- 1). Decide what purpose your vinyl fence will serve. Fence designs depend on what you want the fence to accomplish. If it is only to mark a property line, you have different options than if you want a play yard with privacy so others cannot see in.
- 2). Mark your fence plan with marking paint and an applicator. Make sure the plan fits on your property and does not interfere with easements for a neighbor's property or the utility company. The title for your land should have that information recorded. Make any adjustments to your fence design accordingly.
- 3). Call your local utility companies and have them come mark any buried lines. Some states have a single service that can do all of them, and in some areas you might need to make multiple calls. Call the North America One Call Referral Service at (888) 258-0808 for a nationwide list of utility companies. Remember that lines may be buried for utilities like phone or cable that you might not use.
- 4). Pound stakes into the ground with a hammer at all the corners and gates on your fencing design. Tie a string around one stake and pull it tightly to the next stake and wrap it around. Continue all the way around the area you marked for your fence. Lay out all of your fence panels, posts and gates to make sure they fit the way you designed and make any adjustments accordingly.
- 5). Measure the length of your fence panels with measuring tape. For 6-foot long panels, measure 73 1/4 inches from your first stake and stake on the line created by the string. For 8-foot long panels, measure 96 inches from the first stake and pound a stake in. The stakes mark the center of the posts. Mark each post with a stake this way and make sure all of the stakes touch the string.
- 6). Dig post holes at each stake according to the manufacturer's instructions for your height and style fence. Remember that the stake marks the center of the post. Dig your corner posts and gate posts 6 inches deeper than the side walls. Put a 6-inch layer of gravel at the bottom of each hole.
- 7). Mix concrete according to the manufacturer's instructions and fill corner post holes with it. Hold the posts upright and tap them into the holes. Use a level to make sure they are perpendicular to the ground. Tie string tightly between the corners to make sure the posts in between are on the same line. Pour concrete into the rest of the post holes and set the posts along the line. Make sure they are level as well. Let the concrete set according to the manufacturer's instructions.
- 8). Attach panels, gates and any other fence accessories like post toppers according to the manufacturer's instructions for your fence.
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