How To Build A Four Rail Wood Fence

You ll use this mark to make sure you set each post the correct depth by aligning it with the string you ve set 12 inches 30 5 cm off the ground.

How to build a four rail wood fence.

Corners will have to bear both top and bottom joints. Building a fence can help increase home security and keep unwanted critters from your property. If your fence has four rails stagger the second and fourth rails the same way. The posts you ve bought to build a rail fence should already have holes cut out for the rails to fit in.

Horizontal fence rails are typically full 1 inch thick by 6 inch wide lumber but can be conventional 2 x 6 lumber as purchased from a big box store. For this fence with 6 foot pickets the lower edge of the top rails will be 5 feet 4 1 2 inches above the ground. Stagger the rails so that no post along the side of the fence has to bear joints at both the top and bottom. Popular types of fences include privacy picket split rail and basket weave and can be made from such materials as wood vinyl and metal.

To build a wood fence start by digging holes in the areas where you want to place your fence posts. After that attach 2 by 4 fence rails in between the posts which will act as support boards. For the strongest fence place your rails on the inside of the posts. Then place the posts into the holes and fill the areas around them with concrete to stabilize the posts in the ground.

The upper edge of the bottom rails should be about 9 1 2 inches above the ground. Clearly mark each post 36 inches 91 4 cm up from the bottom. Step 3 place the first picket board in the corner of the fence or edge of the gate post aligning it with the edge and string guide then attach it to the stringers with nails. Level each rail and nail it in place with galvanized 10d 3 inch nails or screw it in place with 3 inch deck screws.

Indicate the locations for the lower edges of the top rails and the upper edges of the bottom rails to make it easier to see the marks when you. Learning how to build a fence involves securing the posts attaching the panels or pickets and providing post caps. I was going to buy six foot long treated 4 x 4 posts and have the store cut them in half for me to make homemade fence posts. For a fence with three rails cut one rail in two and use one of the halves to start the middle rail row.