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Before installing any fence you should always establish grade levels, property boundaries, utility easements, underground cables/pipes, municipal permits and/or compliance with relevant bylaws. Call for all underground utility markings before you dig. ONTARIO: 1-800-400-2255 QUEBEC: 1-800-663-9228 |
2 |
Lay out the fence line(s). |
3 |
Establish a way of determining where End and Corner posts are to be installed once you’ve dug postholes (and erased your markings). note: A good idea might be to make marks 12″ in each direction from centre. |
4 |
Establish the overall finished height of the fence style that you have chosen, and determine the minimum distance that you would like to keep the bottom of the fence above ground level (i.e. 2″ or 3″). |
5 |
Make a grease pencil mark on one of the posts, at a length that is equal to the overall finished height + the minimum distance off the ground + 2″. i.e. The overall finished height of a 6′ privacy fence is 70″. To keep the bottom of this fence 4″ above the ground you would mark the posts at 76″ (70″+4″+2″).. |
6 |
Determine which one of your End or Corner posts is going to be installed at the highest elevation. |
7 |
Cement this highest End or Corner post in it’s proper location, such that your post marking (from step #5) is at ground level. We recommend a 10″ diameter hole that is at least 36″ deep, and is wider at the bottom of the hole than it is at the top. (If you have ground conditions that do not allow for 36″ depth call us for some free advice as to options.) |
8 |
Establish location for the next post in the line of fence. We do not recommend more than 8′ between posts. |
9 |
Cement this next post in it’s proper location, at the same height as the first post that was installed. At the same time you should install the bottom rails with steel inserts. Note: Concrete is normally brought up to about 3″ below ground level and the postholes are then topped-up with soil/sod. |
10 |
Make a pencil mark on this post at a height above ground level equal to what was determined at step #5 (i.e. 76″). |
11 |
Dig and cement the next post in the line of fence, in it’s proper location, at a height that is level with the new pencil marking on the last post. You should also install the bottom rail and steel insert. |
12 |
Repeat steps #10 and #11 throughout the remainder of the fence. Note: Before the concrete starts to set, stand back and verify that you like the flow of the fence across the yard. You may want to raise a post or two for better looks, although this will mean some gapping underneath the fence. |
13 |
Determine the appropriate rail spacing for the style of fence you have chosen and mark the top rail locations on all posts. |
14 |
Cut the required top rail holes in all posts. |
15 |
Install all top rails and secure them from sliding left to right with screws inside the posts. |
16 |
Install the boards/privacy panels and secure them all with screws and screw caps. |
17 |
Install gate(s). |