How to Build a Fence With Aluminum Siding

Build a fence with corrugated aluminum siding panels by installing wood or aluminum posts, at each end or corner of the fence and at 8-foot intervals between ends. Dig holes with a posthole digger, to a third the depth of the fence height, such as 2 feet for a 6-foot fence. Lay out the fence line first with stakes and mason's twine and mark locations for holes with stakes.

Set poles, either 4-by-4-inch wood or 3-inch aluminum pipes, in the holes, plumb them with a level and secure them with concrete poured in the hole. Mix concrete in a wheelbarrow using prepared mix for most fences. Make sure poles are aligned straight and post tops are the same height. Connect horizontal stringers between poles; use 2-by-4-inch boards for wooden posts or aluminum pipes for metal poles.

Fasten wooden stringers with 3-inch galvanized screws and a screw gun. Install aluminum stringers with T connectors, which go around the upright poles with openings to fasten horizontal pipes; these typically slide down over the pole and are secured with screws or bolts. Put stringers at the top and about 6 inches above the ground and halfway in between for higher fences.

Attach corrugated aluminum panels to the stringers with screws. Fasten panels with galvanized screws to wooden stringers, using 1-inch self-tapping metal screws with plastic washer heads. Drill pilot holes with a power drill and metal bit for screws into aluminum stringers. Put two screws into every wooden stringer, one into each metal stringer at each pole location.

Buy corrugated panels to conform to fence dimensions; panels come in lengths from 6 to 12 or more feet and typically are 26 inches wide designed to cover 24 inches of wall or fence. Set panels with corrugations vertical so water will drain and overlap panels by one ridge and one valley at every connection. Use four panels to cover 8 feet of fence. Screw through both panels at seams.

Use basic aluminum panels or get types with a colored finish, typically some type of coating bonded to the sheets at the factory. Paint uncoated aluminum panels with special paint for that metal; this usually requires some special preparation to make paint bond to the aluminum.