How To Build Your Own Fence Panels – A privacy fence made from solid wood paneling can transform an urban backyard into a private outdoor oasis. Just as curtains can make your living room feel less like a fishbowl, a wooden fence can make your garden feel like an extension of your home. It’s amazing how a few wooden fence posts and fence panels can seem to add square footage to your living space!
A privacy fence is a strong fence structure used to separate outdoor spaces. They act as exterior walls, creating separate spaces for families in urban or suburban areas. Privacy fences screen or completely block the view between other properties. Not all of us can have our farmhouse in the countryside, but a yard should have a special, peaceful place for an al fresco family dinner.
How To Build Your Own Fence Panels
Most residential privacy fence panels are about 6 feet tall (or 2 feet tall in areas that use the metric system). Wooden fence structures are the most commonly used, followed by vinyl and composite privacy fences. I love the look of a classic wood fence, even though it will require more maintenance than vinyl or composite.
Severe Weather 6 Ft X 8 Ft Pressure Treated Pine Dog Ear Privacy Board On Board Fence Panel In The Wood Fence Panels Department At Lowes.com
A privacy fence is usually the easiest to install when using pre-fabricated fence panels. Most standard wood fence panels are about 6′ tall and 8′ wide. Custom panels are often available in other lengths or widths for an additional cost. It is also possible to modify standard fence panels, especially if you only need a few here and there.
Traditional privacy fence panels have fence boards that stand in a vertical pattern. Most modern fences can have horizontal fence boards. Consider the look and feel of your property before settling on a specific type of fence panel. The wood paneling you choose should complement the rest of your property.
Some wooden fence boards are simply laid boards next to each other. In this case, a small gap often appears between the boards (especially if the wood shrinks). To address this gap in privacy fence panels, the more expensive panels are often made as a “tongue and groove” or “board and slat”). These finishing styles both include an overlap between the boards that covers any gaps.
A wooden fence is usually made of cedar or other soft wood (spruce, pine, fir). A cedar fence will last longer than a spruce/pine/fir wood fence, simply because of the superior properties of the cedar wood itself. Cedar fencing costs more up front, but replacement timing makes up for the price increase.
Wood Privacy Fence Ideas
While you’re planning your wood fence, consider chatting with your neighbors. Most homeowners want to be good neighbors. Your neighbors probably stared at your fence for a long time and probably enjoyed talking about it before they started.
Some neighbors like the idea of a new privacy fence. Others may have doubts that are best resolved respectfully before work begins. This is amazing to talk about!
A standard fence post for a privacy fence should complement the fence panels. Most wood fence posts are made from natural cedar or pressure treated spruce/pine/fir lumber. Because fence posts come into contact with moisture-retaining materials such as soil or mulch, they often rot more easily than fence panels.
Fence posts are usually placed higher than the fence and then cut after the panels are installed. Each fence post must have a solid foundation (usually poured concrete). Fence holes can be dug mechanically with an auger to avoid shoveling by hand.
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Here’s what the natural cedar fence looks like after it’s installed (above). A high-quality fence stain will help protect the wood in the long run (although cedar will never rot). A new cedar fence can be treated with a natural mineral-based toxin-free stain (like our cedar decks), an oil-based stain, or even a water-based stain.
Some commercial dyes are solid (like paint), while others are transparent or semi-transparent. Many homeowners look for a stain that will penetrate the wood instead of creating a protective film over the wood. This allows the wood to “breathe”, … its main benefit is to reduce flaking. Anyone who enjoys scraping and sanding a private fence will understand that choosing a low-maintenance stain in the beginning is time well spent!
Looking for more privacy fence ideas? This Pinterest board has tons of privacy fences and landscaping ideas to help you plan your perfect outdoor oasis.
Mary Jane Duford is a gardening expert and founder of Home for the Harvest. He is also a professional engineer, certified permaculture garden designer, and master gardener in training. Mary Jane has been featured in publications such as Real Simple, Mother Earth News, Homes & Gardens, Heirloom Gardener and Family Handyman.
Concrete Fence Post Extenders
Trending Today How To Plant Broccoli Seeds Blueberry Plant Leaves Turning Red Blueberry Houseplant Care Tips When To Plant Seeds Outside A sloping yard can be challenging for many ways, especially when it comes to putting up a private fence. A traditional picket fence with vertical slats may not work because it may be difficult to line up all the pickets evenly. That’s why we chose to build our fence with horizontal slats. Not only is it easier to build a slope, but it also lends a unique style to the design of this hilly yard.
Arrange the placement of the fence. Posts should not be more than six feet apart, if more than six feet apart, the strength of the fence may be compromised. If you are replacing an old fence and the posts are placed six feet apart, you should use the same post holes, but it is best if you remove the old cement and gravel if any.
Check with your local building codes for fence post hole depth regulations, and be sure to check with your local utility companies before digging to avoid damaging buried wires. We dug our holes two feet deep and 18 inches in diameter.
Have one person hold the pipe pole while the other person pours dry concrete into the holes. Add water as you fill the cement, mixing well with a shovel. Fill the top of the hole with concrete or leave a few inches and then fill with soil to hide the cement. Stake the posts so they stay plumb while the cement hardens. Leave to rest overnight.
Easy Tips For Building The Perfect Fence
One of our fence posts is attached to a concrete wall. To attach a post to a concrete wall, drill at least two holes in the concrete slab. If you have a four inch post, shorten the hole by five inches compared to the threaded rods. This way the post sticks out five inches and the four inch post can be secured to the wall. Double check that the holes are big enough to fit the threaded rods. Fill the hole with two-part epoxy and insert the rod. Make sure the rod is longer than the width of the column from the hole. Let the epoxy dry overnight. Install the posts with washers and nuts against the concrete.
Make sure all the posts are the same height and make any necessary adjustments before installing the boards. Start sliding the horizontal boards along the posts. For an eye-catching aesthetic, alternate between two different board widths – we used 1×6 and 1×8. Start at the top, so if you need to cut a board to a different size, it will be at the bottom where it will be less noticeable.
If the boards are angled, cut the ends of the boards at the right angle making sure the angle is centered on the post. Attach each end of the board to each post using at least two deck screws.
Use a piece of scrap wood as a spacer to get equal space between each board. Make sure the end splices are staggered so as not to create a continuous splice on any post. Place the boards about 3/4 inch off the ground so they don’t attract moisture and rot.
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When the boards are finished, install the top cap by placing the boards on top and pin them to the ends of the posts.
Whether you’re looking to beautify your garden, keep your pet from wandering, or need more privacy, check out these new wood fence designs.
Proper maintenance, such as applying a fresh coat of paint or stain to your fence, will help it last longer and stay looking good. Follow these tips and instructions to transform your tired old fence into a backyard statement piece.
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