How to Fence In a Backyard

A wooden picket fence is an attractive and functional option for backyard fencing.

Keeping animals or small children contained is one of the primary reasons homeowners build a fence. Privacy is also a concern for people living in urban areas with close neighbors. Fence style, color and material vary widely and can be tailored to suit individual needs and preferences. A popular option for backyard fencing is a traditional wooden picket fence. Although the picket fence is common in front yards, it is fast becoming a favorite for backyards due to its aesthetic qualities and cost effectiveness.

Things You'll Need

• Stakes
• String
• Measuring tape
• Marking chalk
• Post-hole digger
• Carpenter's triangle
• Waterproof compound
• Paintbrush
• Lumber for support posts, 4-inch by 4-inch
• Scrap lumber for bracing and leveling
• Level
• Crushed gravel
• High-quality outdoor paint or stain
• Shovel
• Quick-setting concrete
• Drill
• Stainless steel nails
• Hammer
• Lumber for horizontal braces, 8 feet long and 2-inch by 2-inch in diameter
• Pickets, 1 1/2-inch wide by 4 feet high
• Spacing board, 1 inch wide

Instructions

1. Draw a map of the area to be fenced noting any underground utilities. Make an outline of the fence with stakes and string. Use marking chalk to indicate the location for the main supporting posts. This fence requires the distance to be 8 feet apart. Use a steel measuring tape to measure this distance.

2. Check all corners with a carpenter's triangle to be sure they are 90 degrees. Make adjustments to stakes and string as necessary to ensure accuracy.

3. Remove the stakes marking the main support posts and dig a hole 24 inches deep. Carefully remove sod, for use in other landscape projects. Use a measuring tape to ensure that all holes are the same depth.

4. Paint the ends of the support posts with a waterproofing compound. This will protect the wood from moisture.

5. Insert all support posts into the holes using temporary bracing boards for stability. Assess that each post is entirely vertical using a level.

6. Starting at one corner, lay a piece of 2-inch by 4-inch lumber between the first two support posts. Place a level on the board and make adjustments until they are the same height. Continue this process along the fence line.

7. Paint or stain the support posts with a durable, high-quality outdoor product. Allow this to dry thoroughly before proceeding.

8. Fill 1/4 of each hole with crushed gravel. Top the gravel with quick-setting concrete and allow to dry entirely before proceeding. Once dry, remove the temporary stability braces.

9. Mark a spot, on the support posts, 12 inches from the ground for the bottom horizontal support beam. Pre-drill holes before attaching with stainless steel nails. Repeat this process for the upper horizontal support beam. It should be flush with the top of the support post. Continue this process around the perimeter of the fence.

10. Paint or stain the horizontal support beams with a durable, high-quality outdoor product. Allow this to dry completely before proceeding. Paint or stain the pickets with a durable, high-quality outdoor product. Allow them to dry completely before proceeding.

11. Drill four pilot holes in each of the pre-cut picket pieces, two at the top of the piece and two at the bottom. These holes should measure 8 inches from the top of the picket and 8 inches from the bottom.

12. Use a hammer and stainless steel nails to secure the pickets to the support boards. Maintain an even 1-inch space in between the pickets with a spacing board.

Tips & Warnings

• Paint or stain the fence annually.

• Check for loose boards on a regular basis and repair.

• Check all local ordinances before starting a backyard fence project.

References

• Ask the Builder: Fences 101
• High Point Fence Company: Types of Fences
• "Build Your Own Walls and Fences"; Penny Swift and Janek Szymanowski; 1996