To put up a wooden garden fence panel with concrete posts, you will need the following materials: wooden fence panels, concrete fence posts, post mix, a spirit level, a trowel, a hammer, nails or screws, and a saw (if necessary).
- Measure the area where you want to install the fence panel and mark the locations for the fence posts.
- Dig holes for the fence posts at the marked locations. The holes should be at least 2 feet deep and at least 8 inches wide.
- Mix the post mix according to the instructions on the package and pour it into the holes.
- Insert the concrete fence posts into the holes and use the spirit level to ensure that they are perfectly vertical.
- Use the trowel to smooth out the post mix around the base of the posts.
- Allow the post mix to set and dry according to the instructions on the package.
- Once the post mix is dry, measure the distance between each post and cut the fence panel to size if necessary.
- Position the fence panel between the posts and secure it to the posts using nails or screws.
- Repeat steps 7 and 8 for each additional panel.
It’s important to check the local building code and zoning regulations about the fence installation before starting, and also make sure you have the necessary permits.
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If you’re wondering how to put up a fence but don’t know where to start, don’t worry.
You’re not alone!
The majority of our customers, or at least those that don’t hire a professional to do the work, have questions about fitting panels, posts or gravel boards. With this in mind, we’ve decided to cover all of the above in this simple fence-fitting tutorial.
Whether you opt for wooden or concrete posts and boards, we’ve got everything covered here.
We’ve broken this down into three main sections: installing your posts, fitting your gravel boards and then installing your fence panels as the final step.
Installing Fence Posts Safety and Precautions Before you begin digging holes in your garden for your posts, there are a few things you want to keep in mind.
Before picking up your tools, it is advisable to find out whether any electric mains or pipes are running underneath the area. This is a step you don’t want to miss.
How to Install Concrete Fence Posts
Concrete fence posts are generally more popular than timber posts for a variety of reasons: Concrete fence posts are more resistant to rot and last longer They don’t break easily, even in high winds They don’t need to be treated to make them durable against wind and water the way wooden posts need to be.
Slotted concrete posts don’t require fixings; panels just slide in to place Panels can easily be replaced, so repair and maintenance work is very easy You will need some help when placing concrete fence posts because of their weight. You need two sets of hands at least to place the concrete fence posts in the deep holes you dig for them. Remember the rule for the depth of your fence post holes: 2 feet will be in the ground. This means if you intend to have a concrete fence post standing 6 feet above the ground, your fence posts need to be 8 feet in length. Process Dig your fence post holes to be three times the width of your fence post and two feet into the ground. Insert your corner or end post first. With the help of a spirit level, ensure that your concrete post is vertically level. Pour in your concrete mix and add water.
Hold the post in place for a few minutes so that it starts to set. Move on to the next fence post. Use your gravel boards as a handy measuring tool for calculating where your next post needs to go. Make sure all the cement has hardened and that the posts are sturdy and capable of supporting load before moving forward.
Avoid erecting your fence in extremely cold weather. Generally, the colder your area is, the more time required for the mix to set. How to Install Wooden Fence Posts The process of installing wooden fence posts — or at least installing panels when you’re using wooden posts — is quite different from that of concrete. Process Dig your fence post holes to have a width that is three times that of your chosen fence post, and also at least 2 feet deep. Add an additional 6 inches to accommodate any gravel you will pour around the foot of your post; this is useful for preventing wood rot.
Start by installing the post that will go at the end or in a corner. Pour out six inches of gravel and place your post on top of it. Ask a friend to hold the post in place. Place the spirit level on at least 2 sides of your post to ensure that your corner post is perfectly erect, after which you can pour your concrete mix into the hole and add water. Hold the post firmly in place for at least a few minutes so that the post mix can begin to set. After the concrete has fully hardened, cover the remaining part of your hole with ground that you had originally dug out. Once you have your first post in, you can screw your gravel board to it in order to measure out the perfect distance to the next post. Or, you can measure the distances out and install the gravel boards afterwards — it’s your choice. How Deep Should a Fence Post Be? Deciding on how deep your fence post should go into the ground is one of the first questions you will have to answer when you start looking into how to build a fence. Choose the right depth and your fence will remain sturdy and strong for years. Choose the wrong one and you could be in for some disappointment shortly after the rains come in.
Now, the depth of the hole into which your fence post goes depends on a number of factors like the type of fence, the height of the fence, and also the width of the fence post in question. A popular rule of thumb suggests that the width of any post hole you dig should be three times the width of your fence post.
What does this mean in real terms?
Assume that you have a 3 inch wide post, for example, that you plan to sit over 6 feet or 1.83 meters in height above the ground surface. A recommended hole size would be 23cm in width (or 9 inches) and 60 cm in depth (23 inches or 2 feet) 2 feet is generally a safe bet as the depth for your fence post hole, so long as the fence is no higher than 2 meters above the ground. How Far Apart Should Fence Post Holes Be? Fence panels are usually 6 feet wide, so your fence posts should reflect that. With the help of your measuring tape, space out your fence post holes to be 6 feet apart and mark out the various positions. Don’t be alarmed if the total size of the area you want to fence does not allow all 6 feet of space between all posts. You can always cut fence panels down to size if need be, or make your own panel using individual boards, before installing them. You also want to take note of any gate positions and corner post positions while digging out your fence post holes. Mark these out with a stake or a mound of ground, so you don’t get confused.
A simple trick to measure out your fence post distances would be to use your gravel boards as a measuring stick. They’re the same width as a fence panel. What Are The Best Tools for Digging Fence Posts? The perfect tool for creating the hole for your fence post is the rabbit hole digger. This is a single shovel that is designed to dig circular holes, straight down and narrow.
All the tools you will need include; a rabbit hole digger or fence post digger; a hammer; a hand shovel; measuring tape; gardening spikes; and a spirit level.
Installing Gravel Boards
Your lesson on how to erect a fence would not be complete without learning how to install gravel boards. Luckily, installing them is pretty straightforward. Gravel boards are important because they are likely to be the first parts of your fence that will rot. Installing them and replacing is far cheaper than losing entire fence panels and fence posts. Because they sit below panels, they need to be added first.
How to Fit Concrete Gravel Boards Concrete gravel boards are really easy to install. All you need do is slide them into the slots that run along the length of the concrete fence posts. Makes sure the concrete gravel boards lie solidly on the ground, and use a spirit level to ensure they are horizontal. This is to ensure you don’t find it too hard to keep your fence panel level when you install them on top of the gravel boards.
How to Fit Wooden Gravel Boards Fitting a timber gravel board at the bottom of the fence could make all the difference in preventing your wooden fence from rotting. To fit gravel boards: Insert the board between your two wooden posts. Attach these boards to the fence posts using galvanised screws or nails, inserted at an angle into the posts, or by using a steel gravel board clip. You have the choice of installing your boards after all of the posts are done — ensuring you measure them out correctly as you go — or adding each one after you’ve fitted one post, so that it measures the correct distance to the next post for you.
Installing Your Fence Panels
How you install your panels depends a lot on the sort of post you have. If your fence does not divide into an exact number of fence panels, you will have to cut and adjust the length of one or a small number of fence panels so that they can fit. Once your fence panels are ready, you can proceed to install your fence panel between two posts. How to Install Fence Panels in Concrete Posts Once your gravel board has been fitted in (this isn’t essential, though we find that most customers do opt for them) use a level to ensure that it, or your ground, is perfectly horizontal. Slide your panel into the groove that is located in the edges of your concrete post. Use the spirit level to make sure that the fence panel is sitting vertically before moving on. If you haven’t already installed all of your posts, you can use your post and slotted in panel to judge where your next post needs to be placed.
How to Install Fence Panels with Wooden Posts To secure your panels to wooden fence posts, you can use 2-3 inch galvanised wood screws. Drill pilot holes first of all to ensure that the screws go in cleanly without damaging the wood. Alternatively, you can use a panel fixing clip to attach the panel to the post more easily. If you haven’t already added all of your posts, and you aren’t using gravel boards, you can use your panel to measure where your next post needs to go after you’ve attached it to the first post.