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Posted: 13th May 2025 | Author: Adam Brown | Category: Landscaping
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Whether you’re replacing an old fence or installing a new one from scratch, building a fence can have a huge impact on an outdoor space. As well as fulfilling the obvious purposes of providing security and privacy, a fence can be a great aesthetic backdrop to a beautiful garden or a pristine yard.
Below, we explore how to build a fence, including the preparation you should do first.
With any big project, preparation is key - building a fence is no exception. Planning out the layout of your fence will help to ensure you get the right amount of materials and avoid problems further down the line.
Top tip! Always remember to check and double-check your measurements and quantities before purchasing materials.
It’s a good idea to use pegs and string to mark out the general layout of your fence, as this will help you to stay on top of where everything is going as you get started on the installation. Make sure to use a CAT detector or similar device to check for underground cables or pipes where you’re working - the last thing you want is to cause a leak or outage.
Then, once you’ve determined your layout, checked that it’s safe to work in the area you’ve chosen and received your materials, you can begin the construction process. It’s best to have two or more people available to put up a fence, as doing it alone could make injury or accidental damage more likely.
You will need:
The exact sizes and quantities of materials will naturally depend on the size and layout of your fence.
Important! You may also wish to treat your timber with a wood preservative in order to reduce the risk of rotting. Do this before assembling your fence and allow plenty of time for the preservative to dry. If possible, leave it overnight.
1. Dig holes for your fence posts
The purpose of a fence post is to anchor your fence into the ground - which is especially useful for protecting against high winds. To achieve this, each post will need to be partly underground, so you’ll need to dig a hole for them to sit in.
For a standard fence, a hole of roughly 450 to 650mm deep and 300mm diameter should be ample. However, if you’re using bigger posts or you’re digging into soft ground, a deeper hole may be required.
Top tip! If you’re using gravel boards, use these as a guide to gauge how far apart your fence posts should be.
2. Add gravel or aggregate
Pour about 25mm of MOT type 1 aggregate or gravel into each fence post hole. This helps to avoid your fence post sitting in water after rain, reducing the risk of it rotting over time.
3. Place and secure your first post
Position your fence post into the hole, using a spirit level to ensure it’s vertical. You can screw two timber battens into it diagonally to act as props to keep it in position temporarily.
Once you’re happy with the post’s positioning, half fill the hole around the post with water. Then pour in your dry post mix to above the water line and use a stick or piece of waste timber to stir the mixture and remove air bubbles. Post mix should set within roughly 10 to 15 minutes, though it can take longer in cold weather.
While the post mix is still wet, use a trowel to sculpt a slope into the concrete on all four sides of the post. The aim here is to ensure any rainwater runs down towards the edges of the hole rather than gathering around the base of the post.
Make sure the post mix has completely set before removing the timber props.
4. Install the remaining fence posts
Once your first fence post is in position, you can repeat step 3 with all the others. As you go along, place a long piece of timber on top of two consecutive posts to ensure they’re level. If not, you can trim a little off the top of the taller one to make up the difference.
5. Add the end caps
Last but not least, adding plastic end caps to the tops of your fence posts will further help them to avoid rotting. End caps act as a physical barrier against precipitation, preventing the water from seeping into the vulnerable exposed grain at the top of the post. Fix the end caps in place with a screw on opposite sides of the post.
Now that all your fence posts are in position, it’s time to join them up by adding the panels in between.
1. Attach gravel boards
Though your fence panels will have been treated to protect against the elements, you can help to extend the longevity of your fence by attaching concrete or pressure-treated timber gravel boards to the base of each fence post. This keeps the panels up and away from the often moist ground.
To do this, mark the position of two L brackets at the bottom of each fence post, close to ground level. Then use these and 20mm screws to secure the gravel boards in place between consecutive fence posts.
2. Attach U brackets to the fence posts
Each fence panel will be held in place by four U brackets - one in each of the four corners of the panel. The U brackets at the top of the fence should be positioned 150mm from the top of the post. Then, the brackets at the bottom should be 150mm up from where the bottom of the panel will sit.
Fix the U brackets into place using 35mm screws.
3. Attach the fence panels to the U brackets
With your helpers’ assistance, lift each fence panel into position and fix them in place with more 35mm screws. Once you’ve done that for all of your fence panels, your brand new fence should be ready.
Adding a fence to a garden or yard can be a great way to change the look of an outdoor space while increasing security and privacy. Whether you’re a DIY enthusiast or a professional, knowing the steps to building a fence can give you the confidence to tackle this project head-on.
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The Author: Adam Brown
With a background as a Mechanical Engineer, I started Nationwide Supplies alongside my brother with a vision to modernise what seemed a stuck-in-its-ways industry in the builders merchant sector. Since 2011 it has been my goal to source quality products at the correct prices to be able to offer a saving to customers along with high quality customer service which offers quick delivery and superior technical knowledge in the industry.
