Get matched with top fencing pros in Madison, KS

You can use pressure-treated wood for a horizontal fence, but you’ll need to purchase a thicker and higher-quality variety to ensure it doesn’t sag or warp after you install it. Use #2 pine grade lumber and boards and thicker dimensional lumber, such as a two-by-six. You’ll also need to use stainless steel or hot-dipped galvanized fasteners, as the chemicals in the treated lumber will cause regular galvanized fasteners to rust. 

The cost to build a fence is about $3,100 on average, but you could pay anywhere from $400 to $13,700 or more. Your cost will depend on the length, height, and materials for the fence. If you hire a professional installer, labor costs typically represent about half of the total cost of the project. This means you potentially can save quite a bit of money doing the work yourself.

The ideal spacing for four-by-four residential fence posts is usually about 6 to 8 feet between posts. However, if the fence is particularly high or you live in a very windy region, you might want to space them closer together for better stability. A fence pro can help you decide on your post spacing. 

The best wood for a farm fence is pressure-treated wood that will stand up to various weather conditions, animal contact, and moisture. Farm fences need to resist rot and damage, so choose a species such as cedar or redwood. The natural oils in these woods give them decay resistance, which also makes them ideal for other fence types, such as a wooden snow fence.