Fountain Timber Products

Constructing a panel fence in your garden isn't that difficult providing you follow these simple guidelines. As a DIY Project installing your own Fencing Panels is very rewarding - done correctly you can admire your work for many years to come.

Fencing Panels are traditionally 6' or 1.8m wide and fixed to 75mm x 75mm or 100mm x 100mm posts and are available in a wide selection of styles to suit every location.

Panels : First select your fencing panel, note some may be 1.83 (6') or only 1.8m (just under 71") check if the panel of your choice comes in half-lengths, many don't

Posts
You must first decide if you intend to use post spikes (met posts or similar) or dig the posts into the ground. Spikes can be difficult to use in stony or made up ground, digging can often be the safer option. If using spikes the fence posts can be the same length as the panel is high. If dug in allow .600 in the ground, i.e. a 1.8m high panel would require a 2.4m post. 75mm x 75mm may be adequate for lower fences but for higher fences or exposed positions we would recommend 100mm x 100mm

Gravel Board
You may choose to place a gravel board under the fencing panel, this has the benefit of lifting the panel clear of the ground. Gravel boards are normally 150mm x25mm, if used you may require a longer post. Check that your gravel board and panel are the same length.

Clips
Fixing the panel, panels are normally fixed between the posts held by clips; see web site for range of clips.

Post Mix
If you decide to dig post into the ground you will need Post Mix, a mixture of cement and sand used to create a solid foundation.

Notes
All of the timber must be pressure impregnated with preservative. Fencing materials supplied by Fountain Timber are always pre-treated. All the above materials are available from Fountain - see web site.

Quantities & Measurements
Simply divide the length of the fence by the length of panel plus post, allow one bag of post mix per post plus one post to finish run of fence

Before you start
Safety, Tools & Planning Stout gloves and safety boots, wear safety glasses if using power tools. Tools Hammer, spirit level, long crowbar, shuv-holers.

Construction
1. Clear the line of any old fence or undergrowth
2. Peg the line, is there a slope? If so work out the steps required.
3. How do you intend to fix your posts? Dug in or spikes?
4. Spikes are available in 75mm or 100mm.. Make a pilot hole with a bar; purchase a drive in tool with the spikes. The drive in tool protects the top of the spike and allows corrections but check regularly that it is driving square
5. Keep the hole as small as practical, put 100mm of gravel or similar in the bottom of the hole, place the post in, use struts to hold the post in place.
Remember to check that the post is upright, square with the line and at the correct spacing. Fill with post mix to ground level, ideally the concrete should be sloping slightly away from the post.
6. Spaces between posts? What type of clips do you intend to use? this will affect the gap (we offer a choice of two types) Is the panel imperial or metric? It is always safer to check
7. The post mix will firm quite quickly, attach the panel to the first post and use this as a guide for the second post, keep checking to ensure the posts are upright.