How to Cast a Fence

Stake the beginning of the fence at a back corner of your house. Measure the width of a fence panel. Place the next stake the same width as the fence panel away from the first stake. Run a length of string between the stakes. Measure the angle formed by the side of the house and the string with an angle ruler to ensure that it's 90 degrees. Adjust the stakes if the angle is greater or less than 90 degrees.

Continue to place the stakes a fence panel's width apart from each other along the boundary line. Run a length of guide string between the stakes, cutting and tying it to the last stake that marks the end of one side of the fence. Measure a 90-degree angle from the last stake, and place the first stake for the next side. Continue staking, running string and measuring the corner angles until the whole fence area is staked and strung.

Dig a post hole at each stake with a power auger or clamshell digger; you'll need one other person to help you with the digging and post cementing process. Make sure that the guide string and stakes run behind the back edge of each post hole.

Pour at least 6 inches of gravel into each post hole. Mix cement and water in a wheelbarrow according to the manufacturer's guidelines. Stir the mixture with a wooden stick until the cement is the correct consistency. Set the bottom end of a post into a hole in front of the guide string and stakes, and fill the hole with cement. Smooth the cement with a trowel.

Hold the post level until the cement has dried around the post. Place a level atop the post to ensure that the post is straight. Continue to place gravel, posts and cement into the post holes until all posts are cemented into place and checked for levelness. Remove the stakes and strings when all of the posts are in place.

Nail evenly spaced fence clips to a post, then to the left side of the fence panel. Do the same on the right side of the fence panel and the next post. Ensure that the fence panels are uniformly hung so there are several inches between the bottom of the fence panels and the ground.