R&L Fence and Deck

Installation Instructions

Semi-privacy Fence

1.      Before installing your fence, you must call your local utility locator to check for buried utility lines.  Begin installing your fence by staking out your fence line, paying close attention to your property markers.  Dig and set your end and corner posts first and run a string line between them to help lay out the line posts in a straight line.  Lay out the line posts according to the proper post center.  Posts for semi-privacy fences are set approximately on 8’ centers.  This means that from the center of one post to the center of the next is 96”, or 91” in between posts when using a 5” post.

2.      Dig holes 10” in diameter and 30” deep, or to frost line.  Place a couple of inches of loose dirt or fine gravel in the bottom of the hole for drainage.  Insert the post in the hole making sure it is plumb and lined up with the string.  You may want to use a pole or a board cut to 91” and placed on the ground between posts to space them properly.  Now determine the rough height of your post, this can be done by using a second string along the top of the posts.  Your post should be set a little high at this point so it can be pounded into place later.  Fill the hole around the post with dry post mix or concrete mix and tamp it in the hole to eliminate air pockets.  Plumb your post again. You should use at least one 80 lb bag per post.  You can also pre-mix your concrete and pour it in wet.  

3.      After all your posts have been set, they need to be pounded to the proper height so they all line up and your fence looks good.  When pounding posts down, always use a block of wood on top of the post.  Never strike the post directly.  If you have to raise any posts, make sure you re-tamp the concrete around them to prevent the post from sinking later.  When all your posts are lined up, pour water around your posts to set the concrete.  Your concrete should be about 4” below ground level to allow the water to fill the top of the hole and percolate through the concrete mix.  Each post should be watered twice.  Allow 2-3 days for concrete to set up.

4.      To assemble fence sections, insert steel channel into bottom rail and insert rail into posts.  On 5’ and 6’ high fences, install the mid-rail and slide the pickets down through the mid-rail into the bottom rail.  Then take out the mid-rail and lean the section toward you to install the top rail.  Start from one end and work it over the top of the pickets working from one side to the other.  After the top rail is over the top of the pickets, put the top rail and mid-rail back into the posts.  You may have to flex one of the posts over a little in order for the rails to fit. 

5.      After completing the sections, the top and bottom rails must be secured.  Secure the top rails by installing a vinyl block in the top of every post.  Drive a screw through the block into the top of each rail to hold the rails in the post.  To secure the bottom rail, put a screw in the side or top of the rail directly in front of the post on both ends.  This prevents the rail from sliding in either direction.  Next, secure the mid-rail by putting a screw in the center of the mid-rail into the pickets to hold it in place.  Cover screws with screw caps and washers. Finally, install the post caps by gluing them on with PVC cement.