If you’ve been Googling how to build a fence, this is your start-to-finish, contractor-level guide to building a wood privacy fence the right way. We’ll walk through each phase in the same order we build fences for our clients here in the Columbia, SC area—from demolition and layout all the way to rails, pickets, and gates.

Before you can set a single new post, you may need to deal with an old, rotted, or badly installed fence. You can absolutely DIY this phase if you’re comfortable with tools and heavy hauling. But if you’d rather skip the hard part and have a clean, ready-to-build fence line, our team at Chonko Construction can handle the demo, disposal, and site prep for you.

Phase 1: Fence Demolition & Disposal

Fence demolition is all about speed, safety, and not making a bigger mess than you have to. The goal is to get the old fence out of the ground, into a dumpster or trailer, and off your property as efficiently as possible—without tearing up your yard.

Tools & Equipment You’ll Need

  • Reciprocating saw (Sawzall) with multi-material demolition blades
  • Mini skid steer (often called a Dingo, like a Toro TX1000 or TX525) with forks or bucket for moving panels and posts
  • Post puller such as the
    JackJaw 0205 T-Post and Sign Post Puller
  • Post hole digger and post tamp or digging bar
  • Wheelbarrow or yard cart (if you’re moving debris by hand)
  • Gloves, eye protection, and hearing protection

Step 1: Cut Out the Fence Panels (Fastest Method)

The quickest way to demo an old wood fence is to cut out full panels instead of pulling individual pickets and rails.

  1. Run your Sawzall between each pair of posts to cut through the rails.
  2. Let the panel fall gently or tip it over in a controlled way.
  3. Stack those full panels flat like pallets off to the side of the fence line.

Do not waste time pulling pickets one at a time or disassembling the fence in reverse order. Cutting out complete panels is dramatically faster and keeps nails and screws contained inside those stacks, instead of scattered all over your yard.

Step 2: Move and Load the Debris

Once the panels are stacked, it’s time to move them to your dumpster or dump trailer.

  • With a Dingo or mini skid steer: Use forks or the front edge of the bucket to scoop stacks of panels like pallets and shuttle them to the trailer. This is by far the most efficient way to move a large volume of fence panels.
  • By hand: If you don’t have equipment, cut the panels in half or thirds with your Sawzall so they’re easier to lift. Stand them up in the dumpster or trailer and pack them tightly to maximize space.

For planning purposes, a typical 200-foot wood fence will usually generate around 5 to 10 cubic yards of debris, depending on post size, rail count, and how much concrete comes out with the posts. A 10–15 yard dumpster is usually the safe range.

Step 3: Pulling the Posts and Concrete

With the panels gone, you’re left with a row of posts and concrete footings. This is where a dedicated post puller or a Dingo really earns its keep.

  • Using a mechanical post puller: A clamp-style puller like the JackJaw 0205
     grabs the post and uses leverage to lift it out of the ground. It’s especially helpful on straight-line t-posts, sign posts, and some wood posts.
  • Using a Dingo: Wrap a chain low on the post, hook it to the machine, and slowly lift. In a best-case scenario, the post and concrete plug come out in one piece.
  • If the post breaks: You’ll need to dig around the remaining concrete using a post hole digger and tamp/digging bar, then pry or lift the chunk out. This part can be very labor-intensive in rocky or hard clay soils.
  • Use post hole diggers: If you dont have any fancy tools, a pair of post hole diggers works just fine, it just can take some time. Dig around the post with the post hole diggers and aim for a depth of about 2 feet. Once you have a deep enough hole the fence post should just wiggle out with enough persuasion.

Step 4: Clean Up the Fence Line

Before you move on to layout and new post installation, walk the entire fence line and clean up:

  • Old nails, screws, and brackets
  • Random chunks of concrete or buried wood
  • Splintered boards and hidden debris in the grass

You want a clear, safe path where you can run string lines, mark post locations, and move equipment without tripping hazards or tire-popping debris.

Don’t Want to Handle the Demo Yourself?

If you’d rather skip the heavy lifting, our crew can take care of the entire demolition and disposal process for you. We remove old panels, pull posts and concrete, clean the fence line, and leave everything ready for your new build. Contact Chonko Construction and we’ll handle everything from start to finish.

Next Step: Layout & Setting Posts

Now that the old fence is gone, you’re ready to move on to planning your fence line, locating the property boundary, and setting the first corner posts. In the next part of this series, we’ll cover:

  • How to identify your property line
  • Why you need to call 811 before digging
  • How to set corner posts
  • The difference between dry-pack and wet-set concrete methods