How to Build a Privacy Fence

A fence is a useful addition to your house because it offers you peace as well as privacy. There are many types of materials for privacy fence such as wood, vinyl and wrought iron. There are a wide variety of privacy fence designs to suit your budget and your preferred design. You can also plant evergreen bushes and trees to build a natural border fence. Privacy fence is one of the home improvement plans that can be taken as do-it-yourself project. However, if you are not sure how to build a privacy fence, you can always get the help of a professional.

Tips to build a privacy fence

Privacy and peace is assured if you have installed a privacy fence around your home or your property. Here are a few tips to install a privacy fence.

The first thing you need to do is to decide the height of the fence. This would help you to save time, money and energy. You can also consider planting fast growing evergreen trees and bushes instead of a wooden or a chain fence to add a natural beauty to your back and front yard.

Before you begin installing the fence, ensure to the mark your property line. Once you are through with this, measure and mark the distance between the two ends of the fence. The number of fence posts required is determined by the dividing the total distance by eight feet (This is the normal distance. You may reduce the length by 2 feet if you wish.).

The next step is to dig holes to fix the fence posts. The post-holes should be 25 inches deep by 10 inches in diameter. The post-holes can be dug using a post-hole auger. Once all the holes are dug, put a thick layer of gravel at the bottom of all the post-holes. Place a post in each hole and pour the concrete mixture that sets quickly (If necessary, anchor the posts before pouring the concrete. This would hold the posts straight). Allow it to set for at least two days. After 24 hours, you have to water the posts; this would help the concrete to cure firmly. There are also some quick-setting concrete products available that set within four to five hours.

If you are using wood fence, ensure that the lumber is treated. Seasoned wood will withstand the weather and will not wear off easily. Use posts made from the wood that is termite-proof and does not rot easily, for instance cedar and pinewood are the best.

Use pickets to fill in the spaces between two fence posts. The picket is screwed to the post using screws of one-by-four. The lower part of the picket can be sawed off, if necessary; it depends on the leveling of the ground.

Continue the process till the entire gap between the posts is covered. It is advisable to use galvanized decking screws for attaching the pickets to the posts and also to attach one picket to another. You can use additional screws to strengthen the fence picket.

Depending on the area of your property, the privacy fence project would take a couple of weekends.

Tools required to build a privacy fence

You have to check your toolbox to see if you have all the necessary tools for building a privacy fence. Here are some of the tools and basic materials that are required to start your project.

• Work gloves
• Level
• Post-hole augur or a digger
• Saw (hand and power saw)
• Nails and screws
• Hammer
• Screws
• Chisel
• Steel measuring tape and a marking pencil
• Hatchet
• Wood preservative and paint (if you are installing a wooden fence)
• Concrete

Building a privacy fence is not a Herculean task, if you have an interest in do-it-yourself projects. Pre-made fence kits are available in the hardware section of any departmental store.