People build fences every day and most are built correctly, but most could also be built a little better. By applying the little-known tips below, you can build a fence that lasts longer and looks better.
Start a fence by drilling holes spaced approximately every 8 feet apart for the treated 4x4x8′ posts. These holes should be dug 2 feet deep with a post hole digger. Most people stop right there with a cylinder hole, as digging these holes is the most strenuous part of fence building. To ensure the post is properly anchored, the fence installer should use the post hole punch at an angle around the full diameter of this hole to make a ball-shaped anchor at the bottom of the cylinder. A post hole dug this way is much safer and more stable.
Another mistake people make is not realizing the fact that wood never sticks to concrete. Walk past any concrete job and you’ll notice that they use wooden forms to frame the concrete held up by nails and wooden stakes. The next day, the concrete workers pull out the nails and these wooden forms just fall out of the concrete. Another problem is insects and water in the ground that can deteriorate wooden posts. To avoid these problems, the fence builder should put black roofing tar on the bottom two feet of the fence post that goes into the ground. This will prevent the post from rotting and allow the concrete to bond to the posts.
After the posts are leveled and placed, they should be allowed to dry for a full day before nailing. If you start nailing before the concrete is fully set, you will throw the posts out of level.
Many people build a fence with only two rails to nail down the fence slats. To build a secure fence that will last for years, three rails should be used. The top rail should be placed on top of the fence posts in a horizontal position. Fence slats should be installed no more than 8″ above this top rail. If so, they will have a tendency to twist and turn over time. The bottom rail should be no more than 8″ above the bottom of the fence slats for the same reason. The center rail should sit evenly between the top and bottom rails. Although the top rail is placed horizontally, the middle and bottom rails must be placed vertically. This will prevent these rails from warping and will make your fence look much better and be stronger.
Ask any roofer about water drainage and they will tell you that water always goes in one direction, and that is down. He’s almost right, but he doesn’t get the lip factor or the persistence. There is one case where water can and will travel up, and every fence builder should be aware of it. This is also why fascia boards almost always rot and warp.
Have you ever walked past a house with wood siding or a wooden fence and noticed that the bottom of the painted wood is bubbling and rotting? The paint or wood sealer should have protected the wood from moisture to prevent it from rotting; however, the installers were not aware of the lip or lag factor.
Many contractors never seal the bottom edge of the wood. Over the years, as water runs off the face of the wood, it stays on the exposed bottom edge and begins to absorb into the wood, causing it to rot.
If you want to water seal or paint your new fence, always make sure to cover the top and bottom edge.