How to Build a Fence: Choosing the Right Type of Lumber and Building Techniques

A well-built fence provides security, visual appeal, and privacy. In a practical sense, a fence indicates the property's boundaries, contains family pets or playing children, and helps to keep out unwanted animals or invasive plants. This guide will explore building a fence – from choosing the right lumber to proper building practices. Many fencing options are available beyond wood, like composite, chainlink, and barbed wire. However, wood is the most common and the focus of this guide. For more information on the right materials for your fence project, drop into Emerge2, and one of our associates will gladly assist you.

Planning Your Fence

As with any home improvement or DIY project, adequate planning is crucial for proper execution. Here are some key considerations when planning your fence project.

Good Fences Make Good Neighbors

Determining the property line is the first step in any fence project. This may require you to refer to or obtain a site survey for accurate borders. It's best practice to get your neighbors involved (if you have them), too. Often, the cost of a fence can be shared, but at a minimum, gaining their approval can save you disagreements or even litigation down the road.

Check Local Building Codes

Next, check permits, height restrictions, and setbacks with your local building department. Some municipalities require a permit for fence construction. There may also be fence height limitations in your area. This usually concerns what the local fire department can safely scale in an emergency. The local building codes will also determine setbacks from roads, other properties, or wooded areas that may border the property. It's also best to call the local utility providers to determine if there are any underground service lines before you start to dig postholes.

Choosing a Design

Fencing designs are endless, with boards installed vertically, horizontally, or diagonally, and with large spaces or none between boards. Some fences don't have boards; instead, pickets are used. Posts can be installed every eight feet, but four-foot increments are common. Fences can be tall or short. Posts can protrude above the top of the fence panels and be decorated with post caps or trimmed flush. Decorative inserts can be installed into panel sections or gates. Check out online resources like Pinterest, Instagram, or Facebook.

Choosing the Right Lumber

After determining the location, height, and design considerations, you must choose the right lumber. Various lumber options are available for fence building, from natural to treated wood to composite materials. Let's look at each below.

Pressure-Treated Pine

Pressure-treated lumber is the most common material available. It is standard framing lumber infused with chemicals to increase its resistance to insects, weather, and rot. Due to its durability and cost-effectiveness, it is the most popular material for building fences. It is available in the standard dimensions of conventional lumber, giving the avid DIYer plenty of options for fencing projects.

Cedar

Cedar, renowned for its beauty, aromatic qualities, and natural insect-repelling properties, is a premium option for building fences.

Tropical Hardwoods

Tropical hardwoods, like Ipe or Bubinga, are exceptionally durable and naturally resistant to moisture and insects. They are also pricey, so they are frequently used for high-end fencing. Due to their density, tropical hardwoods are often challenging to work with. Installers need specialized drill bits and blades to work with these materials adequately.

Calculating Materials Needed

Calculating the materials needed for your fence project doesn't need to be difficult. The best practice is to determine how much is required for one section and multiply it by the number of sections in the fence.

Posts and Sections

The number of posts you need will determine the number of fence sections minus one. For example, if there are nine posts, there are eight sections. To calculate the number of posts, divide the length of the proposed fence by the spacing between posts plus one to account for the end. So, for an eighty-foot fence with eight feet between posts, there will be eleven posts. If a gate is planned, additional posts are needed.

Cross Members

The design will determine the number of cross members, also known as stiles or backer rails, multiplied by the number of sections. Depending on your design, one fence section may have as few as two cross members or as many as six. If your design requires four rails per section, forty rails are needed for the fence.

The Number of Boards

The same process is used to calculate fence boards. Simply divide the measurement between posts by the width of one fence board. Then, multiply that number by the number of sections. For example, if the posts are eight feet apart (96 inches) and the boards are six inches wide, the number of boards needed for one section is sixteen. With ten fence sections, 160 fence boards are required to complete the project.

Pro Tip!

Fence post installation isn’t precise due to imperfections in the lumber, obstructions in the post holes, or installer errors. It's best to make the distance between posts slightly less than the length of the conventional lumber you plan to use. This will make your calculations a little more complicated than the example above, as fractions of boards will be calculated. A bit of leeway ensures your eight-foot cross members won't be too short in fence sections.

Building Techniques for a Better Fence

Setting Fence Posts

Use two stakes and a string to determine the fence's line. Offset the string a foot or two from the actual fence line so the string does not get in the way during digging and setting posts. Mark the first hole with landscape paint or another obvious marker at one end of the fence line. Then, measure the distance out to the next post. Repeat this process for all posts. If the fence runs in line with a house or other fixed object, start there and work away from it.

Once all posts are marked, it’s time to dig. Various tools aid this, from clamshell diggers to landscaping bars to gasoline-powered post-hole augers. The local building codes will determine the depth of the hole, which considers freeze-thaw cycles and the upward heaving caused by it. Typical post depth in environments with winter is four feet. The makeup of the earth will also determine post depth. Sometimes, a giant boulder at two feet deep will end further excavation.

Then, mix up your concrete or post mix and set the post into the hole. Add a little mix or gravel to the bottom of the hole first, or wrap the end of the post in plastic to prevent water penetration in the end grain. Use a level to plumb the post in two directions (or on two sides of the post). While setting posts, use a tape measure to establish the set distance off the string line. Pour in the post-setting mixture, periodically checking the plumb and distance from the string until the hole is full. Round the mixture at ground level to prevent water from pooling around the post and causing rot over time.

Installing Rails

The design will determine what is needed and how long it will take. Prefabricated fence panels make this process simpler, but designs are limited. No matter the design, rails are cut to fit between posts and act as post support and a means to install fence boards. Various hardware components are available to ease installation and increase the strength and longevity of the fence.

Fence Boards

Fence boards are then secured to the rails with nails or screws. The boards are secured to the posts, not the rails for horizontal installations. In this case, the rails are used only to provide support between posts and not to support the boards. Once you complete one fence section, repeat with the remaining sections.

Painting, Staining, or Sealing

Depending on your aesthetic preferences, you may want to paint, stain, or seal your fence to maintain or alter its appearance. If opting to paint and using pressure-treated lumber, wait a season before applying the first coat so the lumber has time to dry. Cedar can be treated with finish coats immediately as it is kiln-dried. Top coats require regular maintenance to keep them looking their best.

Mastering Your Fence Project

Building a fence is a valuable investment for any property, providing security, aesthetic appeal, and privacy. Whether you're containing pets, defining property lines, or enhancing your yard's look, a well-constructed fence serves multiple purposes. Remember to involve your neighbors, check local building codes, and carefully plan each stage of your project. Planning and selecting the right materials to follow best building practices, this guide ensures that your fence project will be rewarding. For personalized advice and quality materials, visit Emerge2, where our knowledgeable associates are ready to assist you. With thoughtful preparation and execution, your new fence will be a durable and attractive addition to your property for many years.