Metal fencing is a great choice for your yard or garden since it is strong and fairly weatherproof. It can keep your pets safely in your yard while keeping other animals out. It's also good for when you want a secure fence, but you don't want to block the view behind or in front of it from the other side. For example, you can still check on your plants from your window or make sure your dog is in the yard from a distance. Does this Spark an idea?
Instructions
1. Decide where you want your fence to go and then mark the area. Stroll around the perimeter. Every tenth step, place a stake in the ground. Also use a stake to mark each corner. Wherever you place a stake you will ultimately place a post.
2. Tie your clothesline in an overhand knot around the final stake. Retrace your steps, pulling the line through the loop in the top of each stake. Stretch the clothesline tight and move the stakes as needed so that the clothesline is always in a straight line.
3. Pull out the stakes at the corners and those that abut the house, if applicable. Dig a 10-inch-wide hole in each of these spots, using your post-hole digger. Make each hole a third of the height of the terminal posts (these are slightly thicker than the others).
4. Dig an 8-inch-wide hole with the post digger at the site of all the remaining stakes. Again, make them a third of the height of the posts, but this time use the regular posts for measure. Put one part cement, two parts sand and four parts gravel into your wheelbarrow. Mix the substances together with the hoe.
5. Put all of the posts in place, making sure the terminal posts go in the larger holes. Then fill the holes the rest of the way with the mixture from the wheelbarrow.
6. Put the tension bands on the fence after the posts have set for a day. Attach one band to each terminal post by sliding it over the top and pushing it down 10 inches. Once you have all the tension bands on, do the same with the brace bands. Push them down 8 inches. Finally, add a post cap. Then put loop caps on all of the regular posts.
7. Take your top rail and thread it through the loop caps. Then secure it to each of the brace bands with a carriage bolt, using your pliers if needed. You will need a new top rail after each 90 degree turn, since these rails are not flexible.
8. Attach the wire mesh to the tension band at the far right with a carriage bolt. Then unroll the mesh and walk your perimeter. Attach the mesh to the rails every 2 feet using wire ties. Use carriage bolts at each remaining terminal post.
Tags: your yard, brace bands, carriage bolt, down inches, loop caps, place stake