Building a wood fence is relatively simple as long as you make a plan beforehand and follow it. Once you get the posts in the ground, the possible designs are endless. With a little early research you can save effort, money and time when you build a wood fence.
Step
1
Decide where the fence will run. Set the post on the end first, then run a line from the starting point to end point. This will keep all the posts in a line.
Step
2
Drive a stake into the ground to mark where each post will go. Take time to position the posts because this will greatly affect the look of the wood fence.
Step
3
Dig the post holes with a post hole digger. Make sure to go straight into the ground, digging a hole deep enough to fit 1/3 of the length of the post.
Step
4
Dump some gravel or a large stone at the bottom of each hole. This will help with drainage. Pack the fence posts with concrete or dirt.
Step
5
Brace the fence posts with stakes to keep it in place until the concrete is dry. If you used dirt around the base, tamp it to pack it down. Build a slight mound around the base with concrete to eliminate standing water.
Step
6
Attach a fence rail to the top and bottom of the first post, hammering it into place. Use a measuring stick to make sure the top and bottom rails are in perfect alignment.
Step
7
Decide what kind of look you want the fence to have. If you're making a picket fence, nail boards along the front of the fence. If you want a simple board fence, attach all the wood boards to one side of the fence rail. You can also alternate them from side to side to create a more intricate design. Stain or paint the fence when you're done.