Board fence ideas?

[Fuddyduddy1952]

I want a simple 3 board fence. All pressure treated, 4x6x8ft posts, 1x6x16ft boards. Posts 8ft apart. Three gates, a 16ft, a 6ft & 4ft. Tarter steel farm gate.
It will be 186 ft. total, downhill about 10-15 ft. below driveway, fairly straight and level. We have horses and it will enclose about a 200ft x 300ft area. Another gate near horse stable I can close it off if I want.
I have a pto auger but it's a 9" Danuser.
I had a fence contractor look at it, he said even near trees posts every 8ft the holes won't hurt trees (??cutting through roots??).
His estimate was $5,010.
I priced Home Depot (lumber) & Tractor Supply (gates).
Contractor said 4x6 posts, 3 boards with upright board on post face.
If I do it myself:
186 ft.
4x6×8ft=$19 (24) $456
1x6x8ft=$6 (96) $576
16ft gate=$170
2) gates=$200
_____________________
$1400+nails,screws

Should posts be 2ft in ground?
Should I use 9" auger and set posts in cement?
Buy a 6" Danuser auger bit $250?

I have air nailers & deck screws...would screws be better?
I drew in about what it would look like.

 

[newbury]

Looks like a good project.
Do you get a discount at HD? They give veterans 10% off.

 

[Fuddyduddy1952]

Looks like a good project.
Do you get a discount at HD? They give veterans 10% off.

Yes

 

[KennyG]

I'm no expert but I've had very good luck with the posts I've set. Even though they are treated, I've coated the below ground portion of posts with a copper wood preservative. I don't like setting wood in concrete, it seems to easy to get cracks and trapped water. I put gravel around the posts. I'm not sure how high your fence needs to be but 2 feet in the ground would be a minimum, I'd go a little more if you can. Sounds like a fun project except for those trees.

 

[QRTRHRS]

I think that using the auger that close to those trees, your going to be fighting roots. I personally like to go 36"inches deep and I just dry bag the concrete but I tamp it with a piece of rebar to pack it. The 36" depth is for when I am setting an eight foot post and want the fence to be 60" high. I suggest screws that are rated for PT lumber. The tendency for PT to twist may pull the nails out. There is a lot of board fence around me. Most use rough cut poplar boards which is readily available from local sawmills with treated posts. They add a vertical board over the horizontal board seams to stabilize them since poplar will twist too.

 

[2manyrocks]

Lotsa tree roots. Get ready to replace a bunch of shear bolts.

A friend and I built a 6' wood privacy fence about 30 years ago. Never want to do that job again.

 

[David in KY]

I've built a few of these fences. One thing I want them for is animal (pet) containment. After I set my posts, I staple wire horse fence to the posts, then install the poplar boards. This give a nice look, but also provides a barrier to keep animals in/out.

Also, I've found a company called Snug Cottage Hardware out of Michigan that makes strong and attractive gate hinges and latches. Better by far than the chinese crap for sale at the big box stores.

Good luck.

 

[ponytug]

With horses, I would use 2x6" boards, but I guess it depends a little on the personalities of the horses. I would also consider putting the fence 6-8' down the slope from the trees to keep horses from eroding the soil over at least some of the roots.

All the best,

Peter

 

[Fuddyduddy1952]

All good ideas!

 

[Yander]

Yes, at least 2.5ft deep unless you are deep south.

Concrete not needed unless corner or anchor or gate post.

If you don't use concrete you will need to tamp in all the way around the post every 6" of dirt you put in the hole. It's probably more time consuming than just putting in concrete.