Measuring for fence boards typically involves calculating how many boards you need for a project, which starts by determining the length of your fence line. You also need to know the dimensions of the individual boards themselves.
Measuring the Fence Line for Boards
To determine the total length you need to cover with boards, you first measure the perimeter of the area or the length of the line where the fence will be installed. This step is crucial whether you are using fence panels or individual boards.
Here's how to measure the fence line:
- Measure the perimeter of the area in feet. Use the stakes as a guide.
- The tape needs to be taut, so find a helper to make it easier.
- Divide the perimeter by the size of the fence panels you plan to buy. (Note: While this last step from the reference applies to panels, measuring the perimeter is the essential first step for calculating individual boards as well.)
Once you have the total length of the fence line (the perimeter), you can calculate the number of boards needed.
Calculating the Number of Fence Boards Needed
Unlike panels, individual boards require calculating based on their width and desired spacing or overlap.
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Determine Board Width: Find out the actual width of the fence boards you plan to use (e.g., a standard 6-inch board is often actually 5.5 inches wide).
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Decide on Spacing or Overlap: Will the boards butt up against each other, have a gap, or overlap?
- Butted: Boards touch side-by-side. You need approximately (Total Fence Length / Board Width) boards.
- Spaced: There is a gap between boards. You need (Total Fence Length / (Board Width + Gap Width)) boards.
- Overlapped (e.g., privacy fence): Boards are layered. This calculation is more complex and depends on the overlap amount.
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Calculate Rough Number: Divide your total fence line length (in inches, if using inches for board width and gap) by the effective width of each board setup (board width plus gap, or just board width for butted).
- Example: For a 100-foot (1200 inch) fence using 5.5-inch boards with a 0.5-inch gap: (1200 inches / (5.5 + 0.5) inches/board) = (1200 / 6) = 200 boards.
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Add Waste: Always purchase extra boards (typically 10-15%) to account for cuts, defects, or mistakes.
Measuring Individual Fence Board Dimensions
To measure a single fence board, you use a tape measure to find its key dimensions:
- Length: Measure from one end of the board to the other along the longest side. Common lengths are 6 or 8 feet.
- Width: Measure across the face of the board from edge to edge. Standard widths are often listed as 4 or 6 inches, but the actual width is usually slightly less (e.g., 3.5 or 5.5 inches).
- Thickness: Measure the depth of the board. Common thicknesses are 0.5 or 0.75 inches (often referred to as 1/2 inch or 3/4 inch).
Understanding both the dimensions of the boards you plan to use and the total length of your fence line is essential for purchasing the correct amount of material.
