The construction of privacy fences from wooden elements demands little from the gardener in terms of craftsmanship, but requires some compromises in the design planning. If you like to take things into your own hands from scratch, opt for a wooden fence made of posts, boards and screws. The following instructions explain step by step how to build a wooden privacy fence yourself.

A fence does not have to be expensive

Planning and building permit - you should pay attention to that

Please measure the course of the fence on your property precisely. So that you and your family are protected from prying eyes, plan a height of 180 to 200 cm. If the fence is also to act as noise protection, we recommend building it with a double layer of boards. The choice of wood type largely determines the visual effect. You can achieve a rustic style with simple, rough-sawn boards. A privacy fence made of oak, Douglas fir or larch wood looks classy.

Once the planning work has been completed, please contact the building or regulatory office in advance. Privacy fences are usually subject to local building regulations and require approval. Regionally, the regulations sometimes include the specific design, right down to the type of wood used.

Material, tools and preparatory work - checklist

If you are at peace with yourself and the building authority about the new privacy fence, the following materials and tools will be provided:

  • Wooden boards cut to size with a slightly beveled upper edge so that rainwater runs off well
  • Cross bar made of wood cut so that the joints rest directly on a post
  • wooden post
  • post anchor
  • As a spacer: wooden blocks half the width of the batten (for double-sided boarding)
  • Quick concrete, water, vat
  • stainless steel screws
  • Screwdriver, cordless screwdriver or drill
  • Spirit level, folding rule, string, wooden sticks, sticky notes, plumb bob
  • shovel

Mark the course of the fence with cords stretched between wooden sticks. Please use the spirit level to repeatedly check that it is straight. If you also incorporate a slight incline when cutting the crossbars on the top, rainwater cannot collect here and rot or mold can develop.

Pressure treated wood lasts longer

When purchasing slats and posts, please ensure that they are pressure-treated wood. In this process, the wood is partially or fully treated with a wood preservative under high pressure. A privacy fence made of this wood is better able to withstand the effects of the weather, fungi and insects.

However, since the green or brown color of the impregnation fades quickly, a coat of wood stain is recommended. In this case, please use a solvent-free product marked with the 'Blue Angel' environmental seal.

Setting posts - tips & tricks

You can calculate the number of posts required using this formula: fence width + post thickness + 1.5 cm = post spacing. Mark the calculated position on the stretched cord with a sticky note. You hang a plumb bob on it, which shows you exactly where to dig. Concrete in the anchors for the wooden posts for perfect stability. How to proceed professionally:

  • Dig a pit 35 cm long, 35 cm wide and 80 cm deep
  • Insert the post anchor in the middle and stabilize it with strips
  • Mix quick-setting concrete, pour in and smooth out with a wooden board
  • Check the alignment of the anchor with a spirit level

If the concrete surface ends a few centimeters below the ground surface, you can spread earth or lay pieces of grass here later. Please note that it takes some time for the concrete to harden. Only then screw the posts to the anchors. Again, apply the spirit level for a perfectly straight alignment.

Build a privacy fence - this is how it works step by step

In practice, screwing the vertical fence slats with the crossbars to the ground beforehand and fastening them to the posts as a complete wooden element has proven to be a good idea. If you build a double-walled wooden privacy fence yourself, then attach the second layer of boards. Here’s how to do it professionally, step by step:

  • Lay out the cross bar on a solid surface
  • Position the fence slats for the first layer of boards on it
  • Get the right distance using the wooden blocks as spacers
  • Mark the position of the screws with a line and pre-drill holes for the screws
  • Do not screw on the wooden boards until all dimensions are correct

You should have a helping hand by now at the latest in order to screw the finished crossbars with the first layer of boards to the posts. First fix the second layer of boards to the crossbars with screw clamps. Again, the spacers serve as a handy tool to keep each batten straight and flush. Mark the positions of the screws, pre-drill and only then screw each wooden board in its final place.

tips

Looking for a natural alternative to a wooden privacy fence? Mother Nature gives you a colorful array of magnificent shrubs that form an opaque hedge. Classic and noble, conifers fulfill this task with bravura, such as the tree of life 'Brabant' (Thuja occidentalis). Panicle hydrangeas (Hydrangea paniculata) shield the property from prying eyes with lavish blooms.

Category:

Garden design