How to put up a fence

A new fence will give you more privacy and security and can be a lot more attractive than a plain old wall or as a backdrop for shrubbery and plants, especially climbers. Here's our simple guide on how you put up your new fence.

Level of difficulty

Level 3: Advanced

What you need

• Panel/boarded fence
• Sealant
• Gloves
• String line
• Pegs
• Tape measure
• Shovel
• Concrete
• Metal fence spikes
• Hammer
• Screws
• Screwdriver
• Hardcore
• Fence post
• Scrap wood
• Spirit level
• Fence clips
• Nails
• Crow bar
• Hacksaw
• Gravel board
• Wood sealer
• Protective caps
   

The steps to follow

Notes:

• Panel and post-and-rail boarded fences are the most common types of fences.
• Putting up a panel fence will require fitting ready-made fence panels. However post-and-rail boarded fences require fitting horizontal rails between posts and using boards as fence surface.
  
• Panel fences are cheaper to buy but they are less durable.
  
• If you've chosen wooden fence posts, make sure to apply a coat of wood seal to the surface to prevent rot.

1. Measure the distance where you plan to put up the fence.
2. Fasten the ends of the string line on pegs and stretch it across the area where you plan to put up the fence.
3. To secure fence posts, bury one quarter of the fence posts in the ground and surround it with a collar of weak concrete. An alternative for securing the fence in firm, rock-free ground is to use metal fence spikes; hammer these into the ground at each post position and then screw or nail the post into the spike socket.
4. To fit fence panels, the post spacing must have the same width as the panel. For boarded fences, the post spacing is less important; all you need to do is adjust the post spacing to provide an even length along the run.
5. To secure the posts in place, dig a hole of about 30 cm (12 in) deep. Place some hardcore in the base of the hole, then brace the post upright with two lengths of scrap wood nailed to the post sides.
6. Check if it's straight with a spirit level.
7. Shovel dry concrete into the hole and tamp it down.
8. If you're planning to use fence spikes, bury the tip of the spike into the ground and fit either the special hammering block or a short post off-cut into the socket to protect it as you drive the spike in with a hammer. When the post is driven halfway, remove the block, hold the post in place and check that the spike is vertical. If it's not, pull it out and tamp it down again. Then cut the post to length.
9. Set it in the socket and secure it with screws through the socket sides.

Fit fence panels
10. Mark the position of the next post and set it in place as in step 4 to 9.
11. Check that the post separation matches the panel width.
12. Repeat the process to fit the remaining posts.
13. Fix nail-fence clips to the inner faces of the posts. Nail-fence clips provide a better fixing than ordinary nails.
14. Position each fence panel between two position bricks to raise the bottom of the panel clear of the ground.
15. Secure the panel by driving in nails.
16. Lever off the edge battens from one side of the panel and reposition them if needed.
17. Cut through the panels next to the battens and secure it with nail-fence clips.
18. Add gravel boards at the bottom to close the gap between the fence and the ground.

Erect a boarded fence
19. Cut the rails to fit between each pair of posts.
20. Secure them to the post sides with metal brackets and check that they are parallel with the ground.
21. Nail support blocks to the inner faces of the posts to support the gravel boards.
22. Stretch and nail a string line to the post tops. It will be used as a guide to level the boards.
23. Then fit the first board with its thicker edge against the post.
24. Add more boards to overlap the edge of the previous board by about 12 mm (1/2 in).
25. Check with a spirit level to ensure that the boards are level.
26. Finish off by nailing protective caps to the post tops.