Build a Stockade Fence
With its tightly fitted round-faced pickets and 8-foot height, a New England stockade fence can't be beat for privacy. It's ideal for corralling a roving dog or screening an area from view. Most home centers and lumberyards stock 6-foot-wide prefabricated sections of fence that go up much faster than individual pickets. These make the job a lot easier, but fence building is not for the faint of heart. There are many fence post holes to dig, so plan to spend the better part of your weekend on this project. For your effort you'll save half of what a fencing contractor charges.

For a 50-foot run you'll need seven fence sections, eight 8-foot posts and ready-mixed concrete to set the posts. Rent or borrow a post hole digger to make short work of digging. Pro vs DIY Cost and TimeFor a professional-looking installation, lay out the fence so the posts are aligned with the ends of each fence section.

Tip: Before laying out the fence, check your property survey to know the exact location of your property line. And check with your local building department to see if a permit is required.

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