Fences look like the simplest garden project and generate the most neighbour disputes and mid-job store trips. Both are avoidable with an hour of planning: confirming the boundary, setting out the run, and counting materials from the plan rather than from hope.
Confirm the boundary first
Find your deeds or boundary markers and agree the line with your neighbour before any digging — a friendly conversation now is cheaper than moving a fence later. In many areas the fence on a particular side is one owner's responsibility; your deeds may show it. Height limits near roads and between gardens also vary, so check local rules for anything above the usual 6 ft.
Set out with string, not eyesight
Run a tight string line between the two end points and mark every post position on it with tape. Dig and set the two end posts first, then use the line to keep intermediates straight and at exact panel spacing. A fence that wanders by an inch a bay is invisible until bay six, when it is unmistakable.
Post depth and concrete
Bury roughly a third of the post: an 8 ft post for a 6 ft fence, 2 ft in the ground in a hole about three times the post width. Concrete the post in, sloping the top of the concrete away from the post so water sheds instead of pooling against the timber. Fast-setting post mix is the DIY standard; one bag per post is the normal planning figure.
Gravel boards and finishing
Fit treated gravel boards at ground level under timber panels — they take the rot and can be swapped cheaply in a decade, saving the panels. Cap the posts, treat every cut end with preservative, and keep soil and mulch from piling against the fence after planting.
Frequently asked questions
Which side of the fence should face my neighbour?
The common convention is the 'good side' — rails hidden, panel face out — toward the neighbour, especially on a boundary you own. Some panel systems look the same from both sides and end the argument entirely.
How long do fence posts last?
A treated timber post concreted into well-drained ground commonly lasts 10 to 15 years; concrete posts last far longer and are the fit-and-forget option where appearance allows.