The tools you will need are: A measuring tape, level, digging bar, hand held auger and a string.
The first thing you want to do is to call Miss Utility and have them mark your property where you want your fence for underground wires. The number should be provided in your phone book.
The second step you want to do is measure the exact footage of the fence you want to build by laying out a string line exactly where you want your fence to go. MAKE SURE TO KEEP THE LINE INTACT. Take a 100 foot (ft) measuring tape or a measuring wheel and measure the length of your fence.
The third step is to figure out how much of the materials you will need for your fence. Most of your split rails are 11 ft long. So for example you are building 200 ft of fence and since your split rails are 11 ft long you will need 19 posts and for a 2 rail fence you will need 38 rails. I use the 2 rail fence system because that is the most popular one used. To show you how to figure out your material list you divide 11 into the footage (that's where I got 19 posts), then you multiply the number of posts you need and the number of rails you want for your fence, (that's where I got 38 rails).
The fourth step is to mark the holes where you want your posts to go. The easiest way to mark the line is to use a rail; lay it down by the string and mark the hole. You will want to mark your hole 2 to 3 inches back from the end of the rail to make sure that there enough room for the rail to fit in the hole of the post. Now it's time to start digging your holes (I recommend a hand held auger). Once the holes are dug its time to build your fence. Most of your split rail fences have the top rail to measure 4 feet from the ground. So the first thing you want to do is measure your posts.
In order to ensure this, you will need to measure from the top of the highest hole of the post and measure down 4 ft and MARK IT. This should allow 2 ft of the remaining post to be put into the ground. You want to do this in order to make sure your fence is level.
The fifth step is to set your first post in the ground by either cement or tamping the dirt back in the hole around the post. If you are tamping the dirt back in the hole, you will want to continually take a level and make sure that the post remains in line. To keep the posts straight you will need to set your post next to the string at the bottom of your post, and then you will need to level the TOP of your post.
Once you have set your first post, you put your bottom rail in first and then the top rail in next. Before you begin to tamp or cement the next post, you will need to make sure that the post is in line and level with the previous post. You follow these steps until you have reached your last section of fence.
