How To Build A Four Rail Wood Fence

The posts you ve bought to build a rail fence should already have holes cut out for the rails to fit in.

How to build a four rail wood fence. Right up front i need to make the disclaimer that i was able to spend just 25 to build this fence because i got my fence posts for free you can too. To build a wood fence start by digging holes in the areas where you want to place your fence posts. 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. Board fence is usually a 3 or 4 board layout with 4 x 4 or 4 x 6 post assembled from either smooth or rough sawn pressure teated wood.

Clearly mark each post 36 inches 91 4 cm up from the bottom. Learning how to build a fence involves securing the posts attaching the panels or pickets and providing post caps. The upper edge of the bottom rails should be about 9 1 2 inches above the ground. If your fence has four rails stagger the second and fourth rails the same way.

For the strongest fence place your rails on the inside of the posts. 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. After that attach 2 by 4 fence rails in between the posts which will act as support boards. 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.

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. Then place the posts into the holes and fill the areas around them with concrete to stabilize the posts in the ground. Building a fence can help increase home security and keep unwanted critters from your property. Level each rail and nail it in place with galvanized 10d 3 inch nails or screw it in place with 3 inch deck screws.

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. Spacers on the gate posts between the rails to support the gate hardware. 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. Stagger the rails so that no post along the side of the fence has to bear joints at both the top and bottom.