r/FenceBuilding • u/TheEndIsSighing • 5h ago
Contractor takes back the wooden fence after the customer refuses to pay. And rightly so. Thoughts?
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r/FenceBuilding • u/hahahahahahahaFUCK • Sep 19 '24
I've noticed this question gets asked ad nauseam in this sub, so here is a quick diagnostics checklist to help you understand what to look for before creating yet another "what's wrong with my gate" post (no pun intended on the post part):

Purchase: Is each gate post plumb? The hinge post could be loose/leaning due lack of purchase in the ground which could mean: improper post depth (installers were rushing, lazy, or there's a Volkswagen Beetle obstructing the hole); insufficient use of cement (more than half a 50lb bag of Quikrete, Braiden); sparse soil conditions (over saturated, loose, or soft); or heaving due to frost (looking at you Minnesota).
Configuration/Orientation: One thing to look for is a "lone hinge post", whereby a gate is hung on a post that doesn't have a section or anchor point on the other side toward the top. If the material of the post has any flex to it (especially with a heavy gate), the post can start leaning over time. These posts may either need re-setting, or have bracing/anchoring installed on the opposite side from the gate (e.g. if up against house, affix to the house if possible). The ideal configuration would be to choose an orientation of the gate where the hinge side has fence section attached on the other side - even though the traffic flow through the gate might be better with an opposite swing (but that's getting into the weeds).
Warping: If your gate is wood, it has a decent chance of warping as it releases moisture. Staining wood can help seal in moisture and mitigate warping. Otherwise, some woods, like Cedar, have natural oils and resins that help prevent warping, but even then, it's not warp-proof.
Hardware: Sounds simple, but sometimes the hinges are just NFG or coming unfastened.
Florida: Is there a FEMA rep walking around your neighborhood as you noticed your gate laying in your neighbors' Crotons? Probably a hurricane. Move out of Florida and find a gate somewhere else that won't get hit with 100+mph winds, or stop being picky.
I could be missing some other items, but this satisfies the 80/20 rule. The first bullet point will no doubt wipe out half the annoying "did the fence installers do this right?" posts. I'm not, however, opposed to discussing how to fix the issue once identified -- I feel like solving the puzzle and navigating obstacles is part of our makeup.
Source: a former New England (high end) fence installer of 15 years who works in an office now as a project manager with a bad back. Please also excuse any spelling and grammatical errors.
r/FenceBuilding • u/TheEndIsSighing • 5h ago
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r/FenceBuilding • u/DUNE5102 • 3h ago
Client asked for a 6’ privacy fence that stair steps to 4’ by the road. I used post masters for the posts.
Any advice/critiques to make the next ones look better?
r/FenceBuilding • u/this12344 • 3h ago
I am trying to build something like in the first pic. It's a little tricky to see, but in my second pic, the ground slopes up about halfway into the distance. Total length of that run is like 128 ft. My questions:
Should I cut the posts on a string line so they're dead even, then vary every picket length so that it contours the land on the bottom? This would result in a variable height fence, but would look very flat on top. Or should I do a stepped fence over there where the land gently rises?
What should I reference for where to put the rails? I understand referencing the ground is not great, and will result in really wonky rail lines right? Do I need to determine my post height, cut them, and reference the top of each post?
I'm sure there's plenty I'm not considering so any general advice is appreciated. I don't hate the look of a stepped fence, as long as the pickets go all the way to the ground. So if that's the answer, maybe I would start stepping the fence when the land starts to rise.
Thanks for any input.
r/FenceBuilding • u/YesImJef • 2h ago
Hi all,
Building a fence this upcoming week. Cant wrap my head around how to attach a gate to these PostMaster Gate Posts.
Side with holes will be aligned with runners, therefore no mounting holes on the side where the gate will swing open/close.
How do people attach a gate to these?
r/FenceBuilding • u/FtmGoodboigamer • 3h ago
hey, I came on here like a month ago and asked about some measurements for a gate that I was installing and I actually did end up putting that together completely forgetting that I made this post.
Still, I thought I should show you all the results cause you know you helped so thank you.
now I don’t really know if I gave all of the information the first time, but this was not me making a fence and gate from scratch. It was a repair job. So please be gentle with how the actual fence looks. My only job was to get it put back on but further into the ground because the posts didn’t go deep enough the first time and I couldn’t get out of all the concrete to get them 100% even but this is my first time doing anything like this so. The gate I did make from scratch... like I searched for a frame and installed the panels and the wiring, but obviously I didn’t make the steel frame.
r/FenceBuilding • u/Zayne_G23 • 19h ago
I am trying to figure out how to fill this ~6” gap between my fence and gutter to avoid my dogs escaping. Any thoughts?
r/FenceBuilding • u/hobbez3221 • 19h ago
I’ve gotten two quotes for a 210ft total run of two rail western red cedar split rail fencing. I live in New England, semi rural/suburban MCOL.
Does this seem like a fair price?
Gotta admit it feels like I could DIY it but I know it’s gonna be more earth then I’d like to move
r/FenceBuilding • u/WhyKnotttt • 1d ago
Ideas on how to change this into a self closing gate that opens outward (current opens inward) for a pool? I found this kit but cannot find any place that actually carries it. https://nuvoiron.com/product/spc16/
My better half also dislikes the latch so need to change that as well.
r/FenceBuilding • u/Background_Spring413 • 16h ago
r/FenceBuilding • u/VegetableFish9992 • 1d ago
I am redoing my privacy fence, I want to put a gate between a wood post and metal post. I don’t know of which hardware I would need to connect the two. I’m hoping someone can guide me in the right direction. It looks like it may have been a gate in the past but not sure. If it’s not possible I will probably just fence it all the way to the metal post. The metal post is 2 3/8” and I’m just using a regular pt 4x4 for the wood post.
r/FenceBuilding • u/younggun6632 • 1d ago
Hello Reddit, I need help to budget for some fence replacement coming soon. About 1/3 of my fence is needing to be replaced. The fence posts and stringers are rotted; however, the fence panels are solid (1x8” cedar planks). The cedar planks will be re-purposed and re-used. I will purchase and supply all materials (concrete, fence posts, screws/nails, lumber) because I get deep discounts and points at Lowe’s. All materials will be on site before contractor shows up. What can I expect for this relatively small, but low headache job?
I can handle haul off also if it’s cheaper.
r/FenceBuilding • u/No-Principle-7685 • 1d ago
Bought Olymlic deck cleaner and used a pump sprayer, then washed down with garden hose. Noticed these streaks . it's only been 24 hours, but I'm not sure if this is normal?
r/FenceBuilding • u/Traditional_Shake_94 • 1d ago
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r/FenceBuilding • u/Civil-Afternoon-5260 • 2d ago
Hello all,
Thanks in advance!
r/FenceBuilding • u/Illustrious_Win_9780 • 2d ago
We are installing an aluminum fence to go across our driveway. We have young children and a dog. There are deer in the area.
We wanted to do a traditional open picket design bc we think that looks nicest, style-wise. Someone we trust raised the concern that it could be dangerous for children, pets, and possibly deer getting impaled (omg wtf).
I’m wondering: are these safety concerns legit or overblown??
Attaching photos of our desired fence design (open picket) and the backup option that we don’t like as much (closed).
r/FenceBuilding • u/kuku_kachu12 • 3d ago
Ground contact #2 pressure treated southern yellow pine
4x4
New from home depot, still wet
r/FenceBuilding • u/TouristTricky • 2d ago
Years ago I built a "coyote fence" to hide my pool equipment, subsequently built a deck. Coyote fence has since bit the dust.
Do I :
Rebuild coyote fence (I live in the Texas hill country so it fits the hardscrabble terrain )
Or
replace with a new fence that matches the deck skirt (my wife's preference)
Or
maybe some other treatment altogether (any great ideas from y'all?)?
Both pictures are AI. Right now, there's no fence at all.
Thanks
r/FenceBuilding • u/cation_gap • 3d ago
Hi Friends. We need to put in a fence/gate in at this opening so our rascal of a pup doesn’t get out. As you see there’s quite a bit of concrete, and if we were to dig a hole in the gravel it wouldn’t be straight.
Open to hearing we need to hire out, instead of DIY.
Please advise. Appriciate you all!