How to Install a Fence on a Concrete Patio

Adding a fence to your patio will make it a focal point of your yard.

A concrete patio is a solid platform that gives you a feel for the outdoors without the grass and dirt between your toes. A plain patio does nothing to accent the look and feel of your yard. Adding a fence around your concrete patio will add a focal point to your property and add a safety factor to your space. Building a fence on your patio takes just a bit of time, a variety of common supplies and a little know how.

Things You'll Need

• Chalk box
• Treated boards (2 inches by 4 inches by 10 feet)
• Drill with 3/16 wood, 3/16 masonry and Phillips bits
• Circular saw
• Concrete anchor screws (1/4 inch by 4 inches)
• Hammer
• 16d galvanized nails
• Treated pickets (2 inches by 2 inches by 3 feet)
• Treated posts (4 inches by 4 inches by 3 feet)
• Work gloves
• Safety glasses

Instructions

1. Stretch the line from your chalk box across the patio 3 inches from each edge. Hold the ends of the line to the concrete and pop the string to leave a series of chalk marks around the edge of your patio.

2. Use the 3/16 wood inch bit to drill a hole through a 2 by 4 every 18 inches along the length of the board. Place the board onto your patio so that the outer edge of the board is resting on your chalk line. Install the masonry bit onto your drill and drill into the concrete patio using the holes in your wood as guides.

3. Install the Phillips bit onto your drill. Drive a concrete anchor screw into every hole in your board with the drill to fasten the wood to the patio. Continue attaching boards to the patio around the entire perimeter. Cut the boards with your circular saw as necessary.

4. Lay a 2 by 4 on the ground on its side. Place another 2 by 4 parallel to the first. Move the two boards three feet apart. Cut a board that is 3 feet long. Lay the short board on its side and perpendicular to the long boards. Make the outer edge of the short board even with one end of each long board. Fasten the assembly in place by driving nails through the side of each long board and into the end of the shorter board. Fasten a 4 by 4 between the opposite ends of the boards.

5. Place pickets between the long boards every 4 inches along the length of the span. Drive nails through the long boards and into the ends of each picket to fasten them in place. Take your time and be careful so that you do not drive the nails at an angle and split the small pieces of wood.

6. Stand the fence on the wooden outline that you have fastened to the patio. Maneuver the fence so that the 2 by 4 end rests against the wall. Fasten the fence to the wooden base with 2 nails every 18 inches along the length of the structure. Drill through the 2 by 4 next to the wall with your wood bit. Drill into the masonry behind the 2 by 4 with the masonry bit. Attach the wood to the wall with concrete anchor screws.

7. Continue building and mounting sections of fencing around the perimeter of the patio. Attach the 2 by 4 end of the new section to the 4 by 4 post of the previous section with 8d nails. Cut the long boards as necessary to adjust the length of the next section of fence so that it matches the base board outline.

Tips & Warnings

• Work gloves and safety glasses are required when using hand and power tools.

References

• Family Handyman: Drilling Concrete and Installing Fasteners