Planning Your Fence
Bay Area Fence Factory Fence School 2026 Edition
Here we'll try to help you out with a few things related to useful tips and techniques that we hope you will find useful.
Planning Your Fence to help you figure out how much fencing you need.
Chain Link Grades, Pros & Cons information about Chain Link fencing.
Wood Fence Grades, Pros & Cons Information about Wood Fencing.
PVC Vinyl Fence Grades, Pros & Cons information about PVC Vinyl fencing.
Ornamental Aluminum Fence Grades, Pros & Cons information about Chain Link fencing.
Molded Fence Panels (Simtek/Bufftech) Pros & Cons information about Ldpe Molded Fence Panel fencing.
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Whether your fence is for privacy, security or purely aesthetic, the lay out will remain similar.
Laying out your fence should be the first step in the measuring process.
there are a few basic steps that will help your project be a success,
- Create a sketch of your property, locate the areas where the fencing is to be installed. This will become your plan or visual aid while measuring and a place to note possible areas of concern and/or obstructions.
- Understand that the Wood Fence Panels when face nailed, will cause the fence posts to have to be "backset" off the property line by the thickness of the panels.
- Note the location of trees that will be along the fence line.
Trees along in the fence line will most likely need to be "boxed" around, this requires additional material.
- Note areas of radical slope.
Radical slopes require "rackable" fence panels to follow the slope or longer posts for "stepping" the fence panels.
-Check your property lines – Make sure you know where your property lines are located relative to your proposed fence layout. Installing a fence on the wrong side of a property line could be a costly mistake.
Locating Underground Utilities.
Check for utilities – It’s important to make sure you know the position of all underground utilities before you start digging holes for fence posts. This is federally mandated and compulsory Moreover, you’ll protect yourself from personal injury or service interruptions.
When you call 811 they open a “dig ticket” that alerts all utility companies, servicing your property, of your intention to dig. You’ll need to call 811 a least a week before you intend to start work, so utility companies have time to come out and mark the position of underground utilities.
Please Note there is no way to "locate: sprinkler lines or other plastic water lines with out digging. Care must be taken when digging post holes.
Measuring the fence lines.
Now that you have fairly accurate sketch, it's time to fill in the numbers.
In open areas, it is suggested that you drive a metal or wood stake at the stop & start points of each line. They must be sturdy enough to be able to hold a mason's string pulled taut. This string will help you this visualize the location lines of the project.
Pick a point to start your actual measurements. follow that line until you reach a stopping point in a straight line. note the dimension on your sketch. Continue this process until you have dimensions for each fence line of the project.
We can now add up the total numbers of Wood Fence Panels needed for each line.
Most Wood Fence Panels are 8 foot wide.
A fence line that is 16 foot long, will use 2 fence panels.
An 18 foot long fence line, would require 3 fence panels.
So take the measurement, divide that number by 8, with any fraction left over as a complete panel. for the total number of panels needed.
Most left over pieces can be used on other lines where they are wide enough to span post to post.
Posts are needed at the end of each panel plus one post to start
Some Wood Fence Panel styles may require a slightly different post layout, so always consider the style of fence you’re installing when locating your posts and be sure that the layout will work with your chosen style.
Standard 4×4 fence posts are normally 3 1/2 inches wide, which is important
Glossary of Fence Terms & Jargon
Fence Panel - The assembly of parts that fill the area between the posts also referred to as "a fence section".
Fence Line - One (1) side of a yard where fence is to be installed.
Fence Return - Portion of the fence from a "Side Line" to the building. if it contains a Gate, it maybe referred to as "A Gate Return.
Side Line - The "Fence Line" of a yard where fence is to be installed seperating a yard from the neighbor on the same street.
Back Line - The "Fence Line" of a yard where fence is to be installed seperating a yard from the neighbor behind you.
Gate opening - the space needed to accommodate the gate and related hardware. usually 1 3/4" more than the actual gate panel.
Planning Your Fence to help you figure out how much fencing you need.
Chain Link Grades, Pros & Cons information about Chain Link fencing.
Wood Fence Grades, Pros & Cons Information about Wood Fencing.
PVC Vinyl Fence Grades, Pros & Cons information about PVC Vinyl fencing.
Ornamental Aluminum Fence Grades, Pros & Cons information about Aluminum fencing.
Molded Fence Panels (Simtek/Bufftech) Pros & Cons information about Molded fence panels.