Is it relatively easy to put up my own garden fence?

MumOfOneAllAlone · 2024-11-26T16:17:38+00:00

Following on from another fence post 🤭🤭 I've already got some short concrete posts in place and then a mesh wire attached to them. It's approximately 30 metres of fence that needs doing So I'd remove the existing concrete posts and replace them with wooden posts. Has anyone diy'd their own garden fence? I've seen a wickes youtube video on it so I think I'm gonna give it a go. I plan to do it in March time. So aibu to attempt putting up my own garden fence, on my own?

Original poster

MumOfOneAllAlone · 27/11/2024 10:53

ZippyLilacStork · 27/11/2024 06:10

We did our own decking as well.
Much easier than fencing. Some good power tools and a prepared level surface and you’re good to go.

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I've got a concrete surface, would this be suitable do you think? It's part gravelly concrete, part grass 😬

I'm gonna get some post extenders for the fence, and some clip things that hold each post in place so I don't have to drill into the concrete. That should make it far easier

OP posts:

Zanatdy · 27/11/2024 06:11

It’s not easy no, I wouldn’t do it myself personally

ZippyLilacStork · 27/11/2024 06:10

MumOfOneAllAlone · 26/11/2024 19:04

I'm gonna see if I can sort out some extenders, as that just makes the most sense. I'll need to figure out how to attach the panels to the concrete posts though l, I'm not sure they have any groves on them 😫

Has anyone tried doing decking themselves? 😄😄 i think I'm losing my mind today, having crazy thoughts

We did our own decking as well.
Much easier than fencing. Some good power tools and a prepared level surface and you’re good to go.

stargazerlil · 26/11/2024 20:24

When the trades put in my fence an old post they tried to take out was so stuck in it needed 4 of them to pull it out, one lying on the ground digging the soil with his hands. I was happy to watch with a cuppa, through the window from the safety of the kitchen. You just don’t know what you’re gonna come up against with things like “easy” fencing jobs.

Original poster

MumOfOneAllAlone · 26/11/2024 19:04

I'm gonna see if I can sort out some extenders, as that just makes the most sense. I'll need to figure out how to attach the panels to the concrete posts though l, I'm not sure they have any groves on them 😫

Has anyone tried doing decking themselves? 😄😄 i think I'm losing my mind today, having crazy thoughts

OP posts:

Original poster

MumOfOneAllAlone · 26/11/2024 19:02

ForPearlViper · 26/11/2024 16:54

It's particularly important if you are going for the slot in panels. You'll have to raise them over the height of the posts, get them straight and slot them in. I'm pretty robust but struggled at it with a helper - but the panels were wet! You'll need to call in a couple of favours.

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I might see if I can ask my neighbour, he is a tradesperson

I want the feeling of accomplishment 🤭, plus to save money

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SoupDragon · 26/11/2024 17:09

I have to say, I wouldn't attempt the post part myself. Over 10 years ago I bit the bullet and have the fence replaced with cement posts and slot in panels. It was well worth the money as 1) it looked bloody hard work and 2) replacement panels just slide in so that can be done myself (with the assistance of my 6'2" son! 😂).

Boomer55 · 26/11/2024 16:57

I would get a professional in. 🙂

BrightOrangeDahlias · 26/11/2024 16:55

TheFlis · 26/11/2024 16:28

Having watched 3 burly guys do ours, not a chance would I attempt it!

This in spades ^

One of our fence posts was about 10' long: 6' above ground and the remaining 4 concreted into the ground. There was no way I could have shifted that!

ForPearlViper · 26/11/2024 16:54

MumOfOneAllAlone · 26/11/2024 16:49

Tip taken, thank you!

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It's particularly important if you are going for the slot in panels. You'll have to raise them over the height of the posts, get them straight and slot them in. I'm pretty robust but struggled at it with a helper - but the panels were wet! You'll need to call in a couple of favours.

Original poster

MumOfOneAllAlone · 26/11/2024 16:51

GasPanic · 26/11/2024 16:27

You have correctly identified the biggest issue is digging the old posts out.

The problem is the old posts tend to rot where the post meets the ground. So if the post has been concreted in and it snaps off, then you need to somehow remove the stump. It is not easy but there are ways. But it takes a long time.

If you are proactive and remove the posts before they weaken they are easier to get out. But of course no one can normally be bothered to fix the problem before it occurs.

If the posts are not concreted in, then it is a relatively simple, but hard process to dig them out and replace, probably by tipping in postcrete to hold the new ones up.

The permanent solution is to replace wooden posts with concrete ones. Then replacing the panels just becomes an issue of slotting new ones in. If you replace the wooden posts with concrete the problem will be fixed forever as the concrete will not rot. Or at least longer than your lifetime.

My neighbour just got wooden panels and posts and they were already shaking with storm Bert tbh

A post extender could be the best idea, as i don't want to have to do it all again in a few years

OP posts:

Original poster

MumOfOneAllAlone · 26/11/2024 16:49

ForPearlViper · 26/11/2024 16:26

Without seeing the job it is difficult to say. Don't stint on getting the right tools though - it will make all the difference.

I will give you one tip if you are using premade fence panels. Don't buy them after a long period of rain. Fence panels tend to be stored outside and don't half absorb water. It makes them twice as heavy!

Tip taken, thank you!

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Original poster

MumOfOneAllAlone · 26/11/2024 16:48

4titude · 26/11/2024 16:47

why do you need a fence? Cant you just take off the wire and leave the posts there. There is already a fence presumably belonging to your neighbour.

Sorry, i should've said before, that's on the one side - on the other side there is no fence, just a full view of my neighbours garden 🤭🤭

OP posts:

Original poster

MumOfOneAllAlone · 26/11/2024 16:48

GasPanic · 26/11/2024 16:37

Agreed.

The only reason for maybe removing the concrete posts is if you want a higher fence. And even then it might just be easier to find a way of extending them.

If your posts are not slotted to accept panels then you could attach some fence clips (maybe even use the wire holes to attach them on each side).

Unfortunately I would be willing to bet a large amount that the posts are not evenly spaced. Or if they are it probably wouldn't be to a standard panel size.

So you will probably have to modify panels in order to get them to fit. Which would be a pain. But probably somewhat less of a pain than digging the posts out.

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Omg something like this?

Is it relatively easy to put up my own garden fence?

OP posts:

4titude · 26/11/2024 16:47

why do you need a fence? Cant you just take off the wire and leave the posts there. There is already a fence presumably belonging to your neighbour.

Original poster

MumOfOneAllAlone · 26/11/2024 16:45

I'm hoping you can see the posts from this photo? They're so short, perhaps a metre high

Edited to add, sorry about the state of my garden 🙈

I'd be removing these posts (in theory) as there's a fence behind it, but on the opposite side, there isn't an existing fence

OP posts:

IsThisNameTaken · 26/11/2024 16:38

I did ours (with a bit of help from 16 year old DD) - but used fence post spikes instead of concreting the new posts in. It's still as good as new after 4 years.

GasPanic · 26/11/2024 16:37

InfoSecInTheCity · 26/11/2024 16:33

Why do you want to remove the concrete posts?
Getting rid of them will be an utter ballache because they'll have a big puddle of set concrete all around them that you need to dig around and then you'll have the heavy job of shifting them.

Wooden posts rot, concrete posts don't, so if you put wooden posts in their place you'll be doing it on the basis that at some point, the bit underground that can't be painted regularly will have soaked up enough moisture to snap in a breeze and take out all the attached panels.

If you have concrete posts in now then it should be pretty easy to buy panels you like and attach them to the existing posts, you may need to add some wooden or concrete posts in between if they are spaced too far apart at the moment but that would be easier than digging it all out.

Agreed.

The only reason for maybe removing the concrete posts is if you want a higher fence. And even then it might just be easier to find a way of extending them.

If your posts are not slotted to accept panels then you could attach some fence clips (maybe even use the wire holes to attach them on each side).

Unfortunately I would be willing to bet a large amount that the posts are not evenly spaced. Or if they are it probably wouldn't be to a standard panel size.

So you will probably have to modify panels in order to get them to fit. Which would be a pain. But probably somewhat less of a pain than digging the posts out.

4titude · 26/11/2024 16:37

removing concrete posts is incredibly time consuming and difficult. You will dig up a much larger area than you anticipate and getting them into a skip will be hard work. It's expensive to get someone else to do it. Use the posts you already have

InfoSecInTheCity · 26/11/2024 16:33

Why do you want to remove the concrete posts?
Getting rid of them will be an utter ballache because they'll have a big puddle of set concrete all around them that you need to dig around and then you'll have the heavy job of shifting them.

Wooden posts rot, concrete posts don't, so if you put wooden posts in their place you'll be doing it on the basis that at some point, the bit underground that can't be painted regularly will have soaked up enough moisture to snap in a breeze and take out all the attached panels.

If you have concrete posts in now then it should be pretty easy to buy panels you like and attach them to the existing posts, you may need to add some wooden or concrete posts in between if they are spaced too far apart at the moment but that would be easier than digging it all out.

UpUpUpU · 26/11/2024 16:33

after watching my partner do it over summer, absolutely not a chance! It was backbreaking work and took ages

SallyForf · 26/11/2024 16:31

The short concrete posts that are already in situ, do they have grooves down each side to take a panel or do they just have eyes to take wire fence hooks?

FixingStuff · 26/11/2024 16:31

I think it's okay if you are very strong. I couldn't do it.

ZippyLilacStork · 26/11/2024 16:30

It’s a simple job, DH and I have always done our own.
Its hard work though, and don’t underestimate the unwieldiness of a fence panel on a windy day.

Whatevershallidowithmylife · 26/11/2024 16:29

Doable if you are strong! You will need to dig out current posts which will have been concreted in. You need an industrial roadworks type drill to break up the concrete to get the post out. There will be a decent depth down. Then postcrete in new posts leave overnight (well in summer anyway) then on with the posts (nailgun). DH charges £150 per post removal (max 2 a day).