How to Build a White Picket Fence

A white picket fence not only adds charm and character to your house, but is also a decorative way to set your property's boundaries apart from your neighbor's. Although building your own fence is not an easy task to undertake, with a little time and hard work you will be delighted with finished product. Here are a few tips.

Difficulty:

Moderately Challenging

Instructions

Things You'll Need

• Posts
• Measuring tape
• Pencil
• Power saw
• Wooden stakes
• Twine
• Post hole digger
• Gravel
• Level
• Fence rails
• Nails
• Hammer
• Pickets
• Drop cloth
• Paint
• Paintbrush

Setting Fence Posts

1. Measure the fence post to desired height and using the pencil mark the location of each cut. Using the power saw, make your cuts where indicated.

2. Mark with a wooden stake the location where the end or corner fence post is to be placed. Tie a length of twine from the fence post and run it down the proposed fence line. Place another wooden stake at the end.

3. Place additional stakes in between the two end stakes, spacing them approximately every six to eight feet.

4. Use a post hole digger to dig a hole where each stake is located. The hole should be dug to a depth approximately one third the length of the fence post.

5. Pour a little gravel into each hole to allow for proper drainage due to excess water from rain or sprinklers.

6. Set the first post into the hole. Pack dirt down around the post. You can use the dirt previously dug with the hole digger. Set a level on top of the post and check for center. Adjust the post as needed until it is level.

7. Build up a mound of dirt around the base of the post to keep out any water that might pool around the bottom. Repeat as necessary for each additional post.

Attaching Rails to Fence Posts

1. Measure and mark with the pencil so that each end of the fence rail reaches the middle of two fence posts. Using the power saw, make your cut. Use this first cut piece to be a guide in cutting the rest of your rails for your fence.

2. Nail one end of a fence rail to your end post. This should be done on the inside of the fence about four to five inches from the top of the post and the end of the rail should be located directly in the center of the post.

3. Hammer two more nails into the other end of the rail onto the second post. One top fence rail should now be attached and sit in the middle of two fence posts.

4. Repeat steps two and three for the remaining top fence rails.

5. Affix bottom fence rails to the fence posts in the same manner as the top rails. The bottom rails should be located six inches up from the bottom of the fence posts. This will allow for mowing and edging.

Installing the Pickets

1. Hold the first picket up against the top and bottom rails. Adjust the picket to the desired height.

2. Hammer two nails into the top and bottom of each picket, making sure the nails go through to the fence rails behind.

3. Space your next picket one picket width away from the first. Stand a picket up next to the nailed picket as a space guide. You can then nail your second picket to the fence.

4. Repeat this process until all pickets are nailed to the fence.

Painting the Fence

1. Place a drop cloth underneath the area of the fence you are going to paint white.

2. Start painting from the top of the picket downward. Make sure you apply enough paint as the wood will soak up quite a bit.

3. Repeat steps one and two to paint each section of the picket fence white.

Tips & Warnings

• If preferred, white stain may be applied instead of white paint.