How do you install a cedar fence yourself, and how much should it cost?

Question

I only have 3 sides to do, 20ft, 20ft, and 20 ft. Homedepot on line said that each peice of wood is $2.69 and a post is $6.49. I don't know how much of what I need. do I also need cement? And do I need to stain it or something? Roughly how much will this cost me?

Answer 1

OK I figure out your cost and what you need.first I think your talking about a post and rail fence not privitcy.you will need 4 post per side and 2 rails per section which =6 rails for every post you will need 1 bag of cement and that comes to 62.10 with out tax so the 3 sections will cost186.00 minus a post hole digger if you need that to make the hole there about 12.00 in wal mart and if you want return it after your done and tell them you don't want it or wrong tool.now make sure that every post going into the ground is 8 feet on center that means that the center of the post comes to 8 feet from the next one.dig the hole put the post down into the ground level it straight fill with water and dump in the bag of cememnt let harden for over night or 12 hours.then put your rail in place. now since your useing cedar this is wood that doesn't rot if you want to paint it that fine or if you want to add thompsons water proffer that will be better you got the wood look and it will protect it even more if your to paint it after you water proof it make sure you use a oil base paint plain out door paint will come off the wood thompson's water proofer is about 40.00 for 5 gals you can get a 9.98 spray bottle out of wal mart too and pure it into the spray bottle and pump it and spray the wood make sure you clean it out with a little gas after your done so the sealer doesn't lock up or harden in side the sprayer thats if you want to spray the wood or paint it but the wood look is just fine

Answer 2

You can buy eight (8) foot panels of cedar fence. You would also need 4 x 4 posts. If you wanted a 6' high fence the posts should be 9' high.
Cedar is a relatively expensive material and prices vary by quality, thickness and location. Cedar is also heavy so yes you would put put cement in the hole with the posts.
Pressure treated fence materials (in panels) is available and less expensive. Both cedar and pressure treated will turn gray in the future.
Installing a fence properly takes experience, the right tools and know how. It is not a job for a first timer or just one person.
Each 20' section would require 2-8' panels plus a 4' section.
Have you called a fence company and see what they charge. Also, check out the Lowe's, Home Depot or big box store in your area and inquire about panels and if they offer installation.

Answer 3

Home Depot sells there fences in sections...6' x 6'
So you will need 12 sections....and 13 posts ( 8' )
You do not need concrete... No you do not need stain..
Lay it out on the ground and start in one end and go on..
Very easy...total costs materials = $835..
Labor will take you two days with help....

Answer 4

I'll assume that HD sells Cedar or Cypress depending on some level, with regard to where you live. Here in Central FL, Cypress Stockade would be the common.

My first thought is, why not price the fence in sections rather than in single slats? I'll assume again that Cedar might be sold in the same ways Cypress is so often...6 ft. high (sometimes dogeared) and 8 ft wide, with at least 3 cross braces on one side. It's also sold in grades,,,IE: Thickness and "quality". The posts, which should be treated 4 x 4's are sold separately.

Creating a fence one board at a time is extremely labor intensive. I'd rethink that method.

The amount of material for any style of installation you choose will depend on your eventual method.

The first thing that needs to be accomplished is determining the grade of the property over which the fence will sit. Then string lines just inside a property line about 6 inches.If that's an issue. If not, then the area should be squared/// Laid out in the size you want and run diagonal line from each corner to insure the square of the fence.

A post hole digger can be rented, or purchased, and holes dug at least to a depth of 2 ft... Depending on any Frost Line issues that may exist. Each post can then be set. (The posts should equal the height you want the fence to be, plus whatever depth you bury them. Concrete should be poured in the hole, after each post is set, then PLUMBED, and leveled along the line. The posts are usually set on 8 ft to center. Obviously in a 20 ft. span you will have to adjust for a 4 ft. section,,,OR if building one board at a time, balance the posts by measuring more equal distances apart.

Once the post holes and concrete have set/cured, then you can either add cross braces, or fence sections.

I usually allow at least 2 inches off ground level so that the fence itself doesn't come in contact.

The fence should be installed with galvanized screws (Deck Screws will work) I usually use 3 inch.

I've done miles of fence by myself, but prefer at least 2 others on a crew to help. That equates to sections, not strictly one board at a time.

The amount of material is dependant on the design you wish. Stockade (ready made) can be purchased with the slats butting each other, or overlapping. The overlapping method in building a single board at a time, will be up to you in how much you want the overlap to be, IE: 3/4 inch.

I know this has been lengthy, and I'll probably get some down turned thumbs, but I do this for a living in the context of my business.

If I were you, I'd decide the measurements, I suggested in height/length of each post, be it 3 ft,;4ft; 6ft; etc. THEN price the material in single slats and cross braces, as well as sectioned Stockade fencing. I have to believe ready made is less expensive, and absolutely less labor intensive. You'd very likely be able to enjoy the fenced in area in a 2 work day situation. I'd also price the material at a company that just does fencing/ and supplies. No offense at all to HD.

Steven Wolf

Answer 5

If you are planning to start on your woodworking project, this isn't something you should use, it's something that you would be insane not to. Go here https://tr.im/PgjSk
Truth is, I've been a carpenter for almost 36 years, and I haven't found anything like this for less than 10's of thousands of dollars.

Answer 6

Steven W is correct. It is very time consuming to do it one board at a time. I know, we did it at our house. It would be easier to buy the sections and put them up. If you still want to do it one board at a time be prepared to spend a lot of time to get it right.

One suggestion. Use Sikkens stain for the fence. It is more expensive but it is worth it. We used Sikkens on the fence 6 years ago. One of the boards broke and we had stained a few extra boards just in case. We put up the new board and you couldn't tell the difference. This summer will be 7 years of rain, lots of snow, frost, extreme weather and it still looks great.

Answer 7

pay abt another 100 $ they send guys to do it rater than u strugglin to do it dear..