CHECK PROPERTY LINES

Do your research before digging up the first fence post spots, as fence construction in some areas is a highly regulated form of household or property building. Your neighbourhood, local housing association or your entire city could have specific codes that you must follow and abide by before going ahead with fence building or any form of home improvement. Plenty of these codes will generally govern the features allowed for fences, for example, the height or style you can have.

After researching, you'll need to check and carefully mark the property line of your house or property to identify whereabouts you are allowed to place your new fencing. For example, you may be able to build fencing surrounding your back garden but not at the front. An official property map named the 'plat' is a document you can refer to during home improvements and boundary disputes; the map will display your home's precise measurements and boundaries

 For those who don't have these documents, you can obtain a copy from a household surveyor from your housing association or county clerk. Once you've completed your research, we suggest posing your fence plans with your neighbours so that you don't end up building something that would become an eyesore or obstruct their view so that issues don't rise. 

SELECT THE TYPE OF FENCE

Once you've researched your property line and the fence code for your local area, you'll want to move on and select the right fence type for your aesthetic and practical taste. There are a vast number of fence styles out there on the UK market. Suppose you're in search of a fence that you can successfully DIY that will guarantee privacy. In that case, you're likely searching for fences constructed using prefabricated panels, as this is one of the most straightforward to assemble.

Before going ahead, you want to decide on the style you wish to achieve and build, as this may inform the length and width of the panels you require to pull off the aesthetic and whether or not they are available. Professional installers would encourage those attempting DIY'ers to research their exact panel specifications, which may affect your measuring and planning process. 

MEASURE AND MARK THE LAYOUT

Your fence installation process should always start with measuring and marking the fence layout whereabouts you would like your fence to be. The following steps will help you complete the process: Start by measuring the entire fence line: Extensive measuring tapes and a measuring wheel will help you, especially for those with much larger gardens or front yard spaces.

You want to mark out your measurements using chalk or spray paint to outline where the gate and fence locations. Next, determine the number of planks, panels or framing battens you require: To do so, we recommend subtracting the total gate lengths from the footage of your fence overall. Divide that number by the length of your panels for your desired style of the fence; in doing so, you'll be able to decipher the amount of panels you need and if you need any battens or gravel boards to raise the surface of the chosen material.

You can then ensure you fill in the remaining footage with partial pickets or panels should you encounter such problems. Finally, the last part of your measuring process includes determining the number of fences you need to purchase: Divide the length of your fence by the ideal post spacing; you're looking to place intermediate posts within every 6-8 feet.

GATHER TOOLS AND MATERIALS

Once your fence is measured and laid out, you must gather your materials and tools. Here is what you'll typically require when building a wooden fence for your yard or garden:

DIGGING POST HOLES AND SET POSTS

You want to ensure that your fence posts are accurately positioned before you can efficiently construct the rest of your fence. You must place your posts every 6-8 ft along the fence line to ensure its distance is the same length. Next, we suggest using a post hole digger and a deep hole at least 1/3 the height of your fence post. A 6-foot post will need you to dig a 2-foot deep hole.

Whilst digging, we encourage you to check for pipes and utility lines. You must pour in the gravel at every post hole to reach at least 3-4 inches, and on top of the gravel, you must add the concrete mix to around 6-8 inches before placing the posts securely inside the centre of your mixture in the soft ground. We recommend plumbing your post, meaning you must use a vertical framing piece referred to as a level to check the alignment of your post to assess whether it's positioned upright and vertically level.

Read the manufacturer's instructions for your concrete mix product and follow them closely to discover how long it should take to completely dry and set. Most concrete mixes will require you to add water and no other ingredients. However, you should always double-check. Cement is another medium you can use to set your end posts in place; it is commonly mixed with sand and aggregate to create consistency. 

INSTALL RAILS TO THE POSTS

Once your concrete has completely set, you can then start attaching your rails onto the posts. You must carefully assess the height of your fence to decipher how many perfectly horizontal rails you will require on the outer edge.

If your biggest goal with installing a fence is to achieve privacy for your home, you will likely need approximately three or more rails from the bottom to the middle to the top of the post. You can effectively attach the rails onto your posts using a hammer and nails or a high-quality power drill and deck screws. 

ATTACH PICKETS TO THE RAILS

Using a hammer or the power drill you previously used, you can attach pickets onto your rails with the same technique you used to install the rails. Remember that pickets take up a little more time to attach than panels, making for a more straightforward and quicker building experience, so if time is of the essence, we recommend opting for panels.

Panels are typically attached straight onto your posts, as opposed to pickets that require you to install rails first before attaching your pickets one at a time. For those swayed by the idea of using panels or double vertical planks, you want to ensure you install a removable panel fencing anywhere on your fence, one that can be quickly detached. Doing so helps form a more extensive entryway into the garden or yard, for if you ever receive a substantially sized delivery. 

INSTALL THE GATE

The gate is somewhat the finishing touch for any fence, creating a secure and decorative barrier to ensure your home stays private and peaceful. We recommend that you begin your installation process by positioning gate posts much like you would for regular fence posts. Once the posts are fixed, you want to grab your high-quality drill, the necessary hardware, such as screws, hinges of the correct size and locking mechanisms, and a screwdriver.

Begin by measuring your gate twice and assessing whereabouts you wish to attach your hinges so you can predrill them on your gate posts and fence section. Predrilling ensures you won't forget your places and therefore won't make any mistakes. Next, you want to screw the hinges on your gate and then attach your gate to those posts. The last job you must complete is installing your locking hardware, as your manufacturer suggests. Your gate manual will often come complete with an installation manual instructing you on executing these tasks, so ensure you follow and read carefully.

Closely following the fence-building tips can help protect your property from multiple structural and monetary elements. If you're concerned about full coverage for your gate application, you'll want to ensure your home insurance is as updated as possible. For those that fear they would struggle to assemble their gate or cannot comprehend the instructions, we encourage you to contact a local gate installer professional in your area to get the job done.