Tools and Materials
Tools
Product costs, availability and item numbers may vary online or by market.
Composite Fencing Styles & Colors
Like wood fencing, composite fencing is available in a variety of styles. Popular choices include:
- Shadowbox
- Privacy
- Horizontal slat
- Picket-style
- Split Rail
Fencing isn’t typically something that you’re going to see in vibrant or unnatural colors. Staying true to colors that are reminiscent of nature, you’ll find composite fencing in various shades of:
- black, gray, charcoal (modern, sleek, elegant)
- earthy browns, tan (natural looking, mimics wood)
- cedar red (warmth, richness, nature)
- white and off-white (classic, clean)
The color on composite fences is built in so there’s no painting or staining needed.
Composite Fence Installation Considerations
- Determine if a permit is necessary for your composite fence.
- Check your property boundaries to avoid any disputes with your neighbors.
- Check with your local zoning laws to ensure you’re in compliance.
- Check with your homeowners association to ensure you’re in compliance with the HOA guidelines.
- Draw a plan for your fence design on graph paper, noting the locations of posts and gates, in the event documentation is needed for a permit approval.
- Plan where you’ll dispose of the displaced dirt.
- Ensure you have all the necessary tools on hand before you begin.
- Composite materials expand and contract with temperature changes, so you’ll need to leave small gaps between boards.
Before beginning any excavation project, call 811 to check for underground utilities.
Laying Out the Site for Your Fence
Before you begin building your fence, you should first have a clear plan as to what you want the fence to look like and where you want it to be located. As noted in the section above, you should already have a design of your fence drawn. Next, as noted in the following step, you’ll carefully plan and mark your fence line using batter board and string line. This will give you the flexibility to make any needed adjustments before moving forward.
Installing a composite fence is in many ways similar to installing a wood fence. It’s the perfect do-it-yourself (DIY) project; however, composite fencing is heavier than wood and may require specialized tools.
The instructions below are for both composite fence panels and composite fence pickets. When the process is different, it will be noted.
Installing Composite Fence: Panels and Pickets
Step 1: Mark the Layout
Start by making batter boards (two stakes with a horizontal cross piece) from furring strips and screws. Set them a couple of feet outside each corner where your fence will begin and end. These will form a square or rectangle around the proposed fence layout. Stretch string line between the outside face of the fence.
Square the corners using a framing square. To check your diagonals, measure corner-to-corner. If both diagonals are equal, your layout is square. Next, using spray paint, mark the post hole locations on the ground. Measure based on the precise width of the panel.
When dealing with composite panels and pickets, accurate measuring is crucial. If post spacing is off, even slightly, the panels won’t fit properly.
Step 2: Make Adjustments, If Necessary
Review the fence layout and adjust as needed.
Step 3: Digging the Post Holes
Generally, the post hole depth should be one-third the height of the fence above ground, which is usually 6 feet, making the depth 2 feet. The post hole diameter is typically about 3 times the width of the post, 8 to 10 inches wide.
In colder regions, dig below the frost line, about 30 inches to 36 inches.. This helps prevent frost heave (the expansion and upheaval of soil when it absorbs water) during a freeze.
Step 4: Setting the Posts in Concrete
Install the end and corner posts first.
Pour 6 inches of gravel into the bottom of the first hole for drainage. Set the post in the center of the gravel and fill the hole around the post with fast-setting concrete. Add water according to the instructions on the bag and mix the concrete in the hole. Confirm that the posts are vertically straight and aligned along the string line. Use a level to make sure the post is plumb, then add braces to hold it in place while concrete cures.
Follow the same steps to set the remainder of your posts. Confirm that the posts are vertically straight and aligned along the string line. Let the concrete cure for 24 to 48 hours.
Step 5: Attach the Panel Mounting Brackets or Rails
If you’re using panels:
The mounting brackets are what hold the panels in place. Measure the height of your panels. Mark where the top and bottom brackets will go on each post. The panels typically mount to the inside face at the top and bottom of each post.
It's important to ensure that the brackets are level and aligned across each span. Use a level to align the brackets on the opposite posts. Secure the brackets with corrosion-resistant screws provided by the manufacturer.
If you’re using pickets:
Install horizontal rails between each pair of posts: typically, you would install one at the bottom about 8 to 12 inches above ground, one at the top within 6 inches of the picket tops, and optionally one in the middle. Use rail brackets or drive screws through the rail ends into the posts. Ensure that the rails are level before tightening.
Step 6: Install Composite Fence Panels or Pickets
This step requires a helper.
If you’re using panels:
Lift the panel, put it between the two posts and place it in between the mounted brackets. Before tightening anything, ensure that the panel is level. Once it’s level, tighten and secure the panel to the brackets using the recommended fasteners. If a panel is too long, trim it with a circular saw or miter saw. For cleaner cuts, clamp it down.
If you’re using pickets:
Start at one end and install pickets vertically. Space them as desired but use a spacer block for continuity. If you’re using tongue-and-groove pickets, set them edge-to-edge. Screw the pickets into the horizontal rails, using a string line to keep the tops aligned as you move along. Be sure to check for level and plumb every few pickets.
Step 7: Sloped Ground
If you’re using panels:
Because panels are rigid, they’re best installed level. Install each one horizontally. Each panel should be raised or lowered to follow the slope of the ground. This method is known as the “stepped method.” Posts will appear staggered in height from one panel to the next.
If you’re using pickets:
Angle the rails to follow the slope and install the pickets vertically. This is called the “rack method.”
Step 8: Install the Post Caps
The final step is to install the post caps. Most composite post caps snap on, while some are secured using exterior adhesive.
Final Thoughts on Composite Fencing
Whether you’ve decided to go with the relative ease of composite panels for their fast installation or chosen composite pickets for their design flexibility, you can’t go wrong either way. Both designs equal a win with their durability, low-maintenance and smart look. DIY installation means you can get started on your new composite fence when you’re ready. Stop by your local Lowe’s and a Red Vest associate will help you find everything you need to get you started, from a post hole digger to fast-setting concrete.
However, if you don’t have the time to do this yourself, let Lowe’s help. Our professional service installation team is ready to do the job for you.