How to Build a Cedar Picket Fence
Cedar picket fences are a popular option for the homeowner who wants a sturdy, long-lasting fence that uses no chemicals. Naturally resistant to decay, cedar does not require pressure treatment to keep the wood from rotting. In addition to being earth friendly, your cedar picket fence boosts your home value, while at the same time giving you and your family the privacy and security that you need. Does this Spark an idea?
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Things You'll Need
- Twine
- Wooden stakes
- 4-by-4-inch cedar posts (6 or 8 feet long)
- 2-by-4-inch cedar rails (8 feet long)
- Cedar pickets
- Posthole digger
- Shovel
- Tamping rod
- Galvanized screws
- Drill
- Galvanized nails
- Hammer
Instructions
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1
Check local fencing laws. Call your city office and check the zoning requirements for your area. Some locations restrict the types of fences that you can build. Other areas also require a building permit for fence construction. If you're erecting your picket fence along property lines, consider getting a survey done to verify the exact property lines. Taking these precautionary steps can save you a lot of time and money later on.
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2
Mark your fence line. Using twine and wooden stakes, mark out the planned location for your cedar picket fence. Estimate the supplies you will need. Your fence will have a post and two rails every 8 feet. Determine the width you desire your pickets to be as well as the distance between each picket. Typically, pickets are 2 to 5 inches wide, with spacing between pickets ranging from 1 to 4 inches.
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3
Install posts for the first section. Using a handheld posthole digger and a shovel, create a posthole that is 2 to 3 feet deep. You want 1/3 of the post to be under the ground for maximum strength. Insert the post in the hole, make sure it is level and then use a tamping rod to pack the dirt in around the post. Make sure the center of the second post is exactly 8 feet from the center of the first post before you pack it into the ground.
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4
Attach rails. Using galvanized screws, drill the bottom rail to the first two posts, making sure it is 6 to 9 inches from the ground. Attach the top rail in the same fashion, locating it about 6 to 9 inches from the tops of the posts. This creates a fence structure that has two horizontal rails attached to two posts vertically inserted in the ground.
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5
Attach pickets. Starting at the first post, nail the cedar pickets vertically to the horizontal rails. Hold a piece of scrap lumber between pickets when you are installing them to ensure that they are all the same distance apart. Make sure the bottoms of your pickets are at least 2 inches from the ground to make it easier for you to mow along the bottom of your cedar picket fence.
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6
Build the next 8-foot section of cedar picket fence. Repeat steps 3 to 5 for each 8-foot section of fence. This ensures that your posts are spaced correctly.
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Tips & Warnings
Use rough-cut lumber for your pickets to lower your out-of-pocket cost.
