Building a bamboo fence provides charm and privacy—but it's tough work
A bamboo fence adds a lot of personality to your outdoor space. You can build a traditional bamboo fence using twine or a modern one designed to stand up to the elements for years. Bamboo fences make good privacy fences, but you can also space out pickets for a more decorative look. And if you’ve got the tools, some patience, and fencing know-how, they’re a great weekend DIY project.
If you’re ready for the challenge, we’ll walk you through how to build a bamboo fence below.
Building a fence requires specific equipment to ensure it is level, deep enough into the ground and properly fastened together. While you may be able to rent it from your local hardware store, we suggest contacting a pro with the proper tools and experience for the job.
Building a bamboo fence is tough and time-consuming work, but if you’re up for the task, here’s how to get it done:
A little preparation goes a long way when constructing a bamboo fence. Before you start the work—or even buy supplies—do some research to determine what kind of bamboo fence you’ll build.
Decide between all bamboo or a bamboo and wood combination: If you build a traditional fence made entirely of bamboo (pickets, posts, and stringers), you’ll use twine to tie the pieces together. However, the twine will deteriorate over time, meaning you’ve got to stay on top of bamboo fence maintenance. Alternatively, you can use bamboo for the pickets but use wood or metal for your posts and stringers. Cedar and oak are among the best woods for fence posts and stringers.
Decide between pickets or panels: A true DIY bamboo fence shouldn’t look perfect. You’ll get bamboo pieces of different circumferences and color variations and mix and match them together to form pickets. If you want a more uniform look, however, you can purchase prefabricated bamboo panels to attach to your wood or metal posts and stringers; this also makes for a faster install.
Decide between decorative and privacy: A decorative bamboo fence will have pickets every six to 12 inches or may even have a criss-cross design pattern with the pickets. A privacy fence requires significantly more bamboo shoots, fit snugly together, so you can’t really see through the fence. This will impact how much bamboo you need to purchase.
As we continue to discuss how to build a fence, we’ll focus on a bamboo privacy fence with custom pickets and wood posts and stringers.
Now that you know how you’ll construct your bamboo fence, you’ve got to do a little prep work:
Get a permit and check that it’s safe to dig: In most municipalities, you must obtain a permit to construct a fence on your property. If you’ll be digging post holes, you should also call 811 to determine where gas and utility lines run underground. Do this before planning the layout of the fence in case it affects the path you envisioned your fence following.
Plan the layout of your fence: You’ll need to determine the perimeter of the proposed fence to estimate how much of each material you’ll need.
Buy your supplies: Once you’ve calculated how much wood and bamboo you’ll need, head to the store or order online. Always purchase roughly 30% more to allow for waste and mistakes.
Once you’ve planned the layout of the fence, you’ll need to dig holes and install the posts. Alternatively, if you’re installing the fence over concrete, you’ll need to fasten the posts with concrete fixing bolts or a steel wedge.
For a deeper dive into this step, review our guide on how to install fence posts.
Screw in joist holders to the sides of each fence post, then cut and lay in the wood stringers (a top and bottom row). Then screw two wood fence pickets to the backs of the stringers, one near each end, to fasten them together. This forms the frame for your panel of bamboo pickets.
Remove the frame from the joist holders and transport it to your sawhorses, laying it flat. It will be easier to lay out and install your bamboo pickets on this surface instead of a frame affixed to the posts.
Grab a bunch of bamboo shoots and lay them out between the two ends of the stringers. Leave enough room on the ends of each stringer for them to be inserted back into the joist holders. Bamboo shoots aren’t perfectly sized; you’ll have to arrange them to form a layout that looks good and leaves the fewest gaps, if you’re going for a privacy fence.
Once you’ve arranged the bamboo fence pickets on the frame, screw them in at the top and bottom, one by one.
Your bamboo shoots are likely different lengths. Use a level and a straight wooden fence picket to draw a straight line above the top stringer and below the bottom stringer, marking where you’ll want to cut off excess bamboo to ensure an even fence. Remember, your bamboo shoots can’t be too long at the bottom, as they have to sit just above ground level.
Once you’ve got your line, make your cuts using a circular saw.
Once you’re satisfied with the bamboo fence panel you’ve just built, carry it back to the set of fence posts it will sit between and slide the stringers into place in the joist holders. Screw these in to secure them.
Repeat steps 4 through 7 to build additional panels. Remember, you’ll also need to install at least one gate to allow entry and exit from the fenced-in area. Read up on how to install gate hinges if you’re new to gate installation; you can also hire a local gate pro if you’d like help with this step.
Installing a bamboo fence can be hard work, especially if you want a traditional, rustic look rather than a prefabricated panel. If you don’t have the time, patience, strength, endurance, and skill with drills and saws, this is a job better left to a local fence installer.
You’ll pay about double the material costs for the whole install when hiring a pro; labor accounts for 50% of the cost to install a fence. Alternatively, you can simplify the DIY installation by purchasing a prefabricated bamboo fence with an easy-to-install metal frame and full bamboo panels; however, the cost of these prefab units is much higher than purchasing materials for a custom fence.
We hired Andrew and the team from Midwest Lightscapes for a custom lighting design and installation on a Victorian Village home. The house had outdated low-voltage halogen outdoor lights and many of them were not working. Andrew designed and installed a new system including uplighting on the...
Midwest LightscapesThe work was completed in a day and a half. They cut small trees, pulled out an old swing set, pulled out railroad ties and left the place spotless when the job was complete. I am very happy with the fence and their efforts were above and beyond my expectations.
Elite FenceIn short, the fence is horrible. Originally, I questioned if they stained the fence afterward(which was an additional $800) and was assured it was stained. Slowly, a few boards started to warp and pop off - Dan would send someone over to "replace the board." 2 years later i have warped boards...
Bello Giardino LLCHe did a very good job building the first fence at a very reasonable price. He was a personable guy to deal with and I would highly recommend him to others.
Excellent work; great attention to detail; makes good suggestions but always goes along with what the customer requests; clean and tidy; intelligent; very reasonable rates. I would definitely hire him again for other home projects. He can do a variety of different jobs including: drywall,...
Installed a fence in the back yard. High quality cedar fence.
Ace Fence & Deck LLCHAD ISSUES WITH RETURNING PHONE CALLS DURING BID PROCESS AND SCHEDULING JOB. BUT JOB DID COME IN $100 LESS THAN BID. WORKERS WERE PROFESSIONAL, PROMPT, AND DID NOT GET SEALER ON NEIGHBORING FENCE.
B&C BlacktopFrom average costs to expert advice, get all the answers you need to get your job done.
Discover the cost of bamboo decking. Learn about installation prices, key cost factors, and ways to save on your bamboo deck project.
We break down the cost to remove bamboo, which is slightly higher than other forms of tree removal. It's a difficult DIY task because of bamboo's hardy underground roots.
Pool fence costs depend on the type of fencing and the size of your pool. This guide will help you figure out the true cost of pool fence installation.
If you assumed your hilly yard disqualified you from building a fence, think again. Here’s how to build a fence on a slope, including two ways to do so.
Looking for a bit of privacy in your backyard refuge? Explore six inexpensive ways to cover a chain-link fence for all the solitude you could ever want.
Property surveys let you know the right (and wrong) areas to build a fence. Learn how to read your property survey for a fence project and avoid costly problems.
