Step-by-Step Guide – How To Put Up A Fence
July 4, 2017
Here is our step-by-step guide on how to put up a fence and the equipment you will need to complete the job.
Getting Started…
Step 1.
- Before you start, remove the old fence and any vegetation.
- Most fence panels and wooden posts are pressure-treated to prevent rot and insect attack. However, you will have to treat any sawn ends with an all-purpose wood preservative.
- Stretch out a string line with pegs to mark out where the fence is going. Mark the position of the first post.
If you haven’t already chosen your fence panel then Shop our fence panels here…
Step 2.
- If using metal spikes, first it’s important to check the location of any water pipes or power cables previously mentioned.
- Make a pilot hole with a metal spike, rod or bar. Place a piece of scrap timber into the socket of the metal spike. With a sledgehammer drive the spike into the pilot hole until the top of the socket is level with the ground.
- Stones and hard ground can make it tough to drive the post in exactly vertically. Use a spirit level as you hammer the post in to check it’s staying vertical.
- Buy 600mm spikes for 4ft fences and 750mm spikes for anything higher.
- Alternatively you can bolt sockets with flat square bases (bolt-down post sockets) into concrete.
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Step 3.
- The holes for your posts should be two to three times as wide as the post.
- The holes will be about 2ft (600mm) deep.
- Using your string line, dig a hole for each post with a post spade or a post-hole borer.
- So you don’t have to lift a heavy panel into position when you move to the next post, use a wooden batten cut to 6ft as a guide.
- With the post in place, pour in some water and post mix, replace some of the soil and ram round the post, then top up with some more post mix until 2”/3” from the top, then finish with more soil.
- Check the post is vertical on two adjacent sides with a spirit level. Then prop it up with one or two timber battens to hold it in position while the concrete sets.
- Post mix concrete will set in a few minutes, so work quickly.
- Leave the concrete to set for at least an hour.
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Fitting the Panels…
Step 4.
- To prevent the fence panels from rotting you need to keep them off the ground by adding gravel boards.
- Fit the gravel boards to the posts so they are level and the distance between the top of the gravel board and the top of the post is the same distance as the height of the panels.
- Sit the panel on top of the gravel board and attach to the post with either screws or nails.
- Put the next post in the prepared hole, making sure the top of the post is level with the top of the panel again. Attach the panel and gravel board, level the post, pour in water and post mix .
- Repeat this procedure until all the panels are erected.
- You can now add post caps to the top of each post if required.
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The equipment required for the job…
Box Section Level Tape Measure Wood Preservative Saw
Sledge Hammer Screws and Nails String Claw Hammer
If you require any further help or assistance with please do not hesitate to contact a member of the team on 01233 820240 or email us at sales@fourseasonsfencing.co.uk
