Handy Wood Craft

 

How to Build a Wood Fence that Looks Great and Costs Less

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Keeping your yard looking nice and tidy is a constant struggle, especially when you have a busy family. The majority of yard clutter happens during the winter when everyone’s got tons of extra time on their hands to decorate fences and make gardens. Putting up Christmas ornaments, tinsel, and lights can be difficult without adequate space. A wood fence is an inexpensive way to add beauty and value to your property without breaking the bank. It doesn’t matter if you have the most amazing backyard oasis or the dirtiestest muck-heap; a beautiful wooden fence will make anyone’s day. So what type of wood is the best for building a wood fence? Well, that all depends on a few factors: Your budget, your skill level with tools, and of course your taste. There are several different woods that work great as fencing material but each has unique characteristics and therefore cost considerations. So let’s take a look at how to build a wood fence that looks great and costs less.

What is the Best Wood for Building a Wood Fence?

There are many different types of wood suitable for building a variety of projects including fences. If you’re looking for a cheap option that will do the job just fine, then compressed hardwood is probably your best bet. If you’re wanting to build a beautiful, expensive looking fence, then you’re in the right place! There are many different species of hardwood and softwood that are good for building a fence with, but the most common species used in building a fence are southern and northern white oak, basswood, and hickory. Southern white oak is known for its strength and durability, while northern white oak is more popular for its beauty and expensive wood finishes. Southern and northern white oak are both great for building a fence and cost about the same for construction materials, making them a no-brainer for the project. If you’re wanting to save some cash and get a board that’s only 24″ wide, you can always request it. But for most people, 24″ is probably too narrow for their application. A wider board is less expensive and would provide more stability for your project, but would take up more space and be harder to transport. So, the question remains, what is the best wood for building a wood fence? The answer is simple: whatever works best for your project, your budget, and your situation is! But when looking at southern white oak, there are a few other species that work well as a fence material. These include American white, longleaf, and slash. Southern white oak is known for its strength and durability, while American white oak is more popular for its beauty and expensive wood finishes. American white oak is quite pricey and therefore not suitable for most applications, but is a fantastic option when used as a fence board. With regard to longleaf and slash, they work fine as a fence board but are actually more popular as a outdoor timber. Longleaf and slash are great for building a fence that runs the length of a property, while American white oak is more suited for building a fence that’s partial width.

How to Build a Wood fence that Looks Great and Costs Less

Now that we’ve gone over what wood to use for building a wood fence, the easiest way to make sure your design looks great is to use the same wood for the foundation and the surrounding fence posts. This will help tie your design together and make your finished project look even more like a masterpiece. But don’t worry, there’s a method to our madness! As soon as your timber is cut, you’ll need to get it to the right thickness. The average person has no idea how thick a lumber piece is until they’re working with it in their hands. With Southern white oak, you want the thickness to be about 2/3 of the way up the board. If you want to be extra safe and want the piece to be a little thinner, you can always request it. But for most applications, you want the thickness about 1/3 of the way up the board. Next, add a layer of mineral oil to both ends of your lumber so it doesn’t dry out during transport. You can borrow a friend’s or purchase an oil can and add a few drops of stain or varnish to keep your lumber looking great. Once you have your lumber cut to length, its time to start building! Be sure to use a random pattern on your posts and don’t worry about following a standard shape. You don’t want a monotonous look to your project and your finished fence. Another thing to keep in mind is that you should never build a fence that’s more than three times its total length. This will cause your project to lean and cause additional stress on your shorter pieces.

What is the Cheapest wood you can buy for building a wood fence?

Buying wood at the local home improvement store can be expensive, so we’ve pinpointed the cheapest place to buy wood for building a wood fence. Crown Coast Lumber Company in Lincolnton, NC has the best prices on southern white oak lumber in the world, so we order our southern white oak from them. Assuming we need 200 boards, the price per board is $325. That works out to be $8.50 per board foot. If you purchase in bulk, the price per board is $1.19 per board foot, which is a savings of $23 per board foot. If you’re looking to save even more money, you could always build the project yourself. But, if you’re the type of person who doesn’t like to mess with stuff, we have the plans for you. All you have to do is follow the plans and you’ll be good to go!

The Final Words: Does Buying the Right Material for your Project really “Cost More?”

If you’re building a wood fence that’s going to stay in place for years, you want to make sure it’s made from quality materials. Southern white oak is highly absorbent, so a great way to go is with concrete board. While concrete board is not recommended for a wooden fence because it would soak up too much water, it’s great for shingles and other roofing materials. For the foundation, you want to make sure you get a bit of flexibility so that your fence doesn’t become loose over time. If you plan on keeping your wood fence outside, it should be attached to the ground with a strong, weatherproofing-type tieback. And last but not least, if you want your fence to look great, maintain its shape, and cost little to no money to build, use garden twine. This article is part of the Building a Wood Fence series. The series will help you create a beautiful and long-lasting wood fence in no time.

by - Handy Wood Craft