The Biggest Mistakes People Make When Building A Wooden Fence

People build fences every day and most are built correctly, but most could also be built a little better. By applying the little known tips below, you can build a fence that will last longer and look better.

Start a fence by making holes spaced every 8 feet for the treated 4x4x8 ‘posts. These holes should be dug 2 feet deep with a post hole digger. Most people stop right there with a cylinder shaped hole, as digging these holes is the most strenuous part of building a fence. To ensure that the post is securely anchored, the fence installer should use the post hole digger at an angle around the entire diameter of this hole to make a ball-shaped anchor at the bottom of the cylinder. A post hole dug in this way is much safer and more stable.

Another mistake people make is not realizing that wood never sticks to concrete. Drive through any concrete job and you will notice that they use wooden shapes to frame the concrete held up by nails and wooden stakes. The next day, the concrete workers pull out the nails and these wooden shapes simply fall off the concrete. Another problem is that insects and water on the ground can damage wooden poles. To avoid these problems, the fence builder should put black tar on the bottom two feet of the fence post that goes into the ground. This will prevent the post from rotting and allow the concrete to adhere to the posts.

After leveling and setting the posts, you should let them dry for a full day before nailing them. If you start nailing them before the concrete is fully set, you will knock the posts out of level.

Many people build a fence with only two rails to nail the fence slats. To build a safe fence that will last for years, three rails must be used. The top rail should be placed on top of the fence posts that are in a horizontal position. Fence slats should not be installed more than 8 “above this top rail. If so, they will tend to twist and twist over time. The bottom rail should not be more than 8” above the bottom. fence slats for the same reason. The center rail should be placed evenly between the top and bottom rails. Although the top rail is placed horizontally, the middle and bottom rail must be placed vertically. This will prevent these rails from warping and create a much more attractive and strong fence.

Ask any roofer about water drainage and they will tell you that the water always goes in one direction, and that is down. You’re almost right, but you don’t understand the lip factor or persistence. There is a case where water can rise and will travel, and all fence builders should be aware. This is also the reason why fascia boards almost always rot and warp.

Have you ever walked by a house with a paneling or a wooden fence and noticed that the base of the painted wood is bubbling and rotting? The paint or wood sealer should have protected the wood from moisture to prevent rotting, however the installers were not aware of the edge or persistence factor.

Many contractors never seal the bottom edge of the wood. Over the years, as the water runs off the surface of the wood, it lingers on the exposed bottom edge and begins to absorb the wood, causing it to rot.

If you want to water seal or paint your new fence, always make sure to cover the top and bottom edge.