The job through its inputs
Most guides describe a fence project as a list of steps. This one looks at it from the other side, asking what you need in hand for each stage: which tools, which materials and which people. Planning that way helps you avoid the classic mid-job trip to the store, and helps you decide what to buy, borrow, rent or hire out. Details vary by fence type, so treat the lists as a starting point.
Stage 1: Planning and layout
Tools: a long tape measure or measuring wheel, wooden or metal stakes, mason’s string, a line level, a framing square, spray paint or flags for marking, and a notebook.
Helpers: one other person makes measuring much easier, because the far end of a tape is hard to hold alone.
Materials and paperwork: your property survey, any permit or association approval, and the utility marks. Layout starts only after these are settled. Before digging, request utility locating, and wait for the marks to appear.
Stage 2: Digging
Tools: a post-hole digger, a digging bar for rocks and roots, a shovel, and for long runs a powered auger. A powered auger is a common rental. It can kick if it hits a root or rock, so ask the rental shop to explain the safe way to use it, and consider having a second person nearby. A wheelbarrow or tarp helps with the soil.
Helpers: digging is physically demanding. Two people can swap duties, and a powered auger is often safer with one person operating and another watching.
Materials: gravel for the base of each hole if drainage is a concern.
Stage 3: Setting posts
Tools: a four-foot level or post level, bracing lumber, stakes, clamps or screws for temporary braces, a mixing tub or wheelbarrow and a hoe if you are mixing concrete, and a tamping bar for compacting gravel or soil.
Materials: the posts themselves, sized and treated for in-ground use, and your chosen footing material. The comparison under post footings sets out the options. Use gloves and eye protection with concrete.
Helpers: posts can be heavy and awkward. A helper to hold a post plumb while you brace it makes a real difference.
Stage 4: Rails and framework
Tools: a drill and impact driver with the right bits, a circular saw or hand saw, a speed square, a tape measure, a pencil and clamps.
Materials: rails of suitable size, brackets if used, and fasteners made for outdoor use and matched to the material. Check fence fasteners to avoid corrosion or staining problems.
Stage 5: Boards, pickets or panels
Tools: a level, spacer blocks for even gaps, a saw, sawhorses, a nail gun if you have one and know how to use it, and a ladder or step stool for tall work.
Materials: boards or panels, with a small allowance for cuts and defects, and caps or trim.
Helpers: panels are long and catch the wind. Two people handle them more safely.
Stage 6: Gates
Tools: a level, shims or blocks to hold the gate at the right height, a drill, and a square.
Materials: the gate, hinges, latch and catch, all rated for the gate’s weight and the weather. See the notes on gate hardware for a view of the parts. Automatic gates need a qualified installer and electrical work, so they are outside a basic tool list.
Stage 7: Finishing
Tools: brushes, rollers or a sprayer, drop cloths, a sander or sanding block, and rags.
Materials: stain, sealer or paint suited to the material, as discussed under painting fences and fence staining. Check drying times and temperature limits on the label.
Personal safety equipment
Safety gear is part of the tool list: work gloves, safety glasses, hearing protection for saws and augers, sturdy boots, and sun protection. A dust mask is useful when cutting treated lumber. Follow the maker’s guidance for treated wood, including disposal of offcuts, and wash hands after handling.
Buy, borrow, rent or hire
- Buy things you will use again: levels, a drill, a tape measure and basic hand tools.
- Borrow from neighbors or friends for one-off items, being careful to return them in good order.
- Rent big equipment such as augers, and ask for a demonstration. Renting is often more economical than buying for a single job.
- Hire the work you cannot do safely or well, such as electrical work for an automatic gate.
If you are comparing paid help, our note on contractor bids explains how to compare scope as well as price.
A final checklist
Before starting, check that the tools work, the batteries are charged, the materials are counted and stored off the ground, and your helpers know the date. Having the right equipment on hand takes much of the stress out of the job, and it lets you focus on the part that matters most, which is getting the line straight and the posts solid.