How to Build a Rainbow Privacy Fence

I have a new theory with fences- you DON’T have to build the whole thing at once. Our backyard is skinny and long and thinking about being able to afford to fence every bit- it’d never happen. Instead, I’m tackling one section at a time. The spaces we need it most, we’re doing this year. It might be a few years, but slowly I’ll get it done!

It’s been so nice to slowly close off our yard. We started with a rainbow horizontal fence then moved on to a long 40′ privacy fence and now we’re closing off another section we desperately need privacy.

Next to the playhouse is a 16′ section that looks into the neighbor’s yard and all their weeds. It’s a rental and the yard isn’t kept up so saying goodbye to this view was NOT sad-

how to build a rainbow privacy fence

SUPPLIES

• 3 Cedar Posts 4″x4″x8′ $46
• 4 Lumbar Support Boards 2″x4″x16′ $35
• 35 Cedar Fence Picket 6′ $108
• 6 Fast Setting Concrete Mix bags $33
• Finish Screws $10

Total- $232 for a 16′ fence

Paint-1. Ultra Pure White 2. 1/2 Ultra Pure White and 1/2 Beloved Pink 3. Beloved Pink, 4. Shy Smile, 5. Coral Fountain, 6. Lamplit, 7. Corn Stalk, 8. Frittata, 9. Sparkling Brook, 10. Green Aqua, 11. Mirador, 12. Tinted Ice, 13. Early September, 14. Blue Chalk, 15. 1/2 Ultra Pure White and 1/2 Hemisphere. I buy the sample jars in the Marquee line (highest quality) in an eggshell finish

If you need paint, you can get a sample paint pot for $4.27 each and it’ll be way more than enough.

Stain- Thompson’s Waterseal $31.49

Total- $92

Tools-

• Post Hole Digger $49.98

step 1

Start by digging the holes for the posts. We used the post digger to slowly dig 3 holes. We have really rocky soil so this took some time and effort. If you do this project, I’m hoping you have less rocks than us. Then the post went into the hole.

step 2

Next, it’s time to prep the post for concreting it. To do this, use stakes and braces to keep the post level.

This is the concrete we used. It was super nice because we just poured it in the hole. We used 2 bags per hole. There’s a graph at the store (and on the back of the bag) that told us how many we needed for the size of our hole and number of posts. 

After the concrete is poured into the hole, fill it with water. The bags will say how much water to use. We needed 3 gallons.

You just pour the water over the concrete and then let it set. It’s super nice because you don’t need to mix it and then pour it (which is a pain to clean up and adds a step).

Once the posts are in, attach 3 pieces of 16′ boards across the three boards. This is what the pickets will attach to.

step 3

And now it’s staining/painting time! For the stain, I used Thompson’s WaterSeal (exactly what I used on the pergola). I chose to stain the back so the neighbors have a neutral fence :). Also, I wanted to stain the back to protect it from the weather so the fence will last longer.

For the paint, I mostly used the same colors as my rainbow striped tub. Below are the exact colors I used on this project. I found having a different brush for each color was fastest since the boards needed 2 coats. I put them under a wet rag between coats to keep them from drying out.

1. Ultra Pure White 2. 1/2 Ultra Pure White and 1/2 Beloved Pink 3. Beloved Pink, 4. Shy Smile, 5. Coral Fountain, 6. Lamplit, 7. Corn Stalk, 8. Frittata, 9. Sparkling Brook, 10. Green Aqua, 11. Mirador, 12. Tinted Ice, 13. Early September, 14. Blue Chalk, 15. 1/2 Ultra Pure White and 1/2 Hemisphere.

step 4

Finally, installation time! We started from the right and worked to the left. We made sure each picket was level before screwing it into place. Then we used a spacer (just a thin board) to make sure all the pickets went up with the same size gap between each board. We also tied a string to the top of the posts so that the pickets would all be the same height.

Once the pickets were up, my husband cut the post on an angle so it’s no longer visible.

before and after

Ta da! Here’s a quick before and after. In 24 hours, it was such a big transformation!

I really like how the fence looks next to the playhouse. It’s a dose of fun! And if I ever get sick of it- I can always paint it white.

It ended up being a rainy day so it took longer than I was hoping to get this put together. Worth it, but after paint those 35 boards and each one took 5 minutes to paint, I am tired.

bench

How do you like the colorful fence?! At least it’s better than seeing into our neighbor’s yard. It’ll be nice to have that section of the yard more private! Little by little, this yard is going to be my oasis!

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