How To Build A 6' Wooden Privacy Fence 

I didn't have a fancy auger, so I decided to dig my fence posts by hand with a post hole digger. Let's just say I am very sore and hate roots, but I got it done.

Great job on the fence, but I think I’m more impressed that you got the kids to help all day..😳

Dude its nice to see the fam working with u ... 👍

This was the exact fence I had in mind to build. Only difference we used cedar pickets. But my wife and I followed every step in this video and the fence came out great. All 59’ feet of it. Great suggestion on going with the contour of the ground. Could not have done without your guidance. Thank you so much for sharing this video. We did it!

SSL Family: You NAILED it!! I built a fence like this several years ago and came to the same conclusions/process you did. Screws are the way to go. When a picket goes bad/rotten it's easy to replace. We spaced our pickets with double thickness of corrugated card to allow some wind relief. Rented gas powered post hole digger from tool rental place. Stained it using 2 gal insecticide sprayer and deck spray from HD. After 5 years, pressure washed and stained again. Still looks great. Used 4" pickets. Wish I had used 6". 👍👍 Neighbor built his fence with panels and they were falling down after about 2 years!

Best fence installation video so far. I am about to install my very first privacy fence with the family. Thanks again

Nice job and nice tractor! Only suggestion is you have dirt surrounding the pole at the ground interface. Big issue which will reduce your fence life many years. Should have concrete coming out of ground an inch or two. That dirt will rot that interface much sooner. Use small cardboard tube form (2-3 inches at top) to get a nice concrete top that you can slope water away from post. I am replacing my fence after 23 years and the reason it lasted so long was that. Great job and great family!

Great video. Have two fences, here in Florida, and they just do not last. Between the humidity and severe weather, they just break, fall over, and get destroyed. I do appreciate the noise reduction and privacy. I, however, decided to go with trees/shrubs that not only do the same thing as a fence, but look better and last longer. I planted Podocarpus trees and man does it look great. I am not hating on fencing at all and am glad that it is an option. I have built many, "I hate my neighbor" fences in Atlanta. Sometimes, wood fencing is the best choice, but for me and my location, trees ended up being the better choice. I still love watching your videos after all of these years.

Important to note that if you set your posts exactly 8ft on center, you'll have to cut the 2x4x8 stringers to exactly 8 ft long. Yes they are sold as 8ft boards but my experience is that they are always slightly longer, sometimes even as much as an inch and a half.

Love it! That is one great-looking fence! I can't believe you guys did that in one day! It looks fantastic!

i did posts the same way 24 years ago and about 10 years ago some of the posts rotted away right at the concrete so i replaced some of the posts but for the ones that were salvagable i dug out to the concrete and put the yellow concrete cardboard tubes and added concrete to top of it and a few inches above ground...also good idea to clear silicone around the base of the wood or water could get in there and still rot the post

Yes! Cordless drills are great, string line is key, and rent a post hole digger. Manual digging is fine, but after a couple of holes it’s time upgrade. A thing or two to keep in mind: for those that trim/weed eat, you could create a rock bed (or something similar) under the fence to prevent chipping the fence when trimming; and be sure to plan, plan, plan! Write down what materials you need, mark your holes, mark utility lines, etc and double check before you start. Nice video!

A 90 degree post level helped me out alot. It rubber bands to the post and gives you a level on 2 sides for I man operation.

Watching your family help to build the fence is very loving.

Love seeing the girls helping. I have a sister and this video brings back some good memories of our helping Dad with his construction projects. He always bragged upon completion, "Who needs boys? I've got girls...and they're as handy as a pocket on a shirt!"

It's an early comment but just for a FYI, UFPO or any marking agency usually they tell you a 3' radius . from the mark should be hand dug with safety . You probably knew that but wanted to add it. The fence looks awesome and I love the fact that the whole family was involved. You are teaching your kids a wonderful life lesson. This truly is a wonderful channel for any and everybody to watch!

Always recommend going with a 2x6 treated wood along the bottom keeps pickets from ground contact weathering and the 2x6 is more resistant to the weed eater damage.

Looks great. I’m in the process of building 90’ of fence, so your video will come in handy. Thanks and great job!!!

I had a 6 foot chain link in the back of my house when I bought it. I found some brackets at Home Depot that slide over the posts that have holes in them to bolt the stringers on to. That fence is about 80 feet and not having to put new posts in saved me a ton of time and money.

Thank you for your very well explanations on how to DIY a privacy fence. A lot of work. Your family is so lucky to have you and all your knowledge. God Bless you and your family.

...when you have measured your desired depth and put in place the first and last post...run a level string line from the tops of those two posts...this way you don't care about your lawn (which is not level)...just make sure each post top reaches the string line.

It's so nice to sit back after it's all said and done and enjoy the fruits of your labor. Thank you for this video so glad you got that done now I know what I should do. Till next time God bless

Yes, this is a great video. Just what I was looking for. I need a privacy fence going 25 feet from the corner of my house where it meets on the corner of my other fence that runs down the property. It’s on a little slope so it’s going to be tricky. I think I’m better off seeing that one one and it’s gonna be quite a bit as much as maybe 6 inches 4 inches difference from one corner to the other corner. I think rather than follow the ground. I’m going to follow the top and make sure all or even at the top and line up in a row at the top of the fence rather than the bottom of the fence. In between that 25.ft, I’m going to need a 10 foot gate or 2-5 foot sections because it’s going over a driveway, a second gravel driveway. So being a 62-year-old woman that doesn’t have a lot of building skills, I purchased one of these levels that has like three side you attach it to your 4 x 4 or 6 x 6 post. And I also purchased one of those cat laser pointers where I can set a small piece of post in the ground attach my level and use the laser pointer to guide me to where I want to be and when I hit dirt I’ll know how far I’m of, Yes, I’m going slightly up the hill on the other side of the driveway section. I can throw gravel in there to cover that up a little bit no big deal! I see your neighbor a couple houses down put one up and he’s had a dip down also but he leveled up the top, so it’s there is a pretty good size a little gap along the bottom he could always run a stringer at the bottom if you wanted or do anything at the bottom plant some bushes.😂 My challenge is going to be when the side of the 6 foot wood panel, not panel pickets that I build fence, reach the corner of my house, keeping the squirrels off the fence from jumping up onto my roof of my porch! So I’ll have to put up some kind of a metal pole or shepherds hook or something and get one of those cone shape do hickeys and attach that so the squirrels can’t get up there😂😵‍💫 I put up a privacy fence in the back but I used panels instead of building with pickets like I’m going to do this time. It worked out pretty good. It did start to tilt a little bit. I probably didn’t get the 4 x 4 posts in the middle all the way enough in the ground but that’s OK I’m going to twine that 4 x 4 post on my back fence up to a tree and pull it tighter and then I’ll fill it in steak it in whatever I’ve got to do so some extra concrete down in there whatever I’ll get it fixed up and it’ll be all good to go for another five years!😂 I live in the city and I have a 30 year old son that lives with me he has he is not a builder. He needs a musician. He doesn’t put up fences. He doesn’t use hammers nothing out of it, but he can carry things and hold things up while I get up and do stuff I’m gonna be 62 years old in two months. I’m a little scared to get up on my roof again, but I gotta get up there and take care of a few things. 🤞 My husband passed away from pancreatic cancer a few years ago unexpectedly😢 So I’m trying to finish off the projects that we started without his guidance and try to remember everything that he taught me through the last 35 years😊 ❤ Great channel I’m sure I’ll come back to this channel many times for your videos and maybe even advice😊

Built same fence 2005 but my mistake was I put a 1/4 space between boards , 15 years later I have gaps up to 1 inch wide, So I simply removed all boards held on by 2 1/2 #8 robinson deck screws. I then reinstalled them tight together. I also put my posts exactly 8 feet apart and mounted the 2x4x8 on metal brackets; it meant I had to rip one board to fit and I used 1x6 x 5 ft boards. So in 15 years I had to replace 4 posts that rotted pff. I left them in place and put in new a post a couple of feet away. It has served its purpose, Good video!

I stain all my boards 6 sides before install. I also only use treated posts and stringers. Each board is leveled rather than just put up one after the other. If they're just placed one after the other they usually move with the Earth and end up ascetically not looking right and being off by one to two inches. Also i secure each stringer Between each post with metal brackets that are sold at any home improvement stores. I find it makes the fence more secure and strong. Not staining our using treated wood You will have a rotted fence quick depending on your climate. I also use screws and recommend them. You have a nice fence just adding from my experience.

I believe the most efficient tool that you have and did not talk about is the PTO driven auger. That machine is a back saver AM time saver. Really nice job on the fence it is beautiful.

For evening out rough ground lay a board down on the ground and set the vertical fence boards on that instead of the ground. If you use a 2x it will keep the fencing out of the dirt and it will not rot out as fast.

Nice job as usual. My wife and I started watching your wife's channel originally then yours. We really enjoy the ones with your family in them. Thanks for posting we really appreciate the effort you do.

your doing it right...only different thing i did was buy the 16' 2x4s as they (supposedly) are cut from older trees and should have tighter pores which will hold up to moisture better. And then stagger them to help make the fence more rigid.

Good video, but I been building fences for a long time, 1) check the recommended depth of post holes in your area first. 2) install post then if your in a wet area you could pour in dry concrete it will set on its own with out mixing. Just wet around post with water or if in a dry area add the dry concrete and then add water and just poke it with a stick to get the water mixed in. Saves your back from mixing. 3) not every one has a tractor, you can rent a post hole digger or small hand one a most rental shops.4) if your going to put fence post caps on start with top rails 2" from the top. Nice fence.

beautiful job & saved lots of money by doing it yourself... lucky to have so helpful helpers.... enjoy for the years to come....thumb up...

Hey! Good video thanks. Just a note. I’m a UG locator for electric. All utilities are allowed a 1-1/2 foot error allowance on both sides of their marks. So actually that locator did a pretty darn good job being only a few inches off on they’re paint lines.? Everybody! Always assume there are lines where you dig and dig cautiously. Especially around gas and electric!

Built a few privacy fences now and the only thing I do differently is that I always set my pickets up off the ground a couple inches. Makes it easier to string trim against and keeps the boards from being in constant contact with the ground.

Whenever I set posts, I atleast have a minimum of an 8" diameter hole or 12" and fill to the top with concrete so I have less ground contact with the wood and stronger against a strong wind.

Very nice fence and it will last a long time because you done it right

Guy's awesome job on the fence. Forget about all the negative comments. All you " I would've" " you could've" people give us tags to your fence video.

Thanks, this will be helpful when I put mine up. FYI, the locate marks were not off, 811 should’ve told you there’s a clearance of about 12/18” on each side of those marks for future reference, this is especially important when you’re digging around power and using that auger , be safe!

We have a 1 acre property…we are going to fence in the entire rear 1/2 acre and have been researching DIY vids for this project since a contractor quoted us $15,000 to install…thank you for the vid much appreciated!!!

I just did one that is 220 feet long x 6' high. Love it and so does the neighbor.

As always I enjoy all your videos both during the week and on Sunday, You have given me a lot of good idea's as far as the building of the Greenhouse and now with the fence. Glad to see that the injury hasn't restricted you, You are the Shepard that watches over his family, his crops and animals with God's care and knowledge.

I built a fence on flat land and it seemed easy. I'm now building one on a 150' slope and it sucks, to say the least. What a pain putting the post in, anyone who put a privacy fence on a hill knows what I mean. You guys did a really nice job.

Good teamwork, I like how the kids helped with staging material so the adults could keep up a quick pace on the pickets. An option to help the posts last longer would be to use penetrating epoxy on them, at least the lower three feet, though that is a bit pricey.

Great job, so nice to see family all working together.

Awesome job! Like the Army T-shirt as well. Thank you for your service.

As long as you set the posts 96" OC or under they don't have to be exact. Work left to right hanging stringers and cut them off on the right hand side right down the center of the 4x4. Save you tons of time

I am replacing a fence of 8x6 pre fabbed panels. It's a real hassle. I've got the portion from the house out to the street put up, minus the gate. The long portion out by the road is the most difficult because there are bushes in the yard and other things I planted along the fence out by the road. The dirt behind the fence was right up on about 6 to 8 inches behind the fence. Some of these shrubs are just slap on the fence so they have to grow over the fence or out into the back yard. Along the road today I put up one panel on two posts. The idea was to let it over hang at end but the metal pole for the fence got in the way so I had to cut it back on the 2 by 3 about four inches, or one picket. There is a privacy fence behind this one which is my neighbors. The posts are difficult at best to set by yourself. Tomorrow I am cutting a two by four in half to make a brace to hold the post while I concrete it in. Anyway, by the road the yard slopes down. As I dig up posts that are broken in the ground or just in the ground this dirt gets strewn about. The GRADE under the fence is hardly constant at all. With two feet in the ground and 6 feet above the ground you only have about 7 inches to play with to raise the fence up a bit. Anyway, I have about four panels to go. I just need to get up earlier. I stay up all night watching movies. I'm off for the holidays and I go back to work on Monday. I just got this Amazon fire stick so I have been able to find a ton of movies to watch, horror and sci fi. Anyway, the prefab panels are very limiting to say the least and it's easier to build in a field than in the bushes.

When I built my fence I ran a 1x 6 on the very bottom of the fence so that the weed eater or so that the picket wouldn't rotten out over time. Over all a nice built fence.

Had the whole family with helping hands,💯

I own a fence company in Gaineville FL, very impressed nice work.

11:48 dog making sure everything is going according to plan

I have minimal experience with fences, this helps clear things up for a couple repairs I will try.

This video is so timely as I am currently looking putting up a timber fence along the side boundry of our yard.

I love doing fence so much started my own lil company.

Great job! I would have left the inch or two on the 4x4. That saw is heavy cutting up that high! But at 72 some things get a little more difficult.

Nice easy augering, here in rock country your hole never winds up where you started it :)

Next DIY build, if I were you I’d pay more attention to the smiles and rainbows when doing the framing. Tells you where it’ll warp and how. Good to keep in mind for when it’s aging.

Built a privacy fence because of road years ago. Recommend water seal treatment. I used a garden sprayer and treated every 2 to 3 years. That fence is now over thirty years old.

This was awesome! Simple and effective. Thank you.

You made that look so easy! Looks great! Love jobs that incorporate the whole gang!

I purchased the posts today and will be starting this project next week. Mine will be 175 feet of fence. This was very helpful. Thank you.

Nice job I’m researching diys before I go in on my fence ur the best I’ve seen as far as detail and informational

Bet you're glad you did this then instead of now!!

Utility locates will tell you that their marks are within 2 feet-1foot to the left and 1 to the right. So their marks/ cable were within that parameter. Best to hand dig to 12 inch depth when that close to a mark.

Great job, only thing I would say is to put that other screw in. One screw in the middle will encourage the edges to warp.

i just subscribed to your channel because you helped mr with putting a waterpump on my chevy traverse.. thank you for your help

Nice fence I need to put one like that iIn my yard but in my experience you should put cement under your posts to keep them front sinking and only put dirt around them because if the post rots 1/4" you get 1/2" of play but if it is filled with dirt it will pack down and you won't have any play

You can just pour dry quikcrete straight into the post hole. It'll absorb the moisture it needs from the ground.

Excellent Job ! Inspiring , Touches My Heart to See You Involve The Whole Family, Thank You & God Bless

This is how I'm planning to do repair to my fence, nice to see I have the right idea. Thanks

Excellent work, and nice to see the whole family working together on the project, I would raise the boards about an inch off the ground .

We just put up a privacy fence as well. We added our boards to an existing rod iron fence

You're a hard working, industrious family!

You forgot to mention the post-hole digger as a useful tool for this project. Good to see the SSL Family out there helping you, sometimes I feel kinda bad for you working alone. Also, I'll say it a thousand times and it will always be true MORE GOATS!

Solid work bro and very inspiring making it a family project. We'll be building ours next week.

commend you on the great fence and raising a beautiful fam!

Put an acrylic lacquer clear coat over the wood to preserve it. I can't speak for anyone else but I despise wood turning gray from Sun bleaching. I also despise insects eating my lumber and even treated wood insects won't eat within a few years when it is damp or wet pretty consistently which I would imagine in Michigan it is always damp wet and humid since everything appears to be lush and green unlike the desert of Southern California that I live in.

Really impressive, for a city break from New York oh, it's really great to see how you built that sounds and looks great!

2:21 I thought I'd clicked over to a "that chapter" video by mistake! They use the same song for their theme. My mother's fence is in bad shape and I'm trying to replace it for her. Thank you for inspiring me.

That came out great. ....should've done it when lumber prices were low

Yeah the kids helping all day wow nice

DIY? Last time I checked, I had neither a tractor with a digger attachment nor the energy to use a manual post hole digger. Glad you do, though. Thanks for posting!

i like to put the cement in dry and let the ground moisture sets it up just shake the post back and forth a little and the cement will sift down and be solid immediately and not wait for it to set up. Btw just got our first 30 a of hay up today 45 round bales of old alfalfa and old world bluestem hay i think it only had about an inch of rain on it been getting rain about every 3 to 4 days here in n oklhoma ps (love that lite)

great job. I really like to see all the family working together. also, thanks for the info.

Very nice, might be wishing you put in a Gate someday.

You gave me insight on "building" a fence compared to installing 8' fence panels. I have slight hilly land, thank you very much...

Loved seeing the kiddos helping out ❤

Amazon has a 1500 watt auger for 175$ works well...In my experience, running the pickets to the ground can warp the pickets with the moisture from the soil, also touching the pickets with no gap also can cause warpness.....

Awesome job SSL Family! It looks amazing. Thanks so much for the detailed explanation of how to build that fence. Blessings from NE Missouri!

Just an FYI, if you cut the outer jacket of that coax cable you will be regretting it in a few months. Call the cable company back and have them splice the cut part now that you know exactly where it is. Enjoyed the video, it was very informative.

Looks Very Nice !! And see that you had used that New Handy Dandy Led Light .. Thanks SSL Family !!

add screws to the post where covered by the cement. use a 6x6 and go 32'' deep for hurricane or storm areas. treated lumber. acq screws. strings everywhere. level. eyeball. time. love for the fence itself. a great post hole digger ($200)... and a vehicle to transport lumber.

Me and my son built a privacy fence several years ago. I'll never do that again. A ton of roots we had to cut threw. We didn't have a tractor for the auger. We had to use one of those hand held gas one's.

I'm getting one of these done next week. I want to do it myself but I'm too old and broken. Instead I'll probably pay someone over 2 grand easy. Your video was great. I liked the 2 x 4 stringers the easy way to screw planks onto.

I noticed you didn't put gravel in before setting the post and I know that really helps prevent rot. When posts sit on dirt they soak up moisture, but the gravel allows the posts to sit above the water.

Nice video, very easy to follow and nice that the family is working together. Way to set the example 👍 💪

Good job ! I’m wondering if you should let a gap of around 6 inches between your pickets and the ground in case of frozen soil in the winter.

I didn't put pickets directly on the ground like you did. I expect mine will last longer because they won't be continually exposed to moisture. Also, I'm jealous of your auger. We rented a towable posthole auger from home Depot - far, far easier to use compared to a one- or two-man auger. Overall, yours looks like a good job.

I agree That is a nice work light! And fence nice work!- I wouldve filled the 1st 6" of each hole with. Concrete helps prevent the boards from rotting out alot better soil holds moisture costs a bag per hole but it's worth it in the long run but to each their own nice fence too!

Rule of thumb never run your pickets all the way to the ground. A little trick have a long two by four on the ground and put the pickets touching the top of the 2x4 that will give you an inch and a half above grade and will keep your wood from rotting

Very nice job .its nice your wife and kids work with you .