How to Build a Wooden Fence Yourself

Before you decide on building a fence, do you know what kind of wood is best for the job? Do you know how often you will need to treat the wood to make it last? Do you know whether or not the nails used are weather proof? How about the posts that will be put in, do you know whether or not they will begin to rot within a couple of years?

These are some questions that every home owner should be able to answer if they are dead serious about putting in a new wooden fence. The problem is most home owners do not know the first thing about any of these problems. They have their families and their careers to worry about and usually look to a contractor or a handyman to take care of this problem, which is understandable. The only problem with that is most contractors and handymen don’t take time to ensure the quality of the fence.

So let’s say that you are going to build your fence yourself. Where do you start?

Step 1: Measure

Before you start looking at the price of wood, it is smart to figure out how long your fence is going to be. Make sure to measure one side at a time and record your discovery before moving to the next part. In your backyard you will have three parts; the back of your yard and two sides. Do not assume that both sides will be the same in length because that is not always the case.

Step 2: Decide on Materials

This step is crucial in my process because everything you do depends on this step, the cost especially. The first thing to look into is the type of wood that you will want to use. There are several types of wood for fencing but the only two that I would ever recommend are the two best kinds for outdoor carpentry; cedar and pressure treated. Cedar is the best but as you have probably already guessed, it is also the most expensive. The benefits of cedar though are worth it. Cedar is a strong, long lasting wood that you will never have to treat. It is actually the only wood that you won’t have to treat yearly. Plus it will stand strong for several years if it is put up correctly. The benefits of pressure treated wood are that it is not only cheaper than cedar but it will last almost as long, if it is treated properly and put up correctly.