Want to build a wood fence in the backyard...
 

Any immediate thoughts? Do's or Don'ts? Things to avoid?

Should I use metal Poles as or wood posts?

Nail Gun or Screws (I'd Rather nail)

Just starting to brainstorm on this. Want to have it done by May.

Do I need to concrete the poles in? or will gravel and dirt do fine?

Is it worth the savings doing it myself or should I hire someone?

Re: Want to build a wood fence in the backyard...
 

well first off, treated lumber should be used. I used to work at 2 different lumber yards, and as a matter of fact, most of our treated lumber came from Louisiana, so you may be able to get a better price, living so close?

Id go with wood posts, 4"x4" if possible

Id get epoxy coated screws w/square drive (theyre a greenish colored screw)

I would concrete the poles in, 1/2-1 bag per post depending on how deep you go. If you want a 6' fence, go with 8' posts and go 2' in the ground, Because youre in Louisiana, you dont really have to worry about going beneath the frost line, you may even be able to get away with 1' in the ground, but then again you have to worry about hurricanes lol

do it yourself, its not that hard. I dont know how your good your skills are. its not difficult. Id go with no longer than 8' in between posts. then run a treated 2x4 perpendicular to the verticle posts, 1 near the top, one near the bottom. you can even go with one near the middle if you want. and then just screw your fence boards to the horizontal 2x4's. Im assuming youre going to be using 1"x6"s for the fence boards? It looks pretty good when you dog ear the boards too.

The place where I used to work sold pre-fabbed fence panels, 8' long, 6' high, that may be more convienent for you? Look into your local lumber yards and building suppliers to see what they carry

Hope this helps!

Re: Want to build a wood fence in the backyard...
 

Check with county on building permits. May sound dumb but i know from experience

Have the survey people come out and check for buried cables or gas lines

Go with a nail gun.

When we built our fence we took the post down 2' and poured concrete all the way to the top. We then mounded it up to prevent water from be able to sit there. So it basically ran off. Also makes for mowing easier and using a weed eater easier

Re: Want to build a wood fence in the backyard...
 

Re: Want to build a wood fence in the backyard...
 

Haha, well I wouldn't be using a nail gun with metal poles!

thanks for the advice guys. Lumber isn't too expensive here. I priced it out a few months ago and i was looking at about $550 in fencing and another $150 in posts and supplies.

I considered screws but thought that would take forever.

With the size of my yard, speed and progress will be important. Don't want this thing to drag out from weekend to weekend haha.

Re: Want to build a wood fence in the backyard...
 

oh yes you can :D

http://www.ramset.com/images/ramset/...ocket_tool.jpg


ramset for the Flockin WIN!!!

Re: Want to build a wood fence in the backyard...
 

put gravel at bottom of post holes for water drainage,use a red wood 1x12 at the bottom for a grass board years down the line you can Chang it out and it keeps your slates from geting jacked by weeds/ mower! no more than 8' from post to post or your fence will sag and droop. nails not screws its cheaper and screws seem to rust faster. if you have a neighbor and he is willing to pay half for the fence put the frame on his side that way its his problem if it should brake or fall framing side is owners side and there for owners responsibility.

you going to paint this fence or leave it plain? if you paint it do a good coat if you leave it plain paint it with a water sealer it will help it last longer the nails you use should be a galvie (? spelling)or zinc coated dont use green sinkers thay tend to leave brown runs on the slats.

got a gate ? get a gate kit from home depot or lows saves so much headaches and you cant go wrong lol and yes call U.S.A (underground service alerts) 3 days before you dig fiber cost a like $1000, a foot if you hit it and no one would want to hit a gas line !

oh and most inportanly have plunty of BEER COLD BEER on hand so if you hit your thumb you have a cold something to put on it !!!

Re: Want to build a wood fence in the backyard...
 

Well, lots of good advice. I have called and had my lines marked. Nothing in my way for this job.

Never heard of the gate kits. Is this what your'e talking about? Gate Kit

I don't have to paint it. I will get some water sealer though.

My neighbors suck. They are not happy I'm even putting a fence up. Most of the houses in my area have wooden fences, but my block of houses for some reason doesn't. They think its great being able to see what each other is doing. Well, I don't. My wife would like to tan in the backyard and I'm not comfortable with some of the people around us if ya no what i mean.

One issue I didnt mention was that there is chainlink around my whole backyard right now. So all of my neighboors will be seeing the framing side. O well, gotta do what I gotta do.

If only I could find someone with a nail gun. I think I have a buddy with one but not sure. I considered buying a cheaper gun from harbor freight...is this a good or bad idea. I think borrowing would be a lot cheaper lol.

Re: Want to build a wood fence in the backyard...
 

Home Depot and Lowes rent nail guns

Why are you putting the ugly side toward the neighbors?

When we had our fence I found it very useful with the framing towards my side. You can hang things from the 2x4's going horizontal

Re: Want to build a wood fence in the backyard...
 

Steel posts into concrete. metal brackets to hold either redwood or cedar (screw Treated Lumber it is TOXIC WASTE! ans use Dicromium screws to assemble it all. Let it weather a year then seal it with a clear oil base sealer and it will last 100 years

Re: Want to build a wood fence in the backyard...
 

Also check on Zoning Ordinances. Quite often they will have "setbacks" that have to be followed - the fence/structure/whatever can be no closer than a certain distance from the property line, otherwise the town can force you to take it down, especially if the neighbors get into a stink over the presence of the fence. They may also have fence height restrictions. Make sure you are absolutely sure where your property line is.

Our housing development is on the side of a hill. A neighbor a couple of houses down decided that he wanted to put a 2 foot or so high retaining wall up to ease the grade of the front yard. Turns out that he put the wall on the 11 foot right of way easement that the town has on either side of the street, so the town Zoning Officer made the owners move the wall a couple of feet so that it was off of the town's easement.

Re: Want to build a wood fence in the backyard...
 

Fence is done! Longest weekend of my life. My buddy helped me on Saturday set 24 posts. Dug 26-27" and used 1/2 to 3/4 of a 40lb bag of concrete.

Dad helped me do pickets on one side on Sunday and I worked the rest of the day and finished after work today.

Biggest PITA was the fact that my yard is so unlevel. We ran a string from each corner to the other and hung a small level off of it to make sure all the tops of the boards were even. Did pretty good for never having done this before. Now I know where I need to get some dirt to fill in my yard! Pictures below!

Wood Arrives!
http://i74.photobucket.com/albums/i2...hicago2010.jpg

Left Side of posts done.
http://i74.photobucket.com/albums/i2...hicago2010.jpg

Some other sides...
http://i74.photobucket.com/albums/i2...hicago2010.jpg

http://i74.photobucket.com/albums/i2...hicago2010.jpg

Finished product...
http://i74.photobucket.com/albums/i2...0/4a97c8c1.jpg

http://i74.photobucket.com/albums/i2...0/67eb6eb8.jpg

What got me through the weekend..And what I used to celebrate tonight....
http://i74.photobucket.com/albums/i2...0/e87d3ccf.jpg

Re: Want to build a wood fence in the backyard...
 

Looks awesome.

I see now why you put the smooth side in

Re: Want to build a wood fence in the backyard...
 

looks really good. blinds all your neighbors out too haha

Re: Want to build a wood fence in the backyard...
 

Yeh I love the smooth side in. If the neighboors don't like it, they can build their own. Thought it turned out good. I used a nail gun I bought at harbor freight for 100 buks. Worked pretty well. It wouldn't use the full pack of nails though. It left 3 in the chamber every time and i had to just ditch those 3. other than that it worked fine.

Glad its over.