How easy is it to do fencing?

elektra-2007

I want to put a fence up in my frount garden... Ive listed the job on a few quote sites but there coming in at £600-£750.
Ive had a look on waltons website and I can get the posts and panels I want for around 250-280,
I havent got anyone who can help me BUT i have been looking at those fence post spike thingys, so im just wondering if anyone has done this job and is it possible to do alone? I need to put up 8 panels and 9 posts!

keith969

Don't use those metpost things, they are rubbish. Get proper post cement mix, dig a hole, put post in, support so its level then fill with the cement. Goes off really quick unlike ordinary cement.

Dr.Shoe_2

You will not be able to do it on your own.

In the light of what the materials cost I think that the quotes you got were fair.

roddydogs

How good are you at DIY, do you have a Post Hole Auger? , have you got drills, hammers, spirit level etc, How strong are you,, are they 6 ft Panels etc, etc.

ormus

its possible to do it alone, but it makes the job so so much harder.
surely you must know someone who can help you?
cant you and the neighbour (with the fence you share) do it together?

wallbash

The hardest part is digging the holes .

Lancastrian

If you do have a go yourself I wouldn't recommend an auger. Any stones in the soil will make life very difficult. Likewise as mentioned above regarding metpost type fixings. Hit a stone and the fixing will go off line. Hire or buy a post hole digger (e.g. Wickes 169101- £20). Use fence post clips (to hold the panel whilst you put in the next post) and wedges (to level the panel up) prior to fixing. Use sash or G clamps to hold things together for a one man job (Can't spell person). Usual DIY tools as mentioned above. Good luck.

RICHLILL

I Wouldnt reccommed buying fence pannels either. Most of them are flimsey rubbish quality unless you go really expensive. Dig the holes, fix the posts and plinths with concrete and build the pannels on site. Its easy and you get a much sturdier finnish. Just run 3 lengts of 3 x 2's above your plinths - top, middle and bottom and attach overlapping feather edge boards using a string line to get a straignt top edge (cut them to size first). This way you can get a double sided fence, much sturdier for the same price of a flimsey bought pannel.

Give it a try!!

27col

I have found that Metposts are rubbish. It is almost impossible the drive them in vertically. When I did a little fence a few years ago I pulled them out again and modified them to be similar to the Metpost that can be cemented in. The job is infinitely easier with two people. and quite quick, using the quick setting bag mix that is sold for fence posts.

Plasterer

Use close board like this picture, easy with 2 of you. As already suggested use the postecreate bags (yellow bags in background) - Dig your hole - put post in, put a couple of litres of water in the hole and throw the mix in then tamper it with a stick, keep adding water/mix accordingly, goes of in minutes (which gives you enoujgh time to level it up) materials for this fence both sides cost £320 total for 30 metres delivered + one day for two of you to do.
In the pic i'm using a pasloade nailgun which speeds things up, however not really a diyer tool - Use a hammer and nails and you should get it done in a day. The fence is a lot stronger than pannels and if treated and maintained properly should last for years to come.




PS - Sorry about the builders a*s

munkypuzzel

Just make a small hole in the fence and off you go... whatever floats your boat..