Build a Custom Fence Using Simpson Strong-Tie Fence Planner Software™ with Fletcher Creek Cottage

Build a Custom Fence Using Simpson Strong-Tie Fence Planner Software™ with Fletcher Creek Cottage

Dena from Fletcher Creek Cottage has expanded her homestead with a beautiful custom fence using Simpson Strong-Tie Fence Planner Software. Learn how she designed her fence and built it to protect her garden from unwanted wildlife. 

Dena of Fletcher Creek Cottage gardening
Dena of Fletcher Creek Cottage gardening

Do you enjoy gardening? I grew up with a mother who had a very green thumb (just like her mother), and it gave me a love of gardening. I’ve had a veggie garden all my life, but I’ve never had a fenced-in garden space … until now!

Empty garden beds
Empty garden beds

Last year the deer devoured my plants. I realized then that there was no point in growing anything else unless I put up a fence. I decided to DIY a custom garden fence to keep the wildlife out of our garden, and I used Simpson Strong-Tie’s new Fence Planner Software to design a fence that would fit in with our new DIY chicken coop and be functional at the same time.

Dena using Fence Planner Software from Simpson Strong-Tie to build her custom fence
Dena using Fence Planner Software from Simpson Strong-Tie to build her custom fence

I’d never designed a fence before or built one, so I was thrilled to learn about the new Fence Planning Software by Simpson Strong-Tie. This software allows you to design any size fence using your choice of materials and type of panels, allows you to visualize it in your yard, and then generates a report for all the materials you’ll need. It’s super user friendly and made it really simple for us to design our fence and order all our materials. I love that Simpson Strong-Tie’s Free Fence Planner Software allows you to design a custom fence specific to your needs and desired look!

Building the fence gate with Simpson Strong-Tie hardware
Building the fence gate with Simpson Strong-Tie hardware

For the build itself, we used treated lumber to build our fence and gates then added hardware cloth around the entire perimeter on the inside after I painted it.

Simpson Strong-Tie Rigid Tie® angles on the inside corners of the gates
Simpson Strong-Tie Rigid Tie® angles on the inside corners of the gates

To secure the connections, I used Simpson Strong-Tie fence brackets, #9 1.5″ Strong-Drive® SD Connector screws, and Simpson Strong-Tie Rigid Tie® angles on the inside corners of the gates.

Completed fence with black hardware
Completed fence with black hardware

The black hardware I used on the gates (the locks) I picked up locally at a little hardware shop.

Dena in her new garden with her dog
Dena in her new garden with her dog

I’m so glad we tackled this weekend project early this past spring because my garden has never done better! Nothing’s getting munched on — except by us.

Open gates to Dena's new garden
Open gates to Dena’s new garden

To see the full build process, check out my YouTube video below, where I show you how I used the Fence Planner Software and brought my fence into being. You can also read more about it all on my blog. 

Thank you, Simpson Strong-Tie, for creating the free Fence Planner Software, taking all the guesswork out of this project, and making it so much easier for DIYers like us to build things that will last!