Outdoor Project Accomplished!

We have lived in this house 20 years and the chain link fence around the pool was on the list to replace, you know how those lists go, for years and years. It was just not in the budget to have the kind of custom wooden or iron fence we wanted professionally done.

My husband got the brilliant idea this winter of using the existing metal posts that are in concrete, so we didn't have to dig new post holes.  He  built a 4" x 4"x 54" long box around each pole (securing the wood with metal straps to the pole) and then screwed the horizontal boards to the new wooden post. Because it is taller than a deck fence and 'stock' slats, we had to custom make each slat 48" tall. 

We started our pool yard fence project mid April, and I was complaining about how hard it was in this post . By Mother's Day we had done about 10 sections and were doubting we would meet our goal of completion by pool opening Memorial Day.  My son came home for my birthday and Mother's Day and helped us whip out 13 sections in 2 days- best present ever!  We put the last section up this weekend and are starting on the finishing touches.

We need to get some hardware for our custom double gates and put a few finishing touches on, but basically we are done.  It is so rewarding to look out there and see that we made this entire fence ourselves.  The materials cost us aprox. $1700 and the labor was free! I feel a huge sense of accomplishment and we saved thousands of dollars.  Thank God I don't have to paint it 'til the fall or spring, since it has to 'season', but I am really liking it this natural wood color.

Thanks for following along and enjoy your short week! 

P.S. Don't forget to check out this and other featured DIYS the last Friday of each month on the Best of the Nest!