How to Install a Wood Fence
Each frame speaks to the masterpiece it contains, and in your home’s yard, the way you surround your landscape can be both an accent and a solution to needs for containment and privacy. A wood fence is a versatile choice, offering picket pageantry and modern styling, as well as endless opportunities for customization. It also happens to be one of the most economically viable ways to wrap your yard, and an achievable DIY project. I talked with Bridget Lowing of Fence Consultants of West Michigan to find out how to install one right.
Project: Installing a wood fence.
Why: You want privacy, semiprivacy or the peace of mind that your kids and pets are safely corralled in your yard. And there’s the perk of added visual appeal and a clear property line to your yard.
Who to hire: A fencing company can help you put up a fence quickly, or if you’re up for the project, you can also do it yourself.
Shown: A 6-foot privacy fence dividing two properties. The gate features a small trellis detail at the top.
Cost: Fence Consultants advises to anticipate a cost of $20 to $60 per linear foot, depending on the wood type and the intricacy of the fence. With some contractors this will include one gate. But, as with many projects, regional pricing will vary, as wood types and availability change.
If you’re tackling the project on your own, the cost will largely be decided by the wood you choose. The additional materials for a basic fence, like concrete and fasteners, are relatively minimal.
Typical project length: Building the fence usually takes three days (one to set the posts, one for the concrete to settle and one to add the rails), but if you are going with a contractor, anticipate potential project wait times, especially during the busy season for fencing (spring and summer).
Shown: A 4-foot horizontal fence with rails embedded into the posts
Best time to do this project: A fence can be added year-round, but most people install fencing in the warmer months, when they are more likely to use outdoor living spaces.
Permit: Check with your homeowner’s association, if you have one, and with your local municipality. Nearly all cities and towns have fence regulations, and many require a permit for building a fence.
Shown: A 4-foot stained picket fence with copper caps on the posts
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How to Install a Wood Fence
