It's a well known fact that fencing around a garden provides the sought after privacy and protection that we're all looking for when enjoying our outdoor spaces. Whilst garden fencing is available in an array of different materials and designs, the most common used are decorative wooden fence panels. And so, knowing how to install a fence and fitting your fence panels to your posts is an important DIY skill. You might be eager to change design or perhaps part of your fence is damaged and so having the knowledge means you can save time and money without the need to hire anyone to do it.
This blog will provide you with all the guidance and instruction you need to be able to erect your panel fencing using wooden fence posts with postcrete to secure them. From planning your fence and setting out the post markers to fitting your panels and cutting them to size, you've got everything you need here to get cracking.
Planning your new fence
Before jumping in at the deep end, it's a good idea to have a clear plan and picture in place for your new fence, knowing exactly what you need to do. It'll save you time and hassle later down the line. For example, understanding when you're going to start your new fencing project is an important decision to make. We would recommend erecting a fence during either the early spring or autumn months where the weather is not too hot nor too cold and wet. Whilst the weather is normally dry during the summer months, exposing your fencing to the strong UV rays of the sun during this period can be damaging to timber.
It's also important to consider where your new fence will be installed, especially if the fence is marking a property boundary. If this is the case, it's a good idea to consult with your neighbours and make them aware of your plans, specifically addressing any existing fence and who's side this fence is on before removing it. If the existing fence is located on the neighbours side and they will not allow you to remove this, then it is possible to install a fence alongside the current one, as long as it's on your side. Another note to consider is whether you will need access to your neighbours garden in order to complete your fence installation and therefore remember to ask for their permission.
It's important that before digging or spiking in your metal post supports, you check for any live cables that may be running underground. To do this, you need to get your hands on a Cable Avoidance Tool (CAT) and run it along your proposed fencing area to check for any cables or pipes that may cause a problem when you begin digging. If you do find cables underground, and you are wanting to dig or install a spike metal post support into the ground, you may have to reconsider your options. On the other hand, if the surface is solid ground (patio or driveway for example), you can use bolt down post supports which sit above ground, bolted to the concrete and hold the fence post in place.
Is Planning permission needed for your new fence?
Commonly, and in most scenarios, you will not require planning permission for the installation of a garden fence that is under 2 metres high. However, if your fence will run alongside a public right of way such as a footpath or roadway and is either under 2 metres or you're adding to a fence over 1 metre, it is very possible that you will need planning permission. Either way, be on the safe side and just double check with your local authority before commencing any work.
Tools and Materials you'll need:
- Cordless Drill
- Screwdriver
- Spirit Level
- Tape Measure
- Club Hammer
- Spade/Shovel for Digging
- Postcrete
- Fence Posts
- Screws
- Builders Line
- Wooden Stakes
- Post Caps
- Fence Panels
Tips before you get going with your fence
Its always a good idea to get a helping hand from a friend or family member. Whilst it might be possible to do it yourself, getting a second pair of hands will speed up the process and make life a whole lot easier.
Make sure that you are always using pressure treated wood materials for your new fence. This will ensure that your fence will be protected from the elements and be resistant to rot, decay and pests.
If not using gravel boards, try to fit your fence panel so that there is a 75mm gap between panel and floor to help protect it from soaking up the moisture from the ground. This will prevent the panel from rotting.
Perhaps you're installing your fence on a slight slope. In this case, make sure that you are keeping the panels horizontal to each other and then the increased gap between the floor and panel can be filled using angled gravel boards that are cut to size.
How to install your fence posts
Step 1:
Start by clearing your proposed fencing line of any rocks or plants and shrubs to ensure a clean and blank canvas. Then, you'll want to create a straight line using your builders line for your fence posts to follow. To do this, find your starting point of the fence and hammer a wooden stake into the ground at this point. Now tie your string around this stake and run it down to the other end of the fence and tie it to another stake that marks the end of your fence. Ensure that this string is in a straight line.
Step 2:
Then you can measure the length of your fence panels which are commonly 1.83 metres in length and use this measurement to plot where each fence post will need to be set along the fence line. For example, if your panels are 1.83 metres and you are using 100mm wide posts, then you will need a 1.93 metre space in between the centre of each post. Mark where each post will need to go so you can dig up the ground ready to set your posts.
Now, the pitfall of using standardised fence panels is that gardens will very rarely be divisible by the width of the panels. Therefore, it's very likely that you'll need to cut your last panel down to fit the last distance between your fence posts, unless of course you are one of the few very lucky people. And so don't worry if the distance between the final two posts are not equal compared to the other distances. You can find out how to cut your fence panels down to the correct size below!
Stage 3:
The next step is to dig out all the post holes required using a spade or shovel. See below to determine what size hole you need to dig for the size of post you are using and the amount of postcrete required.
|
Post Size |
Hole Size (Width x Height) |
Number of bags required |
|
Square 75mm (3”)
1.8m Length 1.8m Length 2.4m Length 2.4m Length 3.0m Length 3.0m Length 3.6m Length 3.6m Length |
150mm x 600mm 200mm x 600mm 150mm x 800mm 200mm x 800mm 150mm x 1000mm 200mm x 1000mm 150mm x 1200mm 200mm x 1200mm |
¾ Bag 1 Bag ¾ Bag 1 Bag 1 ½ Bags 1 ¾ Bags 2 Bags 2 Bags |
|
Square 100mm (4”)
1.8m Length 1.8m Length 2.4m Length 2.4m Length 3.0m Length 3.0m Length 3.6m Length 3.6m Length |
250mm x 600mm 300mm x 600mm 250mm x 800mm 300mm x 800mm 250mm x 1000mm 300mm x 1000mm 250mm x 1200mm 300mm x 1200mm |
1 ½ Bags 2 Bags 1 ¾ Bags 2 ½ Bags 2 Bags 2 ¾ Bags 3 Bags 3 ½ Bags |
Stage 4:
Once the post holes have been dug, fill the first hole with water halfway and put the post in place. Empty the bags of Postcrete into the hole and evenly around the post. Mix both the Postcrete and water to create a thick paste. Adjust the post to make sure it is vertically straight using a spirit level. Support in the correct position until the mix has hardened. Warning - this doesn’t take long to go off, so if you don’t want a Leaning Tower of Pisa - be quick at this stage! Repeat for all the rest of the fence posts.
Fitting your Fence Panels
Using Gravel Boards?
When it comes to fitting your fence panels, it's a good idea to install a gravel board at the bottom of the fence to help protect your panels from rotting as a result of soaking up the moisture from the ground.
To add a gravel board, start by marking out the position of an L bracket on the base of the fence post. Then, fix this bracket into place by screwing one side of the bracket onto the post and then placing your gravel board in place running along the bottom and fix this to the other side of the L bracket.
If you decide not to use gravel boards, then just make sure to raise the fence panel up about 75mm from the floor using bricks and props to ensure that it is not directly sitting on the floor.
Step 1:
Place your fence panel in the correct position between the fence posts, either sitting on top of the gravel board or propped up on the bricks to provide the correct spacing. Also make sure that the top of your fence panels are all equally below the top of your fence posts (about 25mm).
Step 2:
The next job is to mark out 6 evenly spaced points running down each side of your fence panels bracing as this is where the nails will be fixed to fit the panels in place. With the fence panel in place, pre-drill the marked points at an angle, drilling through to the side of the fence post. This is to ensure that the nail can be fixed into place with ease and without splitting the wood.
Step 3:
Now, place a spirit level horizontally on the top of the panel and make the panel exactly level. You can now smack the nails into the pre drilled holes using a hammer, going into the fence post and repeat this for all pre-drilled holes on either side of the panel.
Step 4:
Repeat the first and second step for each of the remaining fence panels.
Cutting your Fence Panels
Now as mentioned above, it's extremely unlikely that your garden borders are divisible by the exact width of your fence panels. Therefore, its likely that you'll need to cut down your panel to fill in the last gap of the fence run as demonstrated within the photo below. However, if not done correctly, the panel will weaken immensely. Heres how to.
Step 1:
Begin by measuring the gap between the last two fence posts as this will be the desired width of the final fence panel. Measure this gap at both the bottom and top of the panel to ensure a good and correct fit. You'll then want to mark this measurement on the face of the fence panel.
Step 2:
Now, if your panels have battens visible running down the structure, you'll want to remove these using a hammer. Make sure not to damage them though as they will be repositioned to strengthen the shortened structure. Reposition the centre batten to the centre of the new panel and fix it back down with nails. Then, remove the framing battens and reposition them to the new required size.
Step 3:
The panel can now be sawn flush with the repositioned framing batten to ensure that you have a panel that is the correct size and strong.
Or you could always speak to one of our sales team and discuss our bespoke service for all of our Ruby Made fencing panels to keep the stress to a minimum and allow us to do the work. Your panel will be delivered to you in the correct size and ready to be installed.
Relevant Information
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