How to Build a 12 X 12 Fence for Your Front Lawn

Measuring and Preparing

• 1

  Calculate and obtain the necessary lumber and supplies, remembering that the amount of lumber needed will depend on whether or not you're using your home as a de facto side of the fence. Calculate the height of two-thirds of the fence posts (as one-third of the fence posts will be underground) and obtain vertical fence slats matching that value. Obtain a gate door of approximately that same height.

• 2

  Mark the places where you'll be placing the fence posts with wooden stakes before doing any digging. Place the stakes at the corners first; the corners will be 12 feet apart and form a perfect square when placed properly.

• 3

  Place an additional stake between each pair of corner stakes (except on the side that will have the gate; see next step) so there are 6 feet between each stake on those sides.

• 4

  Calculate the placement of the final two stakes on the "gate side" based on the width of your gate; for example, if the gate is 3 feet wide, the middle stakes will need to be 4 1/2 feet from the corners to leave a 3-foot centered gap for the gate. Place the stakes.

Preparing and Placing Fence Posts

• 5

  Calculate the burying depth of the fence posts, which will be one-third of their height. Treat the parts of the posts that will be buried in a wood preservative and allow them to soak in it overnight.

• 6

  Use a post hole digger or post hole auger to drill holes where the stakes are; the holes should be the depth of 1/3 of the height of the fence posts (for example, 6-foot fence posts require 2-foot holes). Place two shovelfuls of gravel into the holes before placing the posts.

• 7

  Place the posts and shovel dirt into the holes. Nail small lengths of wood diagonally against the posts to help brace them in place.

• 8

  Use a leveling device to make sure that the posts are perfectly upright. Use a tape measure to ensure that the posts are lined up with each other. Tamp down the dirt after confirming your measurements. Leave the posts in the holes for several days to allow the ground to stabilize.

• 9

  Remove the bracing boards after the posts are firmly set in the ground. Cut the tops of the fence posts into rounded or pyramid shapes to allow water to slide off of them.

Finishing the Fence

• 10

  Use a leveling device and pencil to mark where you'll be placing the horizontal fence slats on the fence posts (on the outside of the fenced area, not the inside); the upper slats should be about 6 inches below the tops of the fence posts, and the lower slats should be at least 2 inches off of the ground. Remember to leave the gap for the gate open.

• 11

  Hold the horizontal slats in the place, double-check that they are level, and then nail or screw them in place. Use a saw to cut them if necessary for an optimum fit.

• 12

  Nail or screw the vertical slats to both the upper and lower horizontal slats, using the leveling device to ensure that they are properly aligned.

• 13

  Install the gate according to its instructions. Paint the fence and gate as you wish.