First, you require wooden posts and wire plus basic building items to put up the fence. Once you get them, mark the post location on your fencing area. Mix the concrete, dig the holes and plant the post. Get someone to hold the post on the holes as you pour concrete to make them firm. Now fit the wire and fix the gate.
You build a fence to increase security around your home or your property. You can use it to contain livestock, barring scavenging animals and other wild animals from coming to your grounds. A fence has many purposes, but mainly to keep things inside or keep them from coming in.
Fences come in all types, shapes, and sizes. The type of fence you choose will depend on your preference, use, and cost of putting it up. Wood and wire fence is the most commonly used type of fence.
Here we give you step by step guide on how to build one and its advantages.
Read on!
Types Of Wood And Wire Fences
Different types of wood and wire fences serve the same purpose, but some are more suitable for specific tasks.
Here are the most common wood and wire fence:
1. Welded Wire Fence: This is made by placing wires horizontally and vertically, then welding them together to form small squares. The formed mesh is then welded together to form a strong sheet that is rigid and very strong.
Such a fence can be used as a decorative border or a making a gate in most rural areas and farms.
2. Woven Wire Fencing: This type is usually store-bought and made with interwoven wires. The wires are not rigid and can be bent, stretched, and is very flexible. Such a fence needs posts to be able to stand on its own. It is commonly used for decorative applications, perimeter fencing in yards, and to contain small pets like dogs.
3. Barbed Wire Fencing: This is made from steel wires which are twisted together, forming a strand. Bards are then installed after regular intervals, holding the twisted wires together. This fence is used to contain cattle and livestock. The barbs discourage the animals from crossing since pointy ends poking into the animal if it tries to go through it.
4. Electrified Wire Fencing: Unlike all the others, this is made of steel or aluminum wire which can conduct electricity. When touched, it gives the intruder a shock and discourages any attempt to go past it. Electric wire fence is used on farms and also for military or security purposes. On animal farms, the shock levels are not at high voltages. But for prisons or other facilities, the voltage can be higher to deliver a lethal dose of energy when touched to heighten the security.
How To Build A Wood And Wire Fence? Step-By-Step Guide
Building a wood and wire fence does not require a lot of know-how and skill. You need some basic skills to construct one as it is not a complicated process. However, you have to make a good structure from the beginning to have a sturdy fence. This ensures it lasts longer, and you will not be fixing it after every few months.
Tools you will require to build a wood and wire fence:
1. Work gloves
2. Claw hammer
3. Tape measure
4. Post-hole digger
5. Shovel
6. Wire cutters
7. Crimping tool
8. Post pounder
9. Fence pliers
10. Circular saw
11. Chainsaw
12. Tamping tool
13. Fence tensioner
14. Safety goggles
Once you have all these tools, you are ready to start building your fence.
Steps For Putting Up A Fence:
Note: These steps apply to most types of wire and wood fences.
Step 1: Define Post Locations
First, you have to know the measurements of the piece of land that you want to fence. Know where the corners are and where you want a gate to be. Put marks on your corners with a stake. Check your measurements to ensure that all the posts align. Also, check if they are all on the marked area that you want to fence.
To get a clearer view, tie a string from one corner to the other. You can also pour some chalk dust from one end to the other. This works as a guide since guessing with your eyes can be misleading.
The next step is to measure where you want your complementary posts to be installed. These complementary posts are installed at an average measurement of 7-8 feet between them. After that, ensure that you have marked points at which you want to install the remaining posts.
Step 2: Mixing The Concrete
After you set the locations of the posts, the next task is to mix the sand ballast and cement to make your concrete. Once you install the posts into the pre-dug hole, you will need the concreted to help hold the stakes permanently in place. You can mix this in a wheelbarrow to ease movement from one point to the other.
Step 3: Planting The Posts.
Your posts should be at least 8 feet long, but if you require longer ones, you can still get them. Set your stake at least 2 feet deep. Dig your holes for the corner posts and the other complementary posts and set them up, respectively.
It is, however, a requirement to fill the bottom of the dug holes with gravel to reduce the chances of the wood rotting over time. After the gravel is set, now put your post in the hole. You can get someone to help. Start pouring in the concrete and ensure that the post remains straight; regularly adjust your angels to ensure the post does not tilt.
It is advisable to have someone holding the post as you fill in the hole with concrete. After the posts are set, you can give them time to dry and stand firmly. Regularly check on them and their progress as they dry. This is needed to see if any of them are moving out of position.
Once the concrete is dry, you can add dirt to the remaining visible part of the hole and stamp on it to ensure it is well set and will not be eroded.
Step 4: Fitting The Wire
Unroll the bale of fencing barbed wire or the bale of mesh wire. For barbed wire, you can nail one end at the corner post, move to the next as you nail it in place, and tighten it.
For the mesh wire, you need someone to help you stand it up against the corner post. Now nail it into the corner post. Or you can use a heavy-duty staple and insert it at the top, bottom, and center. You can add more if you want to. Unroll the mesh wire to the next post, nail it, or staple it with more nails or staples to make sure it is stable. Only add nails and staples if necessary.
It is necessary to ensure that the wire mesh or the barbed wire is stretched to avoid sagging. When the fence is not tight, it either does not last long or does not serve its purpose, i.e., keeping things in or out.
Once the wire fitting is complete, you can cut off the excess and store it for later use.
Step 5: Installing The Gate
This is the final step of building a fence. When the wall is finally installed, you can now go to the part you had marked up in the beginning and put up your gate. The gate should be about the same height as the fence. Stand the gate in place; hammer in the two hinges on one side of your gate and the opposite. Finally, install a latch and consider locking your gate to keep your fenced place safe.
Advantages Of A Wood And Wire Fence
1. Wood and wire fence are cheaper. When compared to the other types of fences available, this is cheap. All the items you require to make a wood and wire fence are not expensive. Also, after installation, the fence requires next to zero care and maintenance.
2. Quick and easy installation process. Wood and wire fence takes a short time to install. The installation does not require skilled labor. You can wake up one day together with your family or friends and install it.
3. The fence is long-lasting. Once installed, it can survive for many years with no significant damage. There are also minimum repairs needed after installation.
4. It is not restrictive. Compared to other fences, like bricks walls, the wire and wood fence come out on top. You can easily see through it, therefore, allowing you to monitor in and outside the gate while keeping your place safe.
Take Away!
A wood and wire fence is a good choice for an enclosure. It does all that is necessary and required of a fence, yet, it is not a complicated process to put it up. Again, less resource is needed with only basic skills to install. This is the go-to type of fence for most people due to low maintenance and can be up for many years without damage.
