Some landscapes use chain link fences, but most people prefer to use wood fences when making a landscape that looks nice. This is because wood is a material that can be made to look many different ways. Putting up your own wood fence takes time and effort, but it is often worth it because it gives you privacy without making your yard look bad. Even if you don't build a very tall fence, putting a wood fence around your yard can keep dogs and other animals out. But there are some things you should know before you start building a wooden fence.
Before you start building a wooden fence, you should know what its main parts are. These are the parts that almost every fence has, and they are almost always needed to make a fence that looks good and works well. You'll need to use posts. These are things that are put in the ground and stand up straight. They stand above the ground, and the other parts can't stay in place without the posts being set up correctly. Some fence posts go above the top of the fence for decoration, while others are the same height as the fence. The rail is another important part of the support. Rails act like spanners and link the posts together. They are the horizontal support elements and run parallel to the ground. Almost every type of fence has top and bottom rails, and some also have rails in the middle. Last but not least, a fence needs panels to work. Boards are sometimes used to talk about the panels. There are open fence styles that don't use panels, but the main things that give privacy are panels of latticework or even just straight boards.
Next, you should get your wood fence ready to put up. If you want your installation to go smoothly, you should plan and get ready first to make sure everything is in order. It's almost impossible to finish a landscaping project without any problems, but if you plan ahead, you should be able to get things done in a fairly smooth way. The first thing you need to do is check with your local zoning or building board to find out what the height or design limits are. Also, it's likely that you'll need a building permit before you can start. You should also make sure that the fence you build stays on your own property. If the neighbours want you to do a survey first, do it. This could save you money in the long run if the neighbour decides to sue you. Find out from the local utility companies where the gas, electric, and power lines are. This is another very important thing to do. Check with the phone and cable companies as well to see if they have any underground lines. It can be dangerous to break these lines, and if you do, you will have to pay to fix them.
Make sure you have a plan for your fence based on the things we've talked about so far. Know where you will put your fence posts and how high you want your fences to be before you start building. You should also know how deep the holes for the posts will be. If you have a good plan for your fence, you will be able to finish it faster. Also, make sure that you have all the tools you need. These tools include a posthole auger, a shovel and a wheelbarrow (to mix concrete), a hammer and a punch, a power saw, a level, a mason's line, and a carpenter's square. Many of these tools don't have to be bought; you can rent them for a fair price (especially the posthole auger, which many people do not own).
When everything is ready, you can start building a fence. Carefully follow the plan and try to stay within your budget. When you have everything ready ahead of time, you will be surprised at how quickly the work goes and how good your fence looks as part of your landscaping.
