In 1876 salesman John W. Gates brought barbed wire to Texas when he wagered $1 million that he could build a fence that would capably contain cattle. Some incredulous gambler took the bet. Gates ...

Dear James: I think a picket fence would look good across my front and side yard. I have some saws and tools. Is this a project that the average DIYer can handle? — Jesse T. Dear Jesse: If you have ...

When it comes to posts, Terry Nelson is not dumb. He remembers mowing the seven acres of grass on his family’s St. Charles farm. It was a chore that would take a day and half, mostly because he had to ...

Dear James: I live in a house on a sloping lot and want to add a privacy fence around the backyard. How should I construct it so it looks good down the sloping side? — Diane K. Dear Diane: You have ...

Q. What is the preferred method to set fence posts? My 5-foot-tall solid-picket privacy fence has had some issues over the past 10 years. The latest problem is posts set in concrete that have snapped.

Wood fencing, while visually pleasing, relatively cheap in comparison to other fence materials, and good for the environment, also requires a lot of maintenance. If you don't do that maintenance, you ...