Do it Yourself: Backyard Fence
- 1). Measure the area to be fenced. The area size will determine how many posts and how much material you'll need. Sprinkle a line of flour to mark the fence perimeter.
- 2). Place large garden boulders in the spots where you'll install your corner posts. Drop smaller rocks every 8 feet between corner posts to mark where you'll install fence posts.
- 3). Dig post holes about 30 inches deep. Work on one post at a time. Trim the posts to your desired length, depending on how high you want your fence to be.
- 4). Excavate the soil from the hole. Shovel a 3-inch layer of pea gravel into the hole. Position the post in the hole.
- 5). Mix a batch of concrete, following the manufacturer's directions on the package. Pour the concrete into the hole. Level the post before the concrete hardens.
- 6). Repeat the process until all posts are installed. Allow the posts to set overnight.
- 1). Measure a center point in each post that is 4 feet up from the ground. This is the point where the ends of your fence top boards will meet. Mark the spot on each post with an orange grease pencil.
- 2). Trim top boards one at a time to fit horizontally between posts. Measure the distance between the orange spots on two successive posts. Saw the board to fit that space.
- 3). Nail the first top board into place. Position each subsequent top board so that the end of one board abuts the end of another. Remeasure the distance from one orange spot to the next every time you're ready to install a new top board, to be sure your measurements are accurate.
- 4). Repeat the process to measure, mark and nail bottom boards to the fence posts. Leave about 1 inch of space between the bottom board and the ground. This will allow you to weed-whack or clip grasses that will grow up next to the fence.
- 5). Unroll the fencing wire. Trim each section of wire to fit each space vertically between top and bottom boards, and horizontally between fence posts. Secure each wire section with staples.
