Our BIG SUMMER PROJECT is complete! We built a beautiful DIY fence to replace the dilapidated wood fence between our house and our neighbor. The added bonus was we were also able to replace our gate and get an automatic opener! We had no idea how to build a fence, but we worked with our neighbors and came up with an idea we loved and this project turned out better than we could have imagined!
Here are some before photos of our fence – it’s SAD I know!
We had to remove the existing fence for our project but if you’re starting from scratch you can skip steps 1 and 2 (lucky you!)
How to Build a Fence
Step 1: Knock down old fence pickets
Our fence was barely standing, so this was rather easy for us. We used a hammer and knocked out all the pickets. Some of them were screwed in, so we used a drill to remove those.
Step 2: Remove old posts
Our posts were rotted so we had to remove them. You may get lucky and have posts that are still in good shape. We used farm jack to remove the posts and it was SO WORTH IT! It was so much less messy and took a 1/4th of the time. We were left with clean holes we could easily use to set the new posts. We used 10 foot 4×4 posts.
Step 3: Set new 4×4 posts
For the most parts we could use the holes from the old posts but in some spots we had to dig and make the holes a little deeper or wider. We measured and made sure the holes were deep enough but didn’t worry about getting the measurements exact. We used taller posts than we needed so we could simply cut the tops off when we were finished – much easier than trying to get perfect hole depths! To set the posts, we poured a bag of Fast-Setting Concrete Mix then added water. We initially used scrap 2x4s to brace the posts, then figured out we didn’t need to!
Step 4: Attach “rot boards”
Instead of just using a 2×4 at the bottom, we also used a “rot board”. We get a lot of rain in Houston, and flooding happens alot, so this board is easily replaced if the fence ends up in standing water. This also makes our fence slightly taller which we also wanted! Be sure to measure each one and make sure they are level since this is the starting point for your fence!
Step 5: Attach 2x4s
We used our Kreg Jig to make pocket holes in each of the horizontal 2×4 fence rails. This made it so easy to attach into our 4×4 posts! Measure and put your top board so that the pickets will fit to the bottom fence rail. We weren’t sure at first if we needed the middle rail, but ultimately added it so the pickets didn’t bow out. We also added a 2×4 across the top – this rally finished out the fence and made it look awesome! We just nailed this into the horizontal top board.
Step 6: Put up fence pickets
We used a piece of scrap 1/4 inch wood as a spacer to ensure our pickets were evenly spaced. Start at one end of your section and put the board flush to the top board, then nail in. We did this part with a hammer and nails on our fence, but our neighbor rented a nail gun for his side.
Step 7: Add in odd end pieces
Once you add all your pickets in each section, you’ll most likely have an odd space at the end. We could have changed our spacing so we didn’t have to make extra cuts, but instead we measured and cut a picket to fit in the odd space – I preferred that to having odd spacing.
Step 8: cut down 4×4 tops
Once the fence was complete, we used a reciprocating saw to cut down the posts. We used a scrap piece of 2×4 to measure and mark each one so they would all have the same height. We’re still undecided if we want to add post caps!
I love how our finished fence looks! I seriously couldn’t stop staring at it! It’s such a change from the old fence that was there for so long. Even though we didn’t know how to build a fence when we started this project – it’s safe to say we do now! Since we DIY’d this project and saved a ton of money – we decided to invest in a new gate and had that professionally installed. We are so happy with our backyard – now we just need cooler temperatures so we can enjoy it!
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Wow! This looks great!
How much was your project?
Hi! It was around $850 and we split the cost with our neighbor. We were quoted much, much higher than that!
How big an area did you fence for that price?
It was about 60 feet!
NIcely done. Big change.
Question on the middle 2×4 you had to keep the pickets from bowing… It shows in the picture that you have them placed towards the front side of the 4×4 post but then in the after picture you don’t see the middle 2×4 but you see the bottom and top one… did you weave the picket in? I was looking to see if there was an after picture of the other side of the fence but didn’t see one. Just curious becasue I LOVE the look of the fence and we are redoing ours and want to follow this but confused as to where the other 2×4 is 🙂 or did you put another 2×4 on the top and bottm and sandwhich the pickets between them? Hope this makes sense.
Hi Brandy! Sorry that was a bit confusing! So the “after” photos you see are from our back porch (so our side of the fence). You can see it in the top left corner of this photo:
https://amber-oliver.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/09/how-to-build-a-fence-24.jpg
So you’ll put the pickets up last, after you’ve put these boards in: https://amber-oliver.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/09/how-to-build-a-fence-18.jpg
Just make sure the cross boards are flush with one side of the posts.
I hope this makes sense! Please let me know if you have any more questions!!
Amber your fence looks great!!!! I am looking to replacing my old fence probably next spring. I love how this looks and like the idea of the rot board and the board on top of the pickets for a smooth look.
I also need some clarification on the middle 2×4 – I read your reply to Brandy and looked at the photos again and am still confused. I also used the photo you used in the reply to point my confusion. Photo – https://photos.app.goo.gl/ZuncXHCYL3K1tCuy9
Please help thanks!!!
Hi Julie!!
So originally we didn’t plan for the middle board. So the pickets were put up FIRST then the horizontal middle board was added later because the pickets started to bow out. So we learned from our mistake and I advise to put the horizontal middle board up FIRST and make sure it’s flush with one side of the posts before putting the pickets up on the other side! I hope this all makes sense!!!