CompLeteHome How-To Guipes HOW-TO BOOKLET #3083 RAIL FENCES This dimensional ral fence ws \imibers stackes end co ‘end in agra pater and resing on anes, TOOL & MATERIAL CHECKLIST U Fence Posts Fence Rails ATPlates or Fence Brackets I Post-hole Digger Line Level UString Cement Mix 4 Water Bucket Galvanized Nails 4 Paint or Stain and Finishing Tools Read This Entire How-To Booklet for Specific Tools and Materials Not Noted in the Basics Listed Above. Because of material costs, the rail fences of Abraham Lincoln’s day have been modified considerably. However, the modifications have improved the originals, if not in aesthetics, certainly in efficiency. Today’s designs utilize posts that are pre-mortised to accept the rails, You simply assemble the units no trees to fell, no rails to split Rail fences are an excellent choice for ranch style homes, although they are pleasing when used with almost any style architecture. A low rail fence, for example, works wonderfully well as a definition fence for a front yard to block foot trafic across a lawn or plantings. ‘The openness of the fence design doesn’t block the view and isn’t offensive to neighbors. Before you buy any fencing materials, check the building codes in your community. Some municipalities place limics on the type and height of fencing. We also suggest that you inform your neighbors about your fence-building plans. Good fences make good neighbors in more ways than one. FENCE TYPES AND MATERIALS There are six ral fence types, classiied by construction, plus one design called a post and rail fence, included in the rail fence family.Le] ‘They ate: ‘Rail fences with mortised joints 4B Rail fences with lap joints Rail fences with burt joints 4 Rail fences with slocted joints 4 Rail fences with grooved joints 4 Dimensional ral fences Post and rail fences Ifyou have lots of trees on your property and you don’t mind cutting some of them down, you can make a zigzag rail fence similar to those built in the 1700s and 1800s, The rails are overlapped at cach end, and a rock, brick, or block can keep the bottom nails off the ground (Fig. 1). The lengths of zigzag rail fences are usually about 8'. ‘The tals, after they are stacked, can be spiked to add strength (Fig. 2) Most common rail fence materials are woods or pecler core rails (Fig. 3) with matching posts that you can buy at most home center and building supply outlets, Some garden centers also inventory these items. TWaditional zigzag ral Fence fxeures tacked sa spike ‘publ bom fed tree, Bedell le forthe dowel You'll find illustrations and construction details for these fences in this How-To Booklet FENCE-BUILDING BASICS “There ate four parts to a rail fence: Posts. Posts can be woods or peeler core rails, or you can use 4X4s or 4X6s, If you build a post and-ral fence, the posts are 2X4s — two pieces at ‘each post location (Fig. 4). Ifyou build a dimen: sional fence, posts are not used. Posts are set in postholes you dig in the ground. ‘The standard depth for a ral fence is 2° Rails. Rails span the posts horizontally. Rails are fastened to posts using various joints and fastening methods (Figs. 5 and 6). ‘There are normally wo rails in rail fences—sometimes more depending on the design. Footing. ‘These are the materials placed under and around posts to support them. You can set the post directly into the ground and support it with. gravel and dirt. Or, you can set the post into the hole and support the post with concrete. ‘The concrete footing, as you would guess, is the best in areas prone to extreme frost heave. Fig. 3 ce Pecler Core Rall Woods Rai Two types of log are avalible, Woods ti hve some iron logy: pecler coe ras ve the bark Femnowel, Eos both ae presi Fig. 4 Postandbai fences suc ise il de FReonment that you st the port ps Rover ‘Then inl the ne The end ths Fee project you can se wi the ease be pated, ace oes more ecu if you nest vo confine ge animals, We ‘trent an te 3 rican hele uate or cut at an angle. Use pees teed Wood for i presctvatve sfc ir up, Prwuretueated laters car and Ete, ad per blocks a Denween ute concreteIn postion, wil ence shoal oak ike thst fant json Ree ay be sens wih Eijeer so you don't have to ol mortise | { | Slotted Joint Mortised Joint unt Joint Grooved Joint Lap Joint Different rail-to-post joints ss you san use, Lp joi is sit sorted aed dove joins ae tadonal pre se the morsel jt, Gate. Gates should have a maximum width of 48". ‘The gate posts should be larger than the fence posts to support the movement of the gate Tis suggested that you set the posts in concrete for stability. Use at least three gate hinges—top, middle, bottom—and buy extra strong or hefty hinges for support EXCAVATION ‘To build a rail fence you should follow a plan for best results. ‘The job will go faster and easier and the finished fence will look very professional $F Clear a tine that the fence will pass through At least 1" to either side of the line is good enough. Any shrubs, bushes, tees, or stones that are in the line should be moved, or the fence should be laid ont to avoid them. You do not have to remove the ground cover. ‘Make sure that buried power lires will not interfere with the posts. Your utility company provide a site plan free of buried lines, ‘Check with them before you dig $Y Once the path has been established, position the posts. Afier you determine the post spac: ing—5', 6, or 8', on center—measure the di tances and stake these points. Continue until you have staked all post centers. ‘The center is that dimension from the eenter of one post to the center of the adjoining post cown the line ‘Try to keep the fence sections in even feet. If you buy pre-fabricated rail fencing, the length Of the rails will determine the post positions. Measure and mark carefully; triple check your measurements before cutting, Digging postholes can be the most difficult part of building a fence. You can rent a man- ual digger: clamshell or auger. The auger type may be a tad less trouble than the clamshell. You also can rent a power post- hole digger, and if you have lots of postholes to dig, we recommend it. The cost is not prohibitive and it will save you hours of time fas of cosme gravel. This Plumb each post on two sides. Tet hold wi enporsy ‘Hake ntl pot ie sctin hse ith earth or coneete: Also 2e pot st time, an ah he sxion ates pts Line posts ook ik his when seston of ence it some Lower nls cquily space beowech top aa proud eva,