How to Build a Welded Wire Fence

Building a welded wire fence is a relatively quick and easy way to keep both the dogs and the kids in the yard. It is less expensive than putting in a chain link fence or a block wall and has the benefit of being less noticeable from the street than chain link.

Welded wire fences can vary in size from 3 feet tall to 6 feet tall. Welded wire is generally made of material that will not rust, rot or burn. Welded wire fences are less susceptible to wind damage since wind flows through the fence links.

Difficulty: Moderate

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Measuring tape 12-to-18-inch wood stakes String Line level Metal T-posts Hammer or steel post driver Welded wire Baling wire or metal ties Metal snips

1. Determine how tall you want your fence. If the fence will be 4 feet tall, the steel posts will need to be 6 feet tall. The posts will need to be at least 2 feet taller than your fencing.

2. To make sure your area is square, choose a starting point and measure from there. Mark each corner with a wood stake. Once your corners are marked, measure diagonally to make sure that your area is square (that is, that your area is a true square or rectangle). Your diagonal measurements should be the same. Adjust your wood stakes as necessary to achieve your right angles.

3. Measure each side of your fence from corner to corner. Add each side together. This will be how much welded wire you will need. Welded wire comes in rolls from 25 feet to 100 feet. The smaller rolls are easier to handle, but the larger rolls generally cost less.

4. You will need one post for each corner. Generally you want your posts to be between 7 and 10 feet apart. Divide the length of each side by 7-10 feet to figure how many posts you will need per side. Add up the posts from each side and the corners.

5. Place your corner T-posts. Remove your wood marking stake. In its place, pound your T-post 2 feet into the ground with a hammer or a steel post driver. Pound the posts in straight.

6. Once all the corner posts are pounded in, tie a string to each post, close to the top. Attach a line level to the string to make sure your posts are even. The string will also help you keep each post in a straight line.

7. Measure the distance from the corner to the first post you want to place. Pound the post into the ground. Repeat with the remaining posts, trying to keep the posts at a 90-degree angle to the ground. Remove the string.

8. Starting at a corner, attach the end of your roll of welded wire. Use the baling wire or metal ties to tie the wire to the post at the top, the middle and the bottom. Once the roll is attached, carefully unroll and stretch the wire to the next post. Tie the wire to the pole. Continue to the corner.
   
   Once you reach the corner, carefully stretch the wire around the corner and continue to the next post. Go back and secure the wire to the corner. Continue unrolling the wire and attaching to the posts until you are finished.

9. If you finish a roll of wire before you are done with the fence, you will have to splice two rolls together. The best way to do this is by ending the first roll of wire at a post and starting the new roll at the same post. Use wire clippers to remove the excess wire after the roll is attached to the fence.

Tips & Warnings

• You don't have to stretch welded wire like you do chain link, however, you do need to make sure that it is taut. While a hammer works fine for pounding the posts in, a post driver makes quick work of the job -- especially if you have a lot of posts. Compare the costs of welded wire and T-posts at various stores as the prices vary greatly.