MENARDS FENCE 6 x 6 UltraDeck EasyBuild Fence Kit User Guide

MENARDS FENCE 6 x 6 UltraDeck EasyBuild Fence Kit

Are you looking to add value, beauty, security, or privacy to your home? A fence might be the perfect solution!
Whether you’re hoping to revamp your lawn’s style or keep your kids and pets contained, Menards® has a wide selection of tools and products to help you build the perfect fence for your home.

Planning for Your Fence

Doing a little research and planning before getting too far in the process will make installing your fence a breeze! Just follow the tips below to properly prepare for you new fence.

Purpose: Consider why you are constructing a fence. Do you want more security or privacy? If you want more privacy, you will want to construct a tall fence with small gaps. If you want to keep your pets or children in your yard, you may not need to have a tall fence, but you will want to ensure that your fence is sturdy and secure. Likewise, the gaps in your fence need to be small enough so that your pets or children stay out of harm’s way.

Building Codes: Contact your local building authorities, homeowners, or neighborhood association to see if your fence needs to meet any requirements regarding the height, appearance, location, and/or materials. You may need to acquire a special permit before you install your fence.

Utility Lines: Most fences require some digging for installation. For your safety, call your local utility company to check if there are any utility lines buried in the area where you plan on digging or installing your fence. Many utility companies otter this service.

Layout: Creating a layout of your fence will help you estimate the correct amount of materials and simplify the installation process. Make sure that you are installing your fence on the correct property lines. You should also consider the location and size of the gate, especially if you need to accommodate your vehicles, lawn equipment, or garbage and recycling containers. Our easy-to-use Fence Designer is a great tool to help you create your custom fence.

Be Courteous: If you plan on installing a fence that borders your neighbors’ yards, discuss your plans with them to avoid any disputes. You may and that they also want to build a fence, and you may be able to work out an agreement to split the cost of installing the fence that divides your properties.

Materials

Wood
Wood is a beautiful, traditional material used in panel or rail fencing. Panel fencing provides more privacy, while rail fencing creates a rustic look. Pressure-treated or cedar wood fencing can be painted or stained to suit your taste or be left as is.

Vinyl
Vinyl is an attractive option if you’re seeking a low-maintenance fence. While you may need to give it an occasional wash, it won’t fade or rot. It’s also particularly cost-effective because of its durability.

Composite
Composite fencing is made from a combination of wood and plastic. This material is ideal if you want the look of wood without the maintenance.

Chain-Link
Chain-link fencing is a quick and economical option. A chain-link fence consists of a series of posts and rails that create a frame to support the chain-link fabric. Menards® chain-link fabric comes in a galvanized finish or a black vinyl-coated finish referred to as knuckle/knuckle or KK fencing. This is when the end of the adjacent wire pairs are bent back into a closed loop. This type of chain-link fencing is much safer because of its rounded shape.

Steel
Steel fencing is an attractive choice that’s easy to assemble. It’s stronger and more durable than aluminum, which makes it a good fit for heavy-duty commercial or industrial applications.

Aluminum
Aluminum fencing is low maintenance and more lightweight than steel, making it perfect for decorative use around residential lawns and gardens. It also resists corrosion, which makes it ideal for homes near water or that have a pool.

Laying Out Your Fence

To successfully install your fence, it’s important that you mark the locations of the fence posts, gates, corners, and ends of your fence. Follow these steps to ensure the proper layout for your fence:

1. After reviewing your property’s boundaries, stake out the fence line. Be sure to include gates, corners, and the ends of the fence line.
2. Tightly tie string or twine between corner posts to determine where fence posts will go.
3. Measure your fence panels (preassembled units that easily attach to fence posts) and mark the locations of the line posts (the posts located between the end or corner posts that also support the fence).
4. Using a stake, mark tentative locations for your fence posts. Ensure that the posts will line up evenly by double-checking that the stakes touch the string or twine you laid out.

Don’t be afraid to take your time as you complete these steps! It’s best to slow down and make sure you get things right the first time.

For further assistance, feel free to check out our Fence Designer! It enables you to select from a range of fence types, from decorative to functional, including composite, wood, chain-link, and more. You can also use the designer to enter the dimensions of your area and add gates as needed. If you don’t have the dimensions for your area, you can use Google Maps to create the layout of your fence. The “Measure Fence with Google Maps” feature allows you to input the address your fence will be at, and then you can create a rough outline of your fence. Measure the lengths of the sections you create, choose your fencing material, and get an estimate for your fence. You can also make edits and add in openings or gates. Additionally, options for concrete footings, fasteners, post caps, and more are available.

Digging Holes for the Posts
Before digging, determine if there are any underground utility lines present by calling your local utility companies.

Because most fence posts require a hole with a relatively small diameter, a post hole digger is often a better tool than a shovel, as using a shovel will create a larger hole than needed. For projects requiring a lot of post holes, using a power earth auger is a better option. This motorized tool for drilling holes will save you a good deal of physical exertion.

Manual post hole diggers are long-handled tools (essentially two small shovels paired together) that are thrust into the earth so that the blades cut into the soil and sod. Once cut away, the earth is removed by spreading the handles apart to capture the soil between the digger’s blades and lifting it out of the hole. Note that wetting the soil makes it easier to extract, especially when it comes to sandy soil. The process is repeated until the hole reaches the desired depth.

The diameter of the hole must leave enough space to allow the posts to be plumbed and for concrete to be added. One rule of thumb is to make holes 3 times wider than the post’s width, or approximately 10 inches for a nominal- sized wooden 4 x 4. However, approaches vary greatly, so using the method that’s prevalent in your locality is likely a safe bet. Be sure to start narrow and slightly widen the hole as you go deeper. Remove as little earth as needed, and of course, check frequently to ensure that you are digging holes according to your layout.

Setting & Leveling Posts

1. Install the corner and end posts. Similar to corner posts, end posts are the terminal posts that depict the ends of a fence line. Tie a string between the corner and end posts along the fence line to ensure you install the posts in a straight line.
2. Brace the posts with boards to keep them steady and straight as the concrete sets.
3. Double-check that each post is “plumb”—directly straight up and down or to an exact degree—with a level on two sides before pouring the concrete.
4. Follow the instructions on the concrete packaging to fill the holes up with concrete. As you’re filling them, prod the mix to reduce the amount of air pockets. For information on what concrete to buy, check out our Concrete Buying Guide!
5. Overfill the holes that are at the top, and then use a trowel to tilt the concrete away from the fence post. This is important as it keeps water from pooling up around the post.
6. Double-check the alignment of your posts for plumb, and make adjustments if needed.
7. If you are not using a fast-set concrete mix, allow the concrete to set for 24 to 48 hours.

Post Installation Alternatives

Arguably, the most difficult part of installing a fence is digging holes for the fence posts. However, you can easily skip this step by using post supports. A post support is a heavy metal spike that has a box fastened to the top of it that clamps around the base of the post. Post supports are intended to protect and support the base of the fence post, so you don’t have to dig a hole or pour any concrete. Instead, you just need to do the following:

1. Using a sledge hammer, drive the post spike into the ground at the marked area where you want your fence post to go. It usually helps to start off with the corner posts. Use a short piece of surplus post to protect the top of the post support when driving the spikes to the ground. Take your time to do this correctly. If you realize your post spike is positioned incorrectly, you’ll most likely have to dig up all the surrounding dirt to get it out of the ground.
2. Make sure you drive the spike in far enough. You shouldn’t see anything except for the box. You also want to make sure that you’re driving the spike in as straight as possible, particularly if you’re using a straight spike. Using a level can help with this.
3. Once the post support is in the ground, install the wooden post.
4. Move on to the next post and repeat. It helps to start off with the corner posts, which are located at the corners where the fence lines meet, usually at a 90° angle. The fence line refers to the actual position of the fence.

Post supports work well with wooden posts, but they aren’t compatible with all types of fencing. If you’re looking to install an aluminum, vinyl, or steel fence, you’re better off going the traditional route of digging holes and pouring concrete.

Uneven Terrain Solutions

If you have to work around a slope, you can install raked fencing or stepped fencing. Your landscape and personal preferences can help you make the decision.

Stepped Fencing
In this method, the fence “steps” up or down the slope, resulting in the rails remaining in a horizontal position and the posts extending to accommodate the variation in terrain. The finished product will mimic a set of stairs, increasing in height with the slope.
This method works as follows:

1. Hold the measuring tape horizontally as you measure from the last stake to the next one.
2. In order to figure out where your next stake should go, use a 2 x 4 board (or material of your choice) to stretch from the previous tape measurement to the terrain. If it forms a 90° angle with the board, then you have the right position for your stake.
3. Do this for the remainder of the slope to successfully install your fence. The downside to the stepped fencing method is that there will be gaps at the bottom of your fence. If you have a small pet, they may be able to escape. Alternatively, small pests may be able to find their way into your yard. Some homeowners and the gaps unsightly, but one potential solution is to place planters along the fence.

Raked Fencing
In this method, the rails are parallel to the ground, and the pickets point straight up. The distance between pickets and the ground remains the same, so you will not have gaps. However, raked fencing can’t be installed on too steep of slopes. You also need loose components for this technique. In other words, preassembled fence panels will not work.

Gates
Menards® offers a variety of gates to complete your fence. Preassembled gates or gate kits are available for most vinyl and metal fencing. Wood gates are typically fashioned on-site, but wood gate kits are available to simplify the process. If you’re not sure how to install a wood gate, see the steps below:

1. Decide which swing direction you’d like your gate to have. Gates on boundary lines are typically mounted so that they will swing into the property. However, you can also design your gate to swing both ways.
2. Set the gate posts (the posts that the gate is attached to via a set of hinges) with extra concrete to ensure the post is solid.
3. Measure the space between each of the gate posts. The width of your gate should be approximately 1 inch less than this number so you have space for the hardware, and the height of your gate frame (the structural members of the gate) should be much shorter than the fence.
4. Assemble the gate frame using screws. Double check that the corners are square, and then verify that the gate frame fits between the posts. Make adjustments as needed, and add diagonal supports from corner to corner for strength.
5. Fasten pickets to the top and bottom rails of the gate frame. After predrilling, screw the hinges into both of the hinge-side rails.
6. Try opening and closing the gate. See if the door clears the latched side of the post, as well as the ground. Make adjustments as needed.
7. After removing the gate again, predrill screw holes for the hinges. Secure the hinges to the gate posts, and then mount the gate latch (the fitting designed to hold the gate closed).

Additional Tools Required for Installation

Before you begin installing your new fence, be sure to pick up the following tools to ensure your installation is a success: a sledgehammer, a tape measure, a hammer or screw gun, a level, string, a garden shovel or post hole digger, an auger, and a wheelbarrow or a mixing tub.

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