How to Build a Fence for Sound Reduction

Dig your fence post holes. These holes should be between 2 and 4 feet deep, depending on the height of your fence. If the privacy fence is 5 feet high, the hole should be 2 feet deep. For 6-foot-tall fences, 3-foot holes will suffice. For an 8-foot fence, the holes will need to be 4 feet tall.

Set your corner posts. Place the post into the hole and fill the area around it with quick-set concrete. Work quickly and make sure that the post is centered precisely before the concrete begins to harden.

Place your regular posts. These posts do not need to be buried in concrete, but this will provide a sturdier base for your fence. If you do not want to use concrete, firmly tamp the soil back in around the post and make sure that there are no air pockets. This will cause settling later. You may need to add extra dirt to the holes to secure the posts firmly.

Begin to attach your privacy fence panels. In order to have the best possible noise reduction, fence panels will need to be placed very close together. Start with one corner of your yard and attach the first fence panel. Use a drill and screws for a tighter fit to the post. This will also provide more noise reduction than simply nailing the panels in place. Line up the next panel flush with the first panel and attach it. Continue this process until all of the panels are attached. Make sure the bottom of the panels are flush with the ground. Leaving a space at the bottom will reduce the noise reduction properties of this fence. If necessary, bring in dirt to level off the ground underneath the panels.

Hang the gate. If you have chosen a gate for your privacy fence, this will need to be installed last. Once again, it will need to be hung as close to the ground as possible. If you cannot open it properly with it flush on the ground, hang it half an inch above ground level and install a rubber stop gap at the bottom.