Build a wood privacy fence

A 6 ft dog-ear fence, posts in concrete every 8 ft. Scales to the run you need.

How long is the fence?

feet

This one needs a trailer

About 2038 lb of materials. That is more than one pickup load — your shopper will need a trailer, and may make 3 trips. The rental is $35.00, it goes to them in full, and we take nothing from it. Only shoppers who can tow will see the run. ⚠️ 2 items on the list have no weight on file, so the real load is a little heavier than this.

Before you start

Call 811 before digging a single post hole — a fence line crosses more buried lines than any other yard job. It is free and takes a couple of days. Wet concrete is caustic, so wear gloves and eye protection. A rented auger can kick hard when it hits a rock; brace for it.

What to buy — untick anything you have

Lumber

8 Pressure-treated 4×4, 8 ft, ground contactThe tag must say ground contact. Sight down each one and reject any that are twisted.
19 Pressure-treated 2×4, 8 ft

Concrete

16 bags of fast-setting concrete mix, 50 lb

Stone

3 bags of all-purpose gravel, 0.5 cu ft

Fencing

115 Pressure-treated dog-ear fence picket, 6 ftOr cedar if the customer asked for it. Skip any that are split at the top.

Hardware

1 box of exterior screws, 1 5/8 in (5 lb)
1 box of exterior screws, 3 in (5 lb)

Tools — already ticked off, since most people have them

Tools

1 Power auger, one-person
1 Post-hole digger· most people have this
1 Circular saw· most people have this
1 Cordless drill· most people have this
1 Post level
1 String line and stakes· most people have this
1 Waterproof gloves and safety glasses· most people have this

It lands in the shopping form, where you can edit anything and say what you think each thing costs. Nothing is ordered until you send it.

How it goes · about two weekends · confident

Find your property line and check your city and HOA rules on height and setback before buying anything.
Stretch a string line along the run and mark a post every 8 ft, with the corners and gate posts first.
Dig the holes 24 in deep so each 8 ft post stands 6 ft out of the ground, set each post on gravel in fast-setting concrete, and keep them plumb and in line with the string.
The next day, screw three rails across the posts — one 6 in from the bottom, one 6 in from the top, one in the middle.
Hang the pickets with a scrap block under each for an even gap at the ground, checking every few with the level.
Let pressure-treated wood dry out for a couple of months before staining it.