Best Way To Install Wood Fence Posting

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Wood Fence Posting

One never wants to compromise on the safety and curb appeal of their house. One simple way to contribute to both of these is to add wood fences around the periphery! And if you are up for a DIY fence posting installation project, you have landed at the right place. Following is a brief guide about the best way to install wood fences. For the posts that are firmly set and straight, you need to get the best products, use good techniques, and enough help. Let us start with the step-by-step process.

Finding The Best Lumbar And Preparation

The most important phase of preparation is to find the right kind of wood and gathering all of the required supplies. Leaving the posts in sun for a long time can rot them!

Step 1: Finding The Right Kind Of Wood Post

If possible, follow the local advice since the climate and availability will impact this choice. You need to choose from durable lumber that generally comes in two varieties. Either get posts made entirely from the heartwood of juniper, black locust, redwood, white oak, and cedar. Or you can also buy pressure-treated pine or fir wood.

The lumbar should be labeled for ground contact or you will be dealing with wood rot sooner than you expected.

Step 2: Gather The Supplies

Gather the following supplies.

  • Bucket
  • Caulk gun
  • Paintbrush
  • Posthole digger
  • Shovel
  • Trowel
  • Wheelbarrow
  • Acrylic caulk
  • Aggregate
  • Cement
  • Wood preservative (e.g. copper naphthenate)

Step 3: Assessing The Ground And Soil

The best way to install wooden fence posts greatly depends on the type of ground or soil you have. If you have got dense and well-draining soil, you can just set the posts by digging them it. But for muddy or sandy soil you need to set the posts in concrete. This brief post covers both of them.

Step 4: Prepare The Wood Posts

The ends of the fence post are vulnerable to moisture so you need to prepare it before setting the posts in. Cut the top of the fence at a 45o degree angle to enable water runoff or install a post cap. Once you are done with it, treat both of the posts ends with a non-water-based preservative such as copper naphthenate. Apply multiple coats of the preservative and let it dry for 24 hours after each coat. As the wood preservative is toxic, follow the precautions mentioned on the label.

Setting The Fence In Soil And Gravel

Once you are done with the search and preparation, the next step is to set the post in. For soil and gravel, proceed as follows.

Step 5: Dig The Hole And Prepare It

If you plan to set in the post in soil, the hole diameter should be as close to the fence post size as possible. Whereas for gravel, you need a bit wider hole. Generally, an 8 feet post needs to be placed so that two feet of it is buried in the ground. To dig a straight-walled hole, use a posthole digger.

For hard soils, you can also use a shovel. Now drop a couple of inches of pea gravel in the hole to improve drainage. Now tamp it down well.

Step 6: Position The Post

Center the post in the hole and level it with other posts in line. You would need help from a friend or a family member to hold things in place. Now fill the hole with tamped crushed stone or soil. Tamp well after each batch of 3-5 inches and keep doing it until you the ground is level.

Step 7: Finish With A Small Hillock Around The Post

Once the post is secure, build a soil hillock around the base of the poll to create a slope. Good drainage is crucial.

Setting The Fence In Concrete

You need to set the fence in concrete for extra stability in muddy soils. Proceed as follows.

Step 5: Dig A Hole Wider Than Post And Prepare It

Whether you are working with wood or aluminum fences, dig a hole that is wider than the post.  A typical 4×4 fence post requires a concrete sleeve about 12 inches across and deep about 1/3 length of the post. Tamp the base with gravel. 

Step 6: Set And Brace The Post

Insert the post in the center and brace it with a nail or screw scrap lumber between the stake and post. Repeat this for each post.

Step 7: Prepare And Pour The Concrete

Now you are all set to mix and pour the concrete. Fill the hole and trowel the concrete into a sloped shape around the base of each post.

Step 8: Cure And Seal It

Let it cure for three days. Seal the gap around the base of the posts with silicone sealants or exterior acrylic latex caulk to finish fence installation.

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