Fence In Your Backyard With These Affordable DIY Wood Pallet Ideas
Fencing can often be quite expensive, particularly if you are longing for the classic and rustic look of natural wood. While other materials like wire and aluminum can be cheaper, they often lack the texture and dimension that many types of wooden fences offer your yard, as well as the privacy sometimes needed. Getting a wooden fence installed by professionals, or even building one yourself, can result in a lot of expense in terms of labor and wood supply. Internet DIYers however, may have found the most cost-effective way to add a fence to your property: shipping pallets! These wood pallets can be easily converted into ready-made fence panels or ripped apart to create more elaborately designed fences perfect for property lines, dog runs, chicken coops, or gardens.
Wood pallets can often be found at warehouse workplaces and retailers for little to no cost. You might also be able to source them through venues like Facebook Marketplace or Craigslist, where businesses and individuals are often looking to offload ones they no longer need. You may even already have some lying around your garage. Because they are built to hold heavy loads, pallets are usually very durable. In addition, the wood is often already treated to resist moisture damage.
Building a fence from pallets
To create a simple fence out of pallets, like the chicken run created by YouTube DIYer GunSmoke Farmstead, simply line the pallets up along level ground and fasten them together with 3-inch decking screws. One side of the pallet typically has a 2x4 that you can attach to another pallet. If all sides are open, just add an additional 2x4 in the cavity for screwing the pallets together. Because they are quite heavy, the weight will usually keep them in place without additional posts or reinforcements — though if you live in an area of high winds or unstable ground, you may want to use a more reinforced version. Because this simpler version does not tear up the lawn, it may be a perfect solution for rental properties or short-term fencing.
For a more anchored version of this type of fencing, you can take the same approach by attaching the side 2x4s to concrete-anchored 4x4 fence posts in the ground to grant more permanence and stability. YouTube DIYer Bama Backyard Farm alternates 4x4 fence posts and 2x4s anchored in the ground with the pallet. Since it is a chicken coop project, he also adds chicken wire along the top braced by another 2x4 to create the frame. You can also create a double layer of pallets fasted into higher anchor posts.
Other pallet fence ideas
You can also use partial pallets to create a low-slung fence by cutting the pallets in half to create a barrier that will help keep critters away from growing flowers or vegetable gardens. Simply screw them together for a simple perimeter fence. Or, cut and break down the pallets into wood slats to create a traditional and stylish picket fence for your garden.
Full or partial pallets also work great for single-panel fences that allow climbing or dangling plants to grow up or down. You can also make a full fence out of salvaged pallet planks. Use 4x4 fence posts placed in the ground as support for a top and bottom frame made with 2x4s or other scrap wood. Attach the wood planks from the panels to the top and bottom with screws driven at an angle or use a pocket hole jig. You can also use pallets as a behind or interior support base for other kinds of coverings like bamboo or trellis fencing, or add plantings between the rungs of the pallet for a living fence. Think of it as a unique type of fence that will instantly boost curb appeal.