What will you need?
• 8 foot posts in either 3×3 inch or 4×4 inch sizes if you are installing a six foot fence
• Fibreglass post hole digger, with which you can dig the post holes easily
• If your fencing is going near trees, you’ll probably need a cutting tool, like a special fencing bar
• A post hole usually requires a 25kg bag of ballast mixed with cement at a ratio of 4:1. The cement comes in bags of 25kg so you’ll need a quarter of a bag of cement for each bag of ballast
• Wheelbarrow, shovel, rammer
• Handsaw/circular saw/jigsaw
9 steps to install your new fence
1. You should have a clear area where you will erect the new fencing so the first step is to remove the old fence. If the old fence posts are still standing, dig out the first and last posts of the fence run and cut the other posts as low to ground level as possible. Concrete posts can be reduced to the ground level by breaking the base of each post using a sledge hammer and using a hacksaw to cut through the steel.
2. Mark out the fence run with a line or string between the first and last post positions. Hold the first post against the line and make sure it is vertical using a spirit level and make a mark on the ground where the hole needs to be made.
3. If using 4×4 inch posts, make the hole 12 inches square by 2 feet deep; if using 3×3 inch posts, make the hole 9 inches square by 2 feet deep.
4. Place the post in the hole and fix the fence panel.
5. Now you should mix the concrete for the fence posts. Using the wheelbarrow and shovel, mix the cement and ballast together whilst dry, then add the water gradually and mix well.
6. Check the vertical position of the post against the line you set up earlier. Throw in a shovel full of concrete. Compact the concrete and then check the level and position of the post. Throw in another shovel full of concrete and compact. Repeat this process checking the post with a spirit level constantly and bring the concrete up to just below ground level.
7. Once the second post hole is ready, drop the post in and nail the panel before you begin to add the concrete.
8. Repeat the procedure for the remaining posts and panels.
9. The last step is to mark and cut the fence panels to size making the cut panel a few millimetres narrower than the gap size. Then remove the edge battens from the off-cut using a small pry bar and trim the staples flush with the batten. Finally, replace the edge battens with woodscrews of the correct length.
Head to your local Builder’s Merchants in North Wales and enquire about using a cutting service. If they have a timber yard they may well be able to cut your panels to the correct size for you. If you are new to DIY you can avoid the headache of messing with concrete by buying spike or bolt format post supports. This will enable you to put up a fence much faster and save money. Ask your local Builder’s Merchants in North Wales which type of post support will be right for you. It will depend on where you want your fence to go.
Hints and tips: make the bottom of the hole flat, you can drill pilot holes to take the fixing nails to prevent the fixing batten splitting, fix the panel so the top capping is an inch below the top of the post.
Image Credit: www.flickr.com/photos/armconprecast/