How to Build a Redwood Fence With Steel Posts

Set the Steel Posts

• 1

  Hammer a wood stake into the ground at the start point of a straight fence line and drive another stake at the end. Tie a string 1 foot off the ground from the base of the first stake to the last stake.

• 2

  Make an X-mark on the ground with chalk, underneath the string, every 8 feet along the fence line.

• 3

  Dig a hole with a two-man manual posthole digger that is 2 feet 4 inches deep by 8 inches in diameter.

• 4

  Make a mark on the side of each steel post 2 feet up from the bottom.

• 5

  Mix ready-to-use cement according to the instructions on the bag. Fill the first hole to within 4 inches of ground level with cement.

• 6

  Place a steel post into the cement up to the mark on the post. Position the post in the cement until it measures 8 feet from its center to the center of the previous post. Place a carpenter’s level against the side of the post to make certain it is plumb, or straight up and down. Brace the fence post so it stays in position.

• 7

  Continue filling the holes along the fence line to within 4 inches of ground level with cement and placing the posts up to the mark you made on the side. Make certain the posts are plumb, brace them upright and allow the cement to set up overnight. In the morning, fill the 4-inch space between the cement and ground level with soil to hide the cement.

Building the Wood Fence

• 8

  Measure 4 1/2 feet down from the top of the post towards the base, and attach one horizontal board bracket according to the directions on the package.

• 9

  Attach another horizontal board bracket 1 foot down from the top of the post.

• 10

  Place one end of an 8-foot-long horizontal support board into one side of the bracket on the first steel fencepost. Fit the other end into one side of the bracket on the second fencepost.

• 11

  Attach the horizontal support cross board to the brackets with the 1 7/8-by-1/4-inch wood screws by threading the screws through the bracket into the cross board. Continue installing the horizontal support boards in the same fashion down the fence line to the last steel fencepost.

• 12

  Start at the first steel fence post, and position the first 5-foot-long vertical fence picket at the ends of the horizontal support boards.

• 13

  Place a mark on the board that is 15 inches down from the tip of the fence picket. Line the mark up with the top of the horizontal support board, and attach the fence picket with two screws.

• 14

  Continue the same process to attach the vertical fence pickets along the remainder of the fence line.