A beautiful fence can elevate the curb appeal of your home, providing a blend of privacy and style. Last time I built a fence I did a DIY Cable Railing on our back deck, but I wanted a little more privacy with this one in the front yard. If you’re considering a DIY project, the Yardlink 4ft tall black modern fence from Lowe’s is an excellent choice. We decided to go with this fence panel from Yardlink because it was DIY friendly, premade and had a modern yet rustic look to it. This guide will walk you through the steps we took to install this semi-private fence in your front yard.
Why we chose this style
We knew we wanted a fence that had durability, ease of installation, and modern aesthetics. The black finish adds a contemporary touch to any front yard, and the semi-private design ensures a balance between privacy and openness. We opted for only going up 4ft with a step down in the middle becuase our street is slightly sloped. If you check out this fence system it is commonly used in HVAC surrounds or garbage can enclosures. Since we live in an area that is very sandy and we were spanning 75 feet across, we chose to use 4×4 posts in lieu of the metal stake posts that you can buy to use with these panels.
Materials & Tools Needed
Materials:
- Yardlink 4ft tall black fence panels
- Yardlink posts (optional)
- Concrete mix
- 4×4 Pressure Treated Post
- 3″ Exterior Screws
- Solar Post Cap Lights
- Bark(optional landscaping)
- Boulders (optional landscaping)
Tools:
Steps we took to install our fence
Planning and Preparation
a. Measure Your Space: Determine the total length of the fence line. Measure the area where you plan to install the fence, and mark the positions of the fence posts to determine how many you will need. This will also allow you to figure out how many panels will be needed.
b. Check Safety Regulations: Before you start ensure you get your water lines and gas lines marked so you will be sure to avoid them. It is a free service to call your utility company for this information.
c. Purchase Materials: Based on your measurements, purchase the necessary number of fence panels, posts, and accessories from Lowe’s. I chose to build the last panel from scratch because I needed an 8 ft gap filled at the end and these panels came in 6ft panels only.
Preparing the Ground & Laying Posts
a. Mark Post Locations: Mark the location of each post, ensuring they are evenly spaced according to the width of your fence panels. These were 6 ft apart. Secure the first post with cement and run a string across the span to another a stake at the opposite side of the fence span to ensure the posts following will stay in line with each other.
b. Dig Post Holes: Use a post hole digger or auger to dig holes for the fence posts. Each hole should be approximately one-third the height of the post for stability (we did 2ft feet deep for a 6-foot post so that 4ft would be above ground).
c. Add Cement & Post: Pour one bag of cement into each hole around a 4×4 post. Add water and and ensure level with a post level. Allow the posts to set for 24 hours before the next step.
Attaching the Fence Panels
a. Position the Panels: Starting at one end of the fence line, position the first panel between the first two posts.
b. Secure the Panels: Attach the panel to the posts ensuring it is level. Secure with 3″ screws, pre-drilling to prevent the wood from splitting. Use a driver and drill to secure the panels in three spots on each side, top, middle and bottom.
c. Continue Installation: Continue attaching panels along the fence line, ensuring each one is level and securely fastened. Since we have a slight slop in our street, midway we chose to drop down the panels one slat height so it remaned level.
Finishing Touches
a. Clean Up: Remove any debris, in our case a ton of weeds. We chose to add landscaping around the base of the fence to enhance its appearance. First gopher wire, followed by weed barrier and then we chose to cover it in bark. After we added some boulders we found at my parent’s ranch. A simple solution that kept it clean and manicured yet required no running water!
b. Add Lighting: I found these great solar post cap lights that came in a 2 pack from Lowe’s. They can work for 4×4 or 6×6 posts and a simple set up with a couple screws. It made a huge difference and really finished off the fence.
c. Tree trimming: We have three huge beautiful oak trees that we always kept overgrown in this area for privacy. Now that we finally put up this fence we had them cut back and it is amazing how much more room our front yard appears to have now!
Maintenance Tips
- Repaint as Needed: If the black finish starts to fade or chip, consider repainting to maintain its sleek appearance. Adding a clear coat after installation will help the longevity of your fence.
- The best part is really minimal maintenance! If done correctly this should last years to come.
Step back and admire your handiwork! Your front yard now boasts a stylish, modern, and semi-private fence that enhances your home’s curb appeal.
Everyone always loves to know how much projects cost, rightfully so! I am very thankful that I have done many projects all on my own and now am able to partner with companies that will sponsor many of my projects now. This project was sponsored by Lowe’s Home Improvement.
Cost Breakdown:
- (11) Yardlink 4ft tall black fence panels – $1,274.00
- (12) Concrete bags – $45.36
- (6) 12ft 4×4 Pressure Treated Post (cut in half to make 6 ft posts) – $169.08
- (1 box) 3″ Exterior Screws – $35.98
- 75 ft Gopher Wire – $74.46
- 75 ft Weed Block – $59.98
- (6) 2 pack Solar Post Cap Lights – $83.88
- 2.5 yards of Bark (optional landscaping) – $200
- Multiple Boulders (optional landscaping) – free
Grand Total: $1,942.74
For an entire makeover of our front yard area I think this was actually pretty reasonable! If you want a recap of the build I saved a highlight on my Instagram page, along with a recap here! Let me know if you have any questions in the comments below and happy building!
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