PVC Fence

This tutorial is available on the TheDIYPlan.com website.

Supplies

• 3/4" PVC pipe 10' long (x5)

• 3/4" PVC end caps (x15)

• 1/2" Screws

• C-Clamp

Tools for this project
• Drill

• Miter Saw

• Tape Measure

• 1 1/16" Hole Saw Bit

• PVC Cutters

• Drill Press

Disclosure: Some of the links on this page as well as links in “tools for this project” and “material list” sections are affiliate links.

Step 1: Measuring and Cutting Rails

Step 2: Drilling Holes for Pickets

Step 3: Cutting Pickets

Step 4: Screws for Bottom Rail Stopper

Step 5: Inserting Bottom Rail

Step 6: Screws for Top Rail Stopper

Step 7: Top Rail and End Caps

Comments

[darm42]

What do you use for the posts to attach the pvc fence to?

[Pavlo6666]

Now that's original!

[auto13142828]

Don't count on UV protective paint to last long either. It will peel off and the PVC will be toast.

[xkaes]

Like G_K said, PVC becomes brittle and falls apart in a few years of UV exposure. I learned the hard way. You can sand the PVC, apply a UV protection, and then paint it -- but WHAT A PAIN!

[dropkick]

This is a warning I'm sad to make as I like your fence. Not all PVC is UV resistant. Some PVC will rot when exposed to sunlight. (Some PVC piping might be UV resistant - I don't have enough knowledge to tell the difference). Years ago I made an above ground PVC sprinkler system. It was basically inexpensive PVC pipe attached to my fence with sprinkler heads every 20 feet. I hooked the hose to one end and was able to water almost my entire lawn at once. It worked wonderfully for one year. The next year I tried to use it and it was toast. The pipe would crumble in my hand. Your PVC might be okay - as I said I don't have enough knowledge to do more than warn of the possibility - but if it was me I'd paint it just to be sure. Good luck.

[RumpelS]

Your fence looks good. But how long? Until it is dirty. The only error is that it is white. I would have chosen a darker color.

[wfidrock]

Since you were doing this between posts on a patio it was more of a 'railing' than a 'fence', so I would suggest, if there were a next time or for others contemplating something similar, the following:
Don't drill the holes in the 3" top and bottom pipe rails through BOTH sides, just through ONE side of each rail (the bottom of the top rail, and the top of the bottom rail). Now cut your vertical pickets approximately 6" to 7" shorter (about 25" to 26" long) - your pickets will be inserted into the holes in the bottom rail and then the top rail mounts on the top side of the picket by inserting the top of the picket into the hole in the bottom side of the top rail.
In other words the pickets stick into the holes in the rails and push up against the far side of the tube.

You now have a smooth top rail like you would expect on a porch railing and you save money by not buying all those caps and screws for the picket tubes.

[TheDIYPlan]

Yes, this option will work if I was attaching upper and lower rail to the post.

[wfidrock]

So, I looked at your finished picture again. I guess you just are holding these 'fence' pieces in place by the side trim on the posts and the picket bottoms are just sitting on the deck?
So an option would be to still have the pickets come through both sides of the bottom rail (and still have the stop screws) BUT only have one hole on the top rail (bottom side), giving you a smooth railing top and no 'protruding' picket tops requiring caps.

Just throwing out alternative design ideas for folks... :)

[rnjenny]

Hey nice job. Looks good, easy, basic tools, I could probably manage it with very little trouble. And the stuff is probably re-usable when you decide to take it down.

[TheDIYPlan]

Thank you!

[gadgeteer123]

Nice work. Just so that it doesn't look so "home-made", I would probably put on domed internal mounted top caps instead of that used for sprinkler irrigation use. There are a number of styles available. How did you mount the horizontal piece to the posts?

[TheDIYPlan]

There
is a 4x4 post in the middle and 2x8s on both sides on the post. I took one of
the 2x8 out. Placed the fence in and then put the 2x8 back. The fence is not
attached to the post, it’s standing on the concrete jammed between the 2x8s. If there was no concrete, then I would probably
attach it to the post using half cut 3” end caps.

[diamondemb]

Love It!
Very creative.
It's a nice inexpensive fence.

[TheDIYPlan]

Thank you.

[Penolopy Bulnick]

I think it turned out great!

[TheDIYPlan]

Thanks

[JamesA41]

Thinking a coat of UV stabilized professional polyurethane paint will help with the longevity of this build unless the PVC pipe is made already with the UV stabilizers for outdoor use.

There are also decorative tops/finial that can be made with a 3D printer, molds, plastic/wood and purchased. For some reason Google isn't pulling much up for tops/finials other than these examples:
https://www.etsy.com/listing/609171208/skull-fence-finial-for-pvc-pipe-resin
https://www.etsy.com/listing/623279291/mid-evil-pvc-fence-finial
https://www.etsy.com/listing/184661624/four-sided-spire-finial-spear

[TheDIYPlan]

Those
are some nice looking tops. Thank you.

[G_K]

The only issue I have run in to with PVC is UV exposure causes it to become very brittle over the years. Might want to add a UV clear-coat to it.