| Board-and-Stringer Fence | Panel Fence | |
| Fence panel | N/A | $155 to $175 |
| Fence boards | $70 to $75 | N/A |
| Four-by-fours | $32 to $40 | $32 to $40 |
| Two-by-fours | $27 to $36 | N/A |
| Fence rail brackets | $3 to $6 | N/A |
| Concrete | $15 to $18 | $15 to $18 |
| Gravel | $10 to $15 | $10 to $15 |
| TOTAL | $175 average ($157 to $190) | $230 average ($212 to $248) |
Before You Begin
Check on permit and code requirements. Local fence, building, and zoning codes often cap the height of privacy fences at 6 or 8 feet. Other places allow 6-foot fences with additional 2-foot architectural features like trellises with minimal infill.
Build in any season, as long as the ground is not frozen. The ground needs to be penetrated by a hand clamshell-style digger or motorized auger.
Safety Considerations
Critical services such as electrical cables, gas, or water may run through the intended privacy fence site. Call 811 to have a locating service sent to your property to mark the lines.
If building a panel fence, have an assistant help you carry and attach the panels, as they weigh up to 100 pounds.
Should I Call a Pro?
If you need to build an extensive privacy fence, a fence on highly uneven ground, or if you need to build the fence in a short amount of time, it's best to call a fence-building company.
What You'll Need
Equipment / Tools
Either Project
- Post hole digger: manual or motorized auger
- Fence level
- Speed Square
- Tape measure
- Circular saw
- Hammer
- Drill
- Wood stakes
- Chalk snaplines
- Mason's line or twine
- Plumb bob
- Shovel
- Ground spacers
Materials
Board-and-Stringer Fence
- 51 fence pickets, 5/8-inch by 6-inch (nominal) by 6-foot
- 9 pressure-treated two-by-fours
- 4 pressure-treated four-by-fours
- 18 galvanized metal fence rail brackets
- Galvanized nails or deck screws
- 6 bags of ready-mix concrete
- 3 bags of landscape gravel
Panel Fence
- 3 fence panels
- 4 pressure-treated four-by-fours
- Galvanized nails or deck screws
- 6 bags of ready-mix concrete
- 3 bags of landscape gravel
Instructions
How to Set Fence Posts
Whether building a board-and-stringer fence or a pre-fabricated panel fence, the first step is to set the fence posts.
Stake the Fence Run
- Hammer two wood stakes in the ground 26 feet apart.
- Run twine or mason's line tightly between the two stakes.
- Keep the line level.
Mark the Fence Post Locations
Use the tape measure and a plumb bob to measure and mark the locations of the four fence posts.
- Board-and-stringer fence: Mark the center of each fence post at 96 inches (8 feet) apart. Stringers are 8 feet long, so the thickness of the four-by-four will allow for some excess.
- Panel fence: Mark the center of each fence post at 92 1/2 inches apart. This measurement must be precise since the fence panel is exactly 96 inches long.
Dig Fence Posts
With the fence hole digger or rented auger, dig fence post holes to 30 inches deep or below the frost line for your area.
Rest Fence Posts in Holes
- Move the stakes and string line 1 3/4 inches to the side and restake as a guide for the posts.
- Pour 6 inches of gravel into each hole.
- Set the four-by-fours in the post holes.
- Attach the post level to the side of one of the four-by-fours.
Set Fence Posts in Concrete
- Board-and-stringer fence: Fill the hole with two bags of ready-mix concrete. Adjust the post so it is plumb. Fill the hole with water. Brace the post on two sides with scrap two-by-fours. Check once again for plumb before moving on to the rest of the posts. Make sure that subsequent posts are plumb. Maintaining distance between the posts is less critical with board-and-stringer fences since stringers can be cut to size.
- Panel fence: Since the posts need to be exactly 96 inches apart, there isn't much room for error. So, it's best to wait on the concrete for now and instead add concrete in conjunction with installing the panels.
Cut Tops of Fence Posts
- Measure end fence posts to 6 feet high.
- Run a chalk snap line across all posts.
- Cut all posts with the circular saw.
How to Build a Board-and-Stringer DIY Privacy Fence
Mark Stringer Positions
- On the two end fence posts, mark vertical positions at 1 foot, 3 feet, and 5 feet, measuring from the bottom upward.
- Run a chalk snap line from end to end at each of the three vertical positions.
- Snap the line to create a consistent mark across all four posts.
Install Stringer Brackets
- Center the metal stringer brackets on each post.
- Screw the stringer brackets into place at each marked point.
Add Stringers to Brackets
- Measure the distance between two brackets.
- Transfer that distance to a two-by-four and cut accordingly.
- Place the two-by-four stringer in the brackets and screw it into place.
- Continue for the rest of the stringers.
Install Fence Boards
- Install one fence board at the end of the stringer so it is plumb and the bottom edge is 2 inches above ground level.
- Continue installing the remaining 16 boards along the stringer, spacing the boards by 1/8 inch.
- Use two galvanized nails or deck screws per stringer (or, six fasteners per fence board).
How to Build a Panel DIY Privacy Fence
Add Ground Spacers
Lay two scrap two-by-fours flat, one on top of the other, between two of the posts.
Fit Panel Between Two Posts
- With an assistant, move the fence panel into position between the two posts with the panel resting on the ground spacers.
- Let the panel help determine the width of the posts. Center the panel on the posts.
Screw Panel Into Place
- Drive four screws per side to secure the panel to the posts.
- Remove the ground spacers.
Add Concrete to Post Holes
- Fill each hole with two bags of ready-mix concrete, then fill the hole with water.
- Force water further down into the mix with a shovel.
How to Maintain Your Fence
Maintain your fence to keep it looking great and standing solid for as long as possible:
- Clean the fence yearly to eliminate dirt, grime, and mold.
- Remove dirt under the fence boards to prevent water from wicking upward, causing the wood to decay prematurely.
- Coat the fence annually with a fence stain.
- Repair and replace fence boards as soon as possible.
- Immediately cut back creeping vines and any vegetation from the fence.
FAQ
What is the most budget-friendly fencing material?
Vinyl and wood-composite fence materials are excellent choices for privacy fences because neither will shrink over time to cause gaps between boards.Vinyl fencesare mostly limited to white or light colors and cost $130 to $150 for each section.
What is the easiest type of fence to install?
A no-dig fence is one of the easiest types of fences to install. A special spike is driven into the ground with a sledgehammer in lieu of setting a post with concrete. However, no-dig fences are generally limited to 4 feet tall.
Can I build a fence to block my neighbor’s view completely?
Generally, you can build a fence that blocks your neighbor's view, as long as the fence remains within code parameters. However, some states have Good Neighbor Fence Laws that require both neighbors to cooperate with building boundary fences. Other states have laws that curb the building of spite fences that are built mainly for the purpose of harassing a neighbor.
How to Choose the Right Circular Saw
