Board
fences are made up of boards nailed to a post/rail framework in
various configurations and patterns. Building a board fence is within
most do-it-yourselfer's skills, and by furnishing the labor yourself
the cost will be tolerable. CODES
AND CONSTRUCTION:
Before you buy fencing materials, check the building codes in your
community. Special building permits may be needed. It's also a smart
idea to consult your neighbors about your fence-building plans.
The fence could, indirectly, infringe on their property, view, wind
circulation, or lawn mowing.
Lay
out the fence plan on a piece of graph paper, locating (approximately)
the position of the posts and gates in the fence run. The layout
will serve as a buying list and can save lots of time and money.
Fence
posts, rails, boards, and hardware are standard items at most home
center and building supply stores. You may find pre-fabricated types
of board fencing in the store's inventory. As a rule, these materials
are usually slightly less costly than the boards and lumber you
would buy to build from scratch. However, check the quality of these
ready-made components; some are better than others.
A board
fence consists of posts, rails, Infill (or boards), footings, and
gates.
Posts-
Posts are almost always wood 4X4s or 4X6s. If you use round posts,
they should be 6" diameter. The posts usually are set 8' on
center, that is, 8' apart. Because they are sunk in the ground,
wood posts must be chemically treated to prevent decay. Cedar is
an option because it naturally resists rot and repels insects. Bottom
ends of posts should be treated with a wood preservative when they
are cut. The post height depends on the height of the fence and
the depth of the postholes.
A
depth guideline:
| 5'
fence |
32"-36"
posthole |
8'
post |
| 6'
fence |
32"-36"
posthole |
9'
post |
| 8'
fence |
32"-36"
posthole |
11'
post |
Even
fences 4' high or less should have posts sunk 3' deep. It's easier
to work with square posts than round ones. If the board fence you
are building comes preassembled and used round posts, be sure that
the posts are pre-cut. This will reduce the difficulty of construction.
The species of wood most often used for posts includes redwood,
cedar, cypress, spruce, pine, or fir.
Rails-
Rails span the posts horizontally There are always two rails - sometimes
three if the fence boards are heavy. There are several ways to attach
rails to posts. The easiest way is with metal T-plates or fence
brackets that are nailed into the posts.
Infill-
The boards are the infill. The boards could be panels such as exterior-grade
plywood (T1-11 is recommended for its grooved design), wafer board,
or tempered hardboard, or pressure-treated boards of varying styles
and sizes.
Footing-
These are the materials placed under and around posts to support
them. You can set the post directly into the ground and support
it with gravel or earth. Or, you can set the post into the hole
and support the post with concrete. The concrete footing, as you
would suspect, is the best in areas prone to extreme frost heave.
Gate-
The maximum width is 48". The gate posts should be larger than the
fence posts to support the movement of the gate. It is recommended
that you use 4X6 posts. The posts for a gate should be placed in
concrete for stability. We recommend at least three gate hinges-top,
bottom, middle-and that they be extra hefty for support.
