Wooden Fencing

[Evil Queen]

I need to replace a wooden fence, the old one is beyond repair, for my parents.

I won't need a permit if materials are under $1000., which I "think" I can do.

I still have most of the prior fence's posts and most are secure, I realize I will need to replace very few. I was thinking of just basically building it panel by panel, but my Mom,said she would foot the bill for pre-assembled panels.

Has anyone done this type of project and was it relatively easy? It will be myself and my two older boys (22 and 23) helping. I'm pretty handy but not sure if I can handle a project such as this. All research I've done states it's not an "easy" project, but not on a difficult level either.

I realize, I will need to dig new holes for a couplenew posts, replace some old post, and still attach the panels to the post.

Thanks for any input!!

 

[Chicago526]

Well, DH is building us a wooden fence right now, he's doing all the work by himself. He just did one section, about 20 or 25 feet long, six feet high, and he estimates it cost him $500 to do it, and we still have to stain it so that will go up a bit more. But he had to put in all the posts, it sounds like you won't have to. Also, we are using cedar planks, not the cheapest wood out there. We looked at the pre-assembled sections, but DH thought they were very flimsy and cheap looking, and the lengths of the sections wouldn't work for us, we need to do a lot of customization due to the dimentions of our lot. I have no idea how "hard" it is for DH to do, he's one of those men that can build anything and have it turn out perfect. I highly recomend that women marry men like this if they can at all manage it!

 

[Crankyshank]

DH put in a wooden fence last year. It costs close to $5000 for us and we still have more work to do but a lot of that fee was not related to the actual fence.
It was relatively simple to put the fence up for the most part. DH had to do a lot of customization to make it work though. (it costs $24 per panel for ours - non treated pine) - the biggest difficulty was digging the post holes because of how rocky our soil is.. Rent a post hole digger from home depot - it will save a lot of work. don't forget to treat the wood if you don't buy the panels all ready treated

 

[Evil Queen]

Ok, thanks. Think I will run over to Home Depot know and see what they have available . I will have to have them deliver too, so I know that's going to add to the cost.

I am thinking to how much I can do physically and having to "schedule" the boys to help, I may have to do pre-assembled. My yard is nice and flat. But I will look at those and how flimsy.

Was also, thinking, due to possible future repairs and hurricanes just to buy a post hole digger. I think I can get one for under $50. I can always garage sale it if and when the house is sold.

 

[Evil Queen]

Wow-I think I can do the pre-assembled panels!! I agree not the hardiest, but the shadow box panels seem fairly solid, probably more so, than if I built it myself.

Home Depot said as long as the posts that remain are not rotten or broken can be repaired. If fallen or leaning, just dig out more around them and add more cement/concrete. Most of those are newer from a previous fence repair job.

I was a little nervous at buying and using a nailgun, but after some reserach have found many folks recommend screws over nails, they hold the wood together longer. I have already picked out a cool new power screwdriver.

Delivery is reasonable, but was told they basically just leave it at the end of your driveway. I don't know if we can move that much fencing to keep the city and insurance folks happy. So may have to have 2-3 deliveries which really bites. But I guess $180. in delivery is better than a citation or canceled insurance or throwing my back out.

 

[Chicago526]

My DH is using screws and bolts, so I'd say you're right, do that rather than nails.

I'm glad the pre-assembled worked out for you. Even if we'd liked the ones our HD had (and we didn't) we still wouldn't have been able to use them, the lengths they had didn't work for us, they were either too short or too long, and cuting them to size would have been just as much work as building our own.

Well, good luck!

 

[Crankyshank]

You might want to check local lumber yards to see what they have available and what their delivery policy is. We found nicer and cheaper panels through a local lumber yard than we did through home depot.

 

[Evil Queen]

Yippee-my partial order for pre-assembled fencing and supplies will be delivered tomorrow!!

I can't wait to get my fence back up. My poor dogs haven't had a good run since November. They have "runners" that I hook them too, but it's not the same as running the yard.

I only ordered enough to do half the backy ard. I don't have a garage and hate to leave my supplies out in the Florida weather and elements. When that portion is complete, I will finish ordering the rest.

Thanks for the encouragment and tips......

 

[Lynn CC]

Rental Centers rent electric hole diggers (saves a lot of time and energy).

I would purchase fencing or wood to build your fence from a Fence Company, they have much better quality than Home Depot.
The first time we put up a fence around our yard and build a deck around the pool, We bought our stockade fence/ with posts and all pressure treated wood for the decking from Home Depot and had to replace both within 4 years.

The fence kept falling down it shrank up and the posts were not of good quality. The decking warped and splintered and HD didn't back it up.

We just replaced both with vinyl decking and fence that we bought from a Fence Company!