In the last segment, we showed you what’s involved in building a wood fence using individual components. If you want to save some time and work, you can also construct a fence using pre-built panels. Panels come in a variety of designs, from spaced picket fences to privacy fences topped with a lattice. Again, choose your design based on your taste what you want the fence to accomplish. There are a few differences in the methods you use in constructing a panel fence versus a component or stick pill fence.
The first step of laying out the fence perimeter with stakes and mason’s line is the same. You go ahead and dig the corner post hole. Be sure the post is plum and level with the post level. Set the post in concrete, brace it to allow the concrete to set. Now, dig the next post hole. We’ll be attaching the panels to the face of the post. So you want to position the post so that the panels meet in the center to provide maximum support for each panel. Another method is to install the panels between posts, instead of on the face. In this case, you’d use hangers nailed to the inside of the post. The panels sit on the hangers and are nailed in place.
Now, here’s the main difference on how we handle post for panels. Instead of setting the next post, we position the panel first to make sure it’s the correct distance from the first post. Once we’re sure that the panel hits the post in the center, we can then plum, level and set the post. When the second post is set, we then attach the panel to the two post using Deck’s screws. Unless the panels are made from wood rated for ground contact, keep about a two inch space between the bottom of the panel and the ground. To keep the top of the fence at a uniform height, we can again use mason’s line. Use a line level on a mason’s line. Continue installing one panel and one post at a time, continually checking plum and level. And that’s the basics of building a wood fence using pre-built panels.
Now is the good time to talk about how to handle building a fence when the ground is sloped. You have two choices. You can follow the contour of the hill, or you can build a stepped fence. In both methods, you set the post as we described. But with the contour fence, the rails follow the contour of the ground. In a stepped fence, the rails are horizontal so each fence section steps down to the next. Obviously, if you use pre-built panels, you will have to use the stepped method. If you construct a component or stick pill fence, you can follow the contour of the ground. You should take this into consideration when deciding on which type of fence to build. If the hill is very steep, you’ll end up with a large space between the fence and the ground in some places if you use the stepped method. You can read much more about contour and stepped fences in Patios and Landscape Construction One-Two-Three.
Other popular fence materials are vinyl and composite. Both are similar, and that they’re durable and have a little maintenance requirements. They come in a variety of designs, styles and colors. You can construct the vinyl or composite fence using components similar to a wood fence. Using individual components can allow you more flexibility when dealing with short runs or uneven ground. We’re going to walk through the steps of installing a vinyl panel fence. As with all fences, you’ll first lay out the fence perimeter using stakes and mason’s line. Always use the three-four-five method to be sure the corners are square. We’ll be using vinyl fence post to construct our fence. This fence manufacturer specifies that the post holes must be thirty inches deep and twelve inches wide for the fence to be covered by the warranty once installed. Before placing the post in the hole, we put in a base of gravel for drainage.
Next, we measure along the first post for the panel brackets. Follow the manufacturer’s directions for measurements. Attach the two brackets with the provided screws. Once the post is placed on the hole, we use a post level to make sure it’s plum and level. Set the post with concrete. Once the post is set, we bring in the first panel to locate the exact position for the second post. Set the panel into the brackets. Mark the location for the second post, dig the hole and pour in the drainage gravel. After measuring, attach the brackets to the second post. Set the post and panel in place. Attach the panel to the brackets on both ends.
Now, you can plum and level the panel and second the post and set the second post with concrete. We continue constructing the vinyl fence in this manner, one panel and post at a time. You don’t want to install all the post before the panels with the vinyl fence, because if you’re off in the post placement by just a small amount, it will result in gaps between the panels and post. You’ll notice here on the panel after we turn the corner that we step down a few inches to compensate for the grade of the yard. Once you finish directing all the posts and panels, and any gates you may want, all that’s left to do is put on the post caps. We do this by using PVC cement glue. And those are the steps in building a vinyl fence. Building a composite fence follows the same process as vinyl.
Well, that wraps up this series on fence building. We hope you feel confident enough to tackle this project in your own yard. Well, we’ve given you the basics in these videos, there is much more information available to help you out. Here on homedepot.com, you’ll find information about all aspects of fences. Also, as I mentioned, a great reference is the Patios and Landscape Construction One-Two-Three Book available online and in the home depot stores. And of course, the knowledgeable home depot associates that your local store are a great source of information. Good luck with your project and we’ll see you next time.
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