Hi all, so I am looking to install 6 ft privacy fencing in the back yard this summer and would be grateful for anyone knowledgeable who is willing to look over and critique our choices or offer any advice on finding cheaper materials without sacrificing durability, looks, or ease of installation.
My husband has every tool known to man, including a cement mixer that will help in setting the posts. Both DH and I are big DIYers but neither of us have any experience putting up a fence and our property includes some challenging slope, including a short (2-3 foot) stone retaining wall that one side of the fence will need to traverse. So here's what we've decided so far:
1) To avoid shrinkage problems and rot in a damp and termite-prone area, we'd like aluminum posts with a good warrantee that that will last longer than we intend to be here (let's say around 20-25 years). Ideally, we don't ever want to have to replace this part.
2) For privacy and aesthetics, we do want wood for the fence boards. They should be easily replaceable as needed.
3) As novices, we don't know what we don't know, so I'd be happiest with a kit or system that has clear video instructions. I don't want to pay for mistakes!
In trying to get a ballpark price on all this, I've called a couple of surveyors to get quotes on marking the property boundaries and we stumbled across horizontal Slipfence used with pressure-treated pine deck boards sawed in half for the 6 ft intervals between posts. (Or maybe cedar would be better value longterm?)
http://www.slipfence.comhttps://www.lowes.com/pd/Slipfence-Common-1-5x-1-5x-1-5x-70-5-Actual-1-5-x-1-5-x-1-5-x-70-5-Slipfence-Horizontal-system-Black-Aluminum-t-wood-Rail/1000378363 This system seems perfect for our needs but I do have sticker shock! I estimate it would run us roughly $3k. Any thoughts on whether this type of fencing is worth the money or how I might cut the price down for this or similar?