Fence Building Basics Guide

One great attribute to a home is a fenced in yard; however, hiring people to build fencing can be very expensive. So here are the fundamentals that you need to know to build a fence on your own.

First The Design

Designing your fence doesn't have to be complicated; you only have to know what type of fence you want to have.

Decide whether you need to go with a traditional picket fence or a privacy fence.

Plot out the location of the gate, where the first post will be, how far apart the posts are from each other and how high the fence is going to be.

Setting The Posts

After that, mark a line to guide you where the posts will stand; this can be simple.

Decide where your end posts will be and start from there. Make certain that your fencing line is straight or else the fence will be crooked, and it won't be sturdy as it should be.

Your post should be made from treated wood. If the wood was bought untreated, you must take the time to treat it.

Make sure the posts sit with the treatment solution for an entire day to be sure they are well saturated before you put them in the ground.

You will want your post to be firmly anchored in the ground ; for this to happen, dig holes deep enough for your fencing to bury at least one-third of the post.

A manual post hole digger can be used for this or a mechanical one can be rented. If you're working on a large yard to be fenced, mechanical one would save you more time.

Once the holes have been dug out, drop a shovelful or two of gravel into the hole so your post can rest on a solid bed.

Placing The Posts

When the holes are made, it's time to put in the fence posts.

Make sure that the posts are secured with a brace so that they are perfectly upright while you pack dirt or concrete around them.

If they are slanted, it will ruin the line of the fencing and it could promote wood rotting.

Let the dirt or concrete settle for quite some time before you take down the braces.

Add The Rails

If the posts are now firmly in place, you can start adding the fencing rails.

A lot of people build their fence by sections and attach each section to the posts.

This has an advantage since a more stable surface can be constructed and perfectly straight, and even rails can be ensured.

A Final Fencing Review

There, you're done! You've added some great fencing that should last a good long time - enjoy!

A Bamboo Garden Fence – A Great Home Fencing Option

There are lots of options when putting up a garden fence.

Is the fence strictly to add beauty to your yard or are you trying to keep out wandering animals?

One unique type of fencing is a bamboo garden fence.

What Is A Bamboo Garden Fence?

Bamboo garden fences come in many sizes and designs. Use either premade fence panels or try your hand with split or rolled bamboo. Either choice will produce results you will be pleased with.

Should I Try to DIY A Bamboo Fence?

If you want to add your own unique touch to your yard, consider building the fence yourself.

It will be more time consuming but there are a few things you can do to make the process easier.

If you decide to construct a bamboo garden fence, use pressure treated posts to go into the ground because they are treated and have a longer life than cedar posts, so your bamboo fence will also last longer.

Some Fine Points About Installing Bamboo Fencing

When necessary, cut bamboo canes with a fine bladed hacksaw as using other types of saws can result in the cane splitting.

When cutting the bamboo cane, be sure to make your cut on an angle and above the cane joint as the membrane provides protection against water collecting.

When attaching the bamboo to the posts, use a drill to make a hole slightly bigger than the nail to reduce the chance of the bamboo cracking or being crushed.

Bamboo Fence Considerations

One thing to note about bamboo fencing is that it is really a grass and not wood so it can't come into direct contact with the ground as that would cause it to deteriorate.

If you want your fence to fit tightly against the ground, simply run a piece of wood along the bottom and then attach the bamboo above it.

Bamboo fencing can easily last years when it's built and cared for properly.

Just like you need to treat a wooden fence with a preservative to keep it in good shape, a bamboo fence is no different; use a preservative that has UV protection for best results.

As the years go by, you'll no doubt notice that the bamboo is cracking and fading which is caused by weather and sunlight and can't be prevented entirely.

Wood fences are also affected so it's a good idea to keep applying a preservative on a regular basis to the fences that will limit damage.

Final Thoughts About Bamboo Fencing

Building a bamboo garden fence is a good decision all around.

Bamboo is considered a renewable resource so by using it instead of other materials, you are helping the environment.

And you will end up with a unique, beautiful fence around your garden!