Your dog’s safety is paramount. Although putting up a fence around your dog’s yard can seem daunting, it is possible with the right materials, knowledge, and experience. You can create a safe space for your dog to run around and play by learning how to attach woven wire and install wire fences posts correctly.
Installing Fence Posts
Think about the type of fence you want. Two types of wire fences are commonly used to confine dogs. They will both keep your dog safe in your yard but they have different prices and durability.
- Chain link fencing: Although they tend to be more costly than other types of wire fencing, they are durable and strong. They are durable and comply with all housing association guidelines. The large holes in the chain links can allow strangers to attach objects or hands to your dog.
- Farm fence: This is a cheap fence made of wire mesh that has been stretched over fence posts. These fences will not block your yard’s view but can corrode and require frequent maintenance.
Dig holes for the corner posts. Digging holes for your corner posts is the first step in building a fence for your dog if you are using wooden posts. Because corner posts are more susceptible to tension than line posts (the posts between your corner posts), the holes for them must be dug deeper. Your hole for corner posts should be 2 1/2 to 3 feet deep (.76 to 0.91 meters).
- A hand-held clamshell plow can be used for most jobs. An auger or other drill-like tool might be useful if there are a lot of posts to dig or the ground is difficult.
- You will need to drill deeper holes if the ground on which you plan to place your posts is clay or wet.
- Your corner posts should be placed in the holes. Your line posts should be stronger than your corner posts. Your corner posts should measure approximately 6-8 inches (15 to 20 cm) in diameter and 7 to 8 feet (2.25 meters) in length. These posts should be placed in your corner holes. Fill the hole with enough soil to prevent them from moving.
- To ensure it is straight, hold a vertical level parallel to the post.
- Dig holes for the brace posts. For every fence line that leads to your corner post, you should place a brace pole. Brace posts help to keep the corner post from becoming unbalanced and reduce tension. These posts should be dug at 2 1/2 to 3 feet (0.76 to 0.91 meters) in-depth, just like your corner posts. The brace post should be at least 8 feet from the corner post along the fence line.
- Your brace posts should be placed in the holes. Place your brace posts into the holes, just as you did for the corner posts. Fill in some soil to hold them in place. To ensure that the brace posts are straight, hold a vertical level along the sides of the posts before filling them in.
- Fill in the holes for your brace and corner posts. Fill in your brace and corner posts once they are in place. To ensure that the post is stable, you must compact the dirt, clay, or sand as you go. You can add a small amount of dirt at a given time. Make sure to pack it well after each addition.
- To pack the dirt, you can use a hoe, longboard, or a pipe with a curving end. This will allow you to pack the dirt tighter and prevent you from scraping your hands against the wooden posts.
- Concrete can be poured into the hole in the fence to make it more secure.
- Install a brace wire. Install a brace between your brace and corner posts to stabilize them. The brace wire will run diagonally between the bottom of your corner posts and the top of the brace posts. Start a fence staple at the bottom of your corner posts and the top brace post to secure the wire. The wire should be run through the staple from your corner post. It will then go through the brace post staple, through your corner post staple, around the brace posts, back down, and around your corner. Once the wire is in place, secure the staples. Secure any wire that is not secured to the post.
- Most supply shops sell brace wire. It is flexible and usually 9-gauge. It is not the exact same as fence wire.
- A crosspiece should be added between your corner and brace posts. After your brace wire has been installed, place a wooden crosspiece between your corner post and brace posts. The crosspiece should measure approximately 8 feet long or 2.5 meters in length. You can make a hole in the post’s interior to slip the crosspiece into, and then secure it with nails.
- As a crosspiece, you can use pipe, old steel fence post, or bed rails.
- Make a brace lever. To make your brace posts and corners more solid, you will need to tension the brace wire. Cut a 16-inch (41 cm) length of pipe, rod, wood, or another sturdy material. The lever should be placed at the top of the brace post between the brace wires that you have just attached. Turn the lever until the wires are tight. Rest the other end against the crosspiece once the wires are taut. As long as there’s enough tension, it will remain in place.
- Dig holes for your line posts. To determine the location of your line posts, run a wire or cord through your brace and corner assemblies. Line posts should be placed approximately 15 to 20 feet (5 – 6 m) apart. Spray paint can be used to mark the locations to dig these holes. Dig holes up to 2 to 2 1/2 feet using the auger or clamshell post digger.
- Install your line posts. After digging the holes, insert your line posts and then fill them with dirt, clay, or sand.
Attaching the wire fence
- A fence stretcher is constructed. A fence stretcher is a great way to make woven wire fencing stretch easier. Two 2x4s are all you need to make a fence stretcher. Each 2×4 should be slightly longer than the length of the woven fence. Each 2×4 should be drilled at an even distance along with the board. These holes should be drilled for bolts. To stretch your woven fence, pull on the board and hook it over the bolts.
- One 2×4 should be used at each end to attach the section of woven wire fencing you are stretching.
- The wire’s end should be attached to the corner post. Take a few wires from the woven fence and remove them to attach the end of your corner post. These wires should be wrapped around the post. Then, weave them into the fencing. Secure the wires to your fence post using a staple gun.
- Remember that the larger the gauge of wire you buy, the smaller its diameter. For example, 12-gauge wire weighs more than 14-gauge.
- Galvanized staples should be at least one-and-a-half inches long. If you’re using hard wood for your posts, however, you might need a shorter staple.
- The fence should be extended to the next corner post. Once one end of the wire is attached to your first corner post, place the woven wire on the end and roll it along the fence line until you reach the next corner post. Use your fence stretcher to slowly stretch the fence, applying pressure evenly at all corners, braces, and line posts. The tension curves of the wire should be about a third of their length.
- The wire fences should be attached to the posts. Secure the wire to the brace or line posts by using a staple gun. Start at the end closest to the corner post that you have already attached the wire to. Attach the wire to the fence post at the top. Continue down the post using a staple gun.
You should drive the staples slightly to the vertical axis when you attach your wire to fence posts. This will prevent the wood from splitting.