Fencing

A fence is a great addition to any yard. If you have young children or a dog and you want to create a safe space for them to play on your own property,  a fence can be a huge asset. In addition to security, a fence also offers privacy. You can have friends over or have a barbecue in your own backyard without having to worry about others looking in. Finally, a fence can be a way to define the boundaries of your property and reduce the noise level. It’s a landscaping project that you can do yourself, with the right materials and tools.

Strategies

There are two basic strategies for installing a fence. The strategy used for the majority of fences is installing the fence directly in the ground. Holes must be dug for posts and then the fence posts are placed in the holes. It doesn’t matter what material the fence posts are made of. In many cases, the holes are dug larger than required and filled with concrete to stabilize the fencepost. The concrete is like an anchor that aligns the post and prevents it from succumbing to wind or other weather conditions.

An alternative option to concrete is using a post anchor to root the post in the ground. It’s a metal piece that you can purchase along with your fence. It is installed into the ground without any digging, but you will need a jackhammer or a sledgehammer to drive it in. This can reduce the amount of work that will be required to dig all the holes for the posts. They are also easier to remove compared to concrete anchors.

Key Information

When installing a fence, you will need to choose from a variety of styles. If you’re doing the project yourself, you’ll probably want to choose something that’s already partially assembled for you. There are three main styles: solid, spaced picket, and shadowbox. The solid fence is, as it sounds, a solid wood fence. It can give you complete privacy and conceal your entire yard from the outside, depending on how high it is. Solid fences come in a number of appealing designs.

The spaced picket fence is a shorter fence, generally under four feet tall. It doesn’t completely keep your yard out of view, but it’s a good option if you want to add a stylish element to your house or keep pets or children in.

Finally, the shadowbox fence is usually around six feet tall and uses panels to create an aesthetically pleasing look on either side. In addition to providing complete privacy, this option also enables air to circulate.

Essential Tools

The types of tools that you need will depend on the fence you want to install. If you choose a fence that requires that you dig holes, you don’t actually have to dig the holes yourself. You can use a tool called a post hole digger to easily create holes for your fence posts. The Jackson J-250 Kodiak Post Hole Digger is a tool that can make this job easier for you.

You will also need a level to install your fence and make sure that everything is aligned properly. You can find a level, such as the 720 Polycast Post Level by Empire, at your local hardware store.

Finally, another tool you will inevitably need when building a fence is a good drill. If you don’t already have a drill, you might want to invest in one as they can be used for a variety of DIY projects both outside and inside the house. A cordless drill, such as the Bosch 12V Max Pocket Driver PS20-2A offers mobility when you’re trying to work outside.