Fence ideas

[GTI_Matador]

One of my major summer projects will be re-doing my fence. Right now its a rotted stockade fence.

Option 1: The cheapest option would be to replace it with the same stockade type of fence. I would need to buy 20 panels at $30 a piece ($600 total). I would just tear off the old fence, keep the posts which are in perfect condition and just put up the new fence.

Option 2: The most expensive option would be to hire a guy that is recommended by several friends that have used him to do PVC. With this option I wouldn't have to do anything. The guy would come with two other workers, they would pull everything out, put up new PVC posts and fencing all around in a day or two. Again, 20 panels and all the material and labor $4,800

Option 3: ? This is where I need your help, what would be a good third option that would be priced somewhere in the middle? I have no problem doing the work myself and I'm in no rush or need to do it all within a weekend. Ideally this option would be a wood type fence. I like the look of a custom built cedar plank fence but I don't know where to start. I'm open to any other ideas, thanks.

[Phrost]

If you're in no rush and don't mind some work, why not piece it together and avoid panels?

Fence is pretty easy, just time consuming. But I paid a guy to spray/stain mine right away.

For a "middle price" option, maybe go with cedar panels if you weren't already planning to go that route?

[spockcat]

Is it possible to use the existing posts with vinyl post sleeves going over them and then put vinyl panels between them? Are the existing posts in good enough shape and spaced properly for that?

[Mk1Racer]

Is it possible to use the existing posts with vinyl post sleeves going over them and then put vinyl panels between them? Are the existing posts in good enough shape and spaced properly for that?

This is what I was going to suggest. I know you can get sleeves that go over standard 4x4 posts. And if the posts are already spaced for 8' stockade panels, I'm pretty sure you can get 8' PVC panels as well.

[GTI_Matador]

Yeah, the fence guy said that he would rather rip it all out and put in new vinyl posts filled with cement and make sure its done right, rather then rely on old posts. he said its actually more of a headache making it work with the old posts and it wouldn't change the price.

I'm actually leaning towards a cedar plank fence. I personally think it looks better and has more character then PVC. has anyone done a cedar plank fence before?

Either Vertical


or Horizontal


I don't know how difficult it would be. Is it just a matter of nailing boards to the posts?

[Phrost]

I love the horizontal look. But that's more for a small space, a large horizontal fence would look like a ranch. Heyyyy Duuuuuudeee.

My fence is all cedar, but is in "shadowbox" style. WI can get really windy and I see that flush style have panels blow off over here.

If you re-use your old posts, make sure they're in good condition. If you build a new one, make sure you seal the wood. My mom has a cedar fence that was never stained, and the 4x4 posts rotted after about 15 years... so when a wind storm blew the fence over, it snapped the 4x4 posts right at the cement base. Was a pain/$ to dig out and replace

[lojasmo]

I don't know how difficult it would be. Is it just a matter of nailing boards to the posts?

No. If you want vertical pickets, you will need stringer hangers for top and bottom, then nail or screw the vertical pickets.

If you want horizontal pickets, screw pressure treated 2x4 boards to each side of each 4x4 and nail or screw horizontal pickets to the 2x4 boards.

[robr2]

...it snapped the 4x4 posts right at the cement base.

That was the problem. Wooden posts should not be set in concrete. The top of the concrete allows water to collect and speed up the decay of the post.

The post should be set on stone and backfilled with more stone and soil allowing the water to drain away from the post.

[Phrost]

Makes sense, but everyone puts in fences that way around here.

Some people insist on pouring cement around their mailbox post... which I do not agree with, because snowplows take out A LOT of mailboxes every winter. Then you're screwed and either have to dig out the cement, or dig next to your permanent anchor in the ground.

Mine got taken out last year. I swear, if it gets taken out again, I'm going to mount like 3 4x4's in a row, all bolted together, and cemented in the ground. It's en eyesore to have your mailbox sitting in a 5gal pail, and a pain to be installing a new post when it's cold out.

[GTI_2.0T]

Mine got taken out last year. I swear, if it gets taken out again, I'm going to mount like 3 4x4's in a row, all bolted together, and cemented in the ground. It's en eyesore to have your mailbox sitting in a 5gal pail, and a pain to be installing a new post when it's cold out.

Around here, if the town plow takes it out, the town replaces it.

[GTI_Matador]

Great info. thanks. I now have another issue. I started cleaning up the old broken/rotted pieces from the old stockade and notice that some pieces had swarms of termite all over them. What's the best way to deal with that? Also, will the cedar planks have issue if there are termites in that area?

[spockcat]

Great info. thanks. I now have another issue. I started cleaning up the old broken/rotted pieces from the old stockade and notice that some pieces had swarms of termite all over them. What's the best way to deal with that? Also, will the cedar planks have issue if there are termites in that area?

Are you sure they are termites and not carpenter ants? Is the fence close to the house at all? You might want to get them exterminated before they spread to the house.

[GTI_Matador]

No they definitely looked like termites and they are across the yard, nowhere near the house. But I am concerned about putting up another wood fence now. That entire back are is all rotted away, my guess is termite infestation now. I'll have to call an exterminator and get some estimates before going forward with the fence.

[robr2]

You have termites in the fence because what is there now is probably spruce. IMHO, I'd rather sacrifice a fence to the termites than the house.

When you put up cedar or pressure treated, the termites won't eat it for a while.

[GTI_Matador]

That's what I thought. The stockade fence that's up there now is all rotted away but the posts which look like pressure treated and perfectly fine. If I go with cedar planks do I have to treat the wood with something first?

[robr2]

Cedar is naturally resistant to insect damage. But it's not insect proof. A good cedar fence will last 20-25 years. Pressure treated will do so as well.

[spockcat]

No they definitely looked like termites and they are across the yard, nowhere near the house. But I am concerned about putting up another wood fence now. That entire back are is all rotted away, my guess is termite infestation now. I'll have to call an exterminator and get some estimates before going forward with the fence.

So you are going to have to put in new posts regardless how you go. Why not go vinyl or even composite at this point? They do have vinyl colors other than white and styles other than the typical Home Depot white privacy fence. Also, companies that make composite decking also make composite fence material.

http://www.naturescomposites.com/composite-fencing.html
http://www.fencescape.com/
http://woodshadesfencing.com/

[GTI_Matador]

Not necessarily, like I had mentioned the posts look perfect and I don't see the need to take them down. I kind of swayed away front eh vinyl because of the cost and I really prefer the look a cedar plank fence over the vinyl. I'm going to try to price it all out with cedar and see where it stands.

[robr2]

I have fence quotes right here. The vinyl is $300 more than cedar stockade for 160' with a gate. Spruce stockade would be another $600 less. The vinyl is looking better - especially since I will be matching the vinyl my rear neighbor put up.