On Mon, 28 Aug 2006 12:45:34 -0700, "Ook" Ook Don't send me any
freakin' spam at zootal dot com delete the Don't send me any freakin'
spam wrote:

I'm getting closer and closer to building my fence (yeah!). And still have a
few questions.

Based on comments from others, I think I'm going to put a post about one
foot from house, and just run wood from fence to house, leaving a gap
between end of wood and house. It won't be that strong, hanging off the post
like that with , but it doesn't need to be since it's just a board or two.
The last person here actually bolted a fence post to the house (argh).

I'm using 4" x 4" x 8' wood, set 2 feet deep in concrete.

Question: Should I set the posts 2 1/2 feet deep and have posts stick up 5
1/2 feet, and have boards 6' tall that stick up 6 inches from post? Or is 2
feet deep adequate for an 8 foot?

Related to the above, I want to space the posts 6 feet apart instead of 8
feet apart. Most fences I see spaced 8 feet apart sag inbetween posts, and I
don't want that to happen. It means maybe 10 extra posts, but the overall
expense is not significant and the fence will be stronger. Comments

Gates. Should I use thicker wood/deeper posts for gates? I've never built a
fence so I really don't know. And is there a standard gate size? This gate
won't get used much, but it still needs to be strong enough.

TIA for all the excellent advice and putting up with my n00b questions.

Gates should be more than 102" wide because
that's the width of the largest standard vehical.
You don't need a stronger/deeper gate-post
as much as you need to brace it. Run a wooden
angle from the top of the gatepost to the bottom
of the next fence-post back.