on 12/17/19 at 9:06 am to Bronson2017
If you wait till spring Lowes/Home Depot normally put the pickets on sale as well as 4x4's, 2x4's and quickcrete. Not a carpenter by no means and did mine by myself. Digging the holes was the toughest part because of clay beneath the top soil. Even built two gates which looks like they were built by someone with no carpenter skills, lol. But they work.
Posted on 1/15/24 at 10:02 am to East Coast Band
quote:My neighbor split costs, but that called for sinking the posts (very heavy, not standard fence posts) in 4' deep footing because of the fence weight. I had an engineer check it for wind load to make sure it could handle the weight and not get pushed over in one of the occasional freak 65-75mph wind gusts we get.
I bet your nice fence ran a bit more than this.
Real 1" thick cedar cost a little more. I used 6" boards on top and 3" boards under those. Placed all the 3" boards first using a jig I made for spacing, then the 6" boards were layed on top of those using another jig for uniformity. The top ,the gates and the custom trimming and routing took the most time.
Cost for doing both sides and my double gate was about $6k in materials.
This was pre-stain.
Posted on 1/15/24 at 10:07 am to CenlaLowell
I built one to fence in my chickens. Did the math, and rented the post hole digger from Lowes. It turned out decent. My math was great, my measurements somehow got off by 2 inches.......everywhere. Luckily where I wanted to put the gate was exact.
I learned a lot and if I need to do it again have full confidence that I can do it perfectly. Having a little help really cuts the time in half.
I learned a lot and if I need to do it again have full confidence that I can do it perfectly. Having a little help really cuts the time in half.
Posted on 1/16/24 at 1:01 am to Bronson2017
Not bad, I had to demo one, Sawzall the old fence, I have a dump trailer. The 4X4 post were still good. Screwed in the 2X4’s, then got Coated Ring Shanked nails for the fence pickets. Just butt them up, they will srink, check the level every 3 or 4 pickets. I just matched the dog ear tops to each board, didn’t use a string. Did about 70 ft in less than 2 days. Just two of us working. Less than 12 hours total.
Posted on 1/16/24 at 10:54 am to Bronson2017
Used hand operated post hole digger but used sharpened sharp shooter shovel to chop and losses bottom of hole. Cuts time in half. For manual diggers, is recommended to buy a sharpshooter for a lifetime of use. Can cut most roots easily without saw. You'll be amazed at a sharpshooter uses. Wash mud off after use, and it will last 50 years.
Posted on 1/16/24 at 12:34 pm to ewilliams000
quote:
Used hand operated post hole digger but used sharpened sharp shooter shovel to chop and losses bottom of hole
You can dig down 8-10”, fill the hole with water, that will help with the digging. Soften the remaining dirt/clay.
Posted on 1/16/24 at 1:53 pm to Bronson2017
quote:
How difficult is it to build your own fence?
It is more difficult than is seems to be. Measure exactly and be damn sure every post is plumb or it will look like a kindergartner built it. Also, put three stringers instead of two to keep the pickets from warping all up.
Posted on 1/16/24 at 4:42 pm to dakarx
Laughed at this comment.
I’m a Dad with two girls. I would have worked a boy like a slave driver.
I’m a Dad with two girls. I would have worked a boy like a slave driver.
Posted on 1/16/24 at 4:51 pm to redfish99
quote:
Post hole digger and string is all you need if you’re mechanically inclined at all. DIY.
Leveling your posts is always a good idea.
Posted on 1/16/24 at 5:18 pm to MoarKilometers
quote:
Leveling your posts is always a good idea
An even better idea is to make them plumb.
Posted on 1/16/24 at 5:29 pm to MikeBRLA
quote:
An even better idea is to make them plumb.
Touche, but I wouldn't use a plumb, I'd use a level
Posted on 1/16/24 at 5:56 pm to Bronson2017
I've built miles of fence. It's technically about the simplest carpenter job there is. Digging post holes sucks, but there's nothing complicated about it.
Posted on 1/16/24 at 6:24 pm to HubbaBubba
Interesting bump. You answered his question in 2019 then again today? Nice fence though.
Posted on 1/17/24 at 11:23 am to Bronson2017
I can do very little that I am proud of upon completion, I can build a nice fence. So, anyone can do it.
Set posts, attach runners and put up planks.
Gate building and hanging is a touch tougher, but with you tube it should be a piece of cake.
Set posts, attach runners and put up planks.
Gate building and hanging is a touch tougher, but with you tube it should be a piece of cake.
Posted on 1/18/24 at 12:33 am to tigerfoot
A couple of tips.
Mark off location of every post and then rent your auger. A "one person" auger will work you to death after just a few holes, get someone to help. If the soil is fairly "soft", a post hole digger does not take that much longer. Just put a mark on the handle to let you know how deep to dig the hole.
When setting your post, pour in a little water [about a quart] in the hole and then pour in a little concrete. Use a steel rod to poke the concrete to mix it up. Add more water and concrete and mix again. Do this about 3 times until the concrete is a little above the ground level. Then use a trowel to slope the concrete away from the post. This will keep water away from the post.
When buying the pickets, get about 10-15 extra. You will find some with "knots" holes or warped. Return the extra boards when the fence complete.
Mark off location of every post and then rent your auger. A "one person" auger will work you to death after just a few holes, get someone to help. If the soil is fairly "soft", a post hole digger does not take that much longer. Just put a mark on the handle to let you know how deep to dig the hole.
When setting your post, pour in a little water [about a quart] in the hole and then pour in a little concrete. Use a steel rod to poke the concrete to mix it up. Add more water and concrete and mix again. Do this about 3 times until the concrete is a little above the ground level. Then use a trowel to slope the concrete away from the post. This will keep water away from the post.
When buying the pickets, get about 10-15 extra. You will find some with "knots" holes or warped. Return the extra boards when the fence complete.
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