How To Install a Fence

Do you have dreams of a fence surrounding your home? The privacy, the beauty — what’s not to like about it? Consider installing a fence during the spring, just after the ground has thawed and the soil is still nice and moist. Putting up your dream fence may require some effort, but with the right tools and these helpful tips and techniques, the task can go much more quickly and smoothly.

Make a phone call. Installing a fence requires digging so, before you begin, make sure to call (888) 258-0808. They can connect you to your local excavation department so you can make sure all your buried utility lines are located and marked.

Proper tools. A good post hole digger is essential for fence installation. Consider one with mechanical advantages that make the job easier, like Fiskars(R) Post Hole Digger. Designed for maximum efficiency, its narrow profile and handle orientation allows for deep digging without interference from the edge of the hole. This lets you dig deeper without having to make the hole larger, saving time and effort. The pre-sharpened blades are made of hardened steel welded to a steel handle for maximum durability. The off-set handles are designed to protect knuckles from striking each other in the middle of the job.

INSTALLATION STEPS

1. Measure the area to be fenced and drive stakes at the corners.

2. Stretch a string between the stakes, and check it with the level.

3. Use spray paint to mark the locations for the posts, about 71/2 inches apart.

4. Dig postholes at each of the locations marked. The size of the holes will depend on the height and weight of your fence as well as the depth of the frost line in your area. A good rule of thumb is to make each hole as deep as one-third the length of the post.

5. Before placing the posts, add about 3 inches of gravel in the bottom of each hole to allow proper drainage. Tamp the gravel down with the posts.

6. Place the post in the hole, and make sure it is plumb. Concrete is preferred for larger fences and in areas subject to “frost heaving,” which occurs when the moisture in the ground freezes and forces objects out of the ground. If you use soil and gravel, tamp it down frequently as you add it to the hole. This will help ensure that each post is as sturdy as possible. Stretch strings between the posts to make sure they’re in line with one another.

7. Measure the space between two posts, and cut two 2-inch by 4-inch boards to that length. These “stringers” will be attached near the top and bottom of the posts to support the pickets.

8. Attach stringers to the posts using 2-inch galvanized nails. All screws and nails used on the fence should be galvanized to resist corrosion from weather.

9. Determine the number of pickets you’ll need, and cut them to size. Cut out your own design or purchase pickets with a precut design. Painted pickets are also available.

10. Attach the pickets to the stringers. Be sure to keep the pickets fairly close together so that children and small animals don’t get their heads stuck between them. Use a spacer block to make the spacing as even as possible.

For more information on digging tools or to find a retailer near you, call (800) 500-4849 or visit www.fiskars.com.