How to Put Up Poles for a Fence

Installing a fence can add privacy and value to your home. Whether installing a wood, metal or PVC fence, the fence will rely on posts placed 6 to 8 feet apart for support. The posts should be secured into the ground with concrete, above a 6-inch layer of gravel, which will provide additional drainage in heavy rainfall. Prior to installing any posts, obtain a survey of your land to ensure that the fence is not installed on a neighbor's property, which will create problems in future home sales.

Wood stakes
String
Posthole digger
Gravel
Measuring tape
Concrete
Shovel
Wheelbarrow
Level

Instructions

- 1
  Place a stake in the ground at each corner of the area to be fenced. Run a string along the staked area, representing the outside of the fence. All posts should be installed inside of this line.
- 2
  Determine the number of posts that will be required for your fence. Typically, wood fences require a post every 8 feet, while PVC or vinyl fences require a post to be placed every 6 feet. If you have just a few holes to dig, a manual posthole digger may work fine; however, you may find it convenient to rent a gas-powered posthole digger from your local hardware store if you have many holes to dig. Keep in mind that gas-powered posthole diggers require two people to operate.
- 3
  Dig the first hole using the posthole digger. Ensure that the hole is straight. The hole should be 1/3 the length of the exposed portion of the post, plus an additional 6 inches. For example, if you are installing a 6-foot-high fence, the hole should be 2.5 feet deep. The diameter of the hole should be approximately twice the width of one side of the post that will be installed in the hole.
- 4
  Fill the bottom of the hole with 6 inches of gravel. To ensure that 6 inches are poured into the hole, measure 6 inches on a thin stick, such as a paint mixer, and place it on the bottom of the hole. When the gravel meets the line, remove the stick.
- 5
  Mix the concrete in a wheelbarrow according the concrete manufacturer's instructions.
- 6
  Place the post in the hole, then fill the hole with concrete, surrounding the post. Poke holes in the concrete as it is added to the hole to ensure that there are no air pockets.
- 7
  Ensure that the post is level using a carpenter's level, then repeat the steps for each additional post.

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