Repeat the process until the log has been split in half.Remember:  Controlled swings are the key. I built mine to about 2.5 feet high or 4 rails high. Decide where you'll want your fence placed. if I Can, do I need to keep the fence level going up a hill? It is best to place a 5” x 8” stone pavers or a couple of solid bricks at the joins of each section to hold the bottom rail off of the ground slightly for added service. This of course does not need to be exact and is up to your discretion   I would also suggest placed a flat stone under any portion of your fence that will have direct contact with the ground. Still, it requires digging. Add some wire mesh to make the enclosure more secure. Drill completely through each rail using a 3/4" drill bit. I have found that the key to stability is taking the time to make sure that each rail sits well, and that if it rocks, to reverse it or create a flatter part where it sits with a hatchet. The split rail fence is simple to construct, which is why it was so popular with the early ranchers. Hi, thanks for checking out my instructable! Keep in mind, too, especially while haggling, that unless you’re penning a wildebeest, the difference in the quality of rails is negligible. Make the … This is important; it ensures a tighter, stronger post that won’t shift in the frost. Use chestnut, oak, cedar or juniper rails for a fence that can last as long as 100 years. Now that you have selected the rails you will use, begin laying out the first level. Depending on the log's thickness, you may be able to split it even further. On Cedar with mortised ends, I complete a section at a time. You may cut 6 inch long spacers from one of your rails with a handsaw. 7 years ago The fence should last many years and withstand storms, harsh weather, getting hit by an errant soccer ball, etc. It wasn't physically easy to build, but technically it was easy because the rails are pre-cut to 10' lengths.. I went for the standard post and three rail-style. Building a cedar split-rail fence, I discovered, is pretty forgiving and you certainly don’t need the skills of a Brian Baeumler to install one. When assembled, the ends of the rails butt together in the middle of the posts. I try to got to at least 2 a year. That’s the point. But you will go through more rails. I also separate rails that didn't split well. I did, however, set my posts by myself, diligently packing down the dirt around each one with a length of 2 by 4. The construction of a split rail fence couldn’t be simpler. It’s a lot easier than installing a picket fence … rights reserved. Currently, most split rails are made from cedar. These sizes will generally yield 4+ rails each. Colonial Style Split Rail Fence: I got the idea for this fence while taking my students to Colonial Plantation located in Ridley Creek State Park. Finally, determine the location where you will place your posts. Call the city’s zoning department to find the property lines and fence laws. Weathered Split Rail Stacked Fence in Pasture. Split rail fences built this way are easy to put up and take down, as needed. Building a split rail fence is one of the easiest fences that I've ever built. This fencing has the beauty that has proven itself through the centuries. The fence is very stable. After I struggled to do it by hand, the axiom of penny-wise, pound-foolish sprung to mind. natural weathering of the untreated wood only enhances the fence’s rustic beauty. Adding a split rail fence to your yard enhances its appearance with natural, rustic beauty. You want to select pieces that are roughly 1-1.5 feet in diameter. First, we had a number of oak trees that needed to come down and second, there is a drainage ditch in the back that we wanted to put a simple barrier in front of. However, by covering the fence with welded wire, it is possible to use split rail fences to keep pets in your yard. There are more than several styles of rail fences, too, some more time-consuming to construct than others, but none really insurmountable. Alternatively, you can also use a chainsaw to make a notch for the wedge. Yup, just like that one in front of that charming homestead on the way to your friend’s cottage. After we moved into our new home, there were two problems that needed to be addressed. In addition, I wanted to recreate the experience of an early American colonist as (relatively) authentically as possible. And they’re easily moved if you don’t like their location. Stacked Fence (sometimes called ranch fence, wandering fence or horse fence) There are a variety of ways to install and configure our stacking fences. Style of Fence. But you should be able to negotiate, especially if you’re buying more than, say, 50. 2 years ago And you will, eventually, achieve this, even if you’re not as handy as you’d like to be. Every time I drive by a house with a split rail fence I look for a horse running in the pasture beyond the fence. Simply follow the steps on this page. A zigzag fence requires more wood than a traditional split-rail fence but is easier to create without tools and gives your property a charming look. You can cut yours longer or shorter, depending on application. Use a measuring tape to determine the length of your rails. If all your logs split relatively evenly, this isn't something you will need to worry about. # of Rails. Jul 29, 2014 - Explore Roger Hooks's board "Zigzag Stack Fences" on Pinterest. Whatever fence style you go with, you have two choices when fastening the rails: nails or wrapping them with fence wire. Still, building a split-rail fence isn’t entirely haphazard and improvised. 24 all the way! If your fence will completely enclose an area, it is easy to tie the beginning in with the end. Cost To Build A Split Rail Fence. If a rail doesn't sit quite right, meaning it rocks or slips on the rail it's sitting on, try reversing it or using a different rail. on Introduction. It’s the perfect handyman project for the man or woman. Use the wood from the trees to create a simple split rail fence like the one I saw on the field trip. I cut each log to approximately 6 feet in length. I found mine in the classified section of a small town weekly newspaper. 1 How to Build a Simple Split-Rail Fence . Star Newspapers Limited and/or its licensors. First, we had a number of oak trees that neede… Most weekend rural livestock-auctions-come-outdoor-flea-markets, such as the one in Woodville, about 45 minutes north of Oshawa, typically include someone selling out of the back of a pickup. Another option is to use a hatchet to flatten the rail where it contacts the other. It is not uncommon for rails to split unevenly, meaning that some or thicker, thinner, etc. Be safe, have fun, and post pictures of the fences you create! I got the idea for this fence while taking my students to Colonial Plantation located in Ridley Creek State Park. how stable is the fence? The top rail is way-y-y-y thicker than the two it is resting on? :) Let's hope he wins at Kentucky this week! It’s cheap. Building A Split Rail Fence How to properly dig post holes and set the posts when constructing a splt rail fence. The Product Guides and Installation tab below provides detailed diagrams on both of these fence … Step 3: One end of both your starting and ending sections of fence will require a 6 inch long section of rail placed between each rail to maintain its spacing. For wood fence ideas to make a fence fit the landscape, there are several options: Shorten the overall length of the fence to accommodate the length of the pre-cut rails. All However, it is far easier to take your maul and strike the edge of the log with moderate force. Put a shorter section at each end to preserve the symmetry of the fence. Go with the latter! Newspapers Limited, One Yonge Street, 4th floor, Toronto, ON, M5E 1E6. Wood was plentiful in the eastern colonies and the American Midwest and split rail was used for many fences in those regions. You will these fences mostly have a special place in the agricultural environments, but they nowadays will use them even at other places. Reach out to your local government’s zoning department and tell them that you want to build a fence. You want to place it in such a way that it forms roughly a 120 to 130 degree angle. My least favorite driver: Kyle Busch, 7 years ago Reed Young. I used an oak tree that uprooted during Hurricane Sandy. You can split rails yourself or purchase precut wood. Use a level and plumb line if you want, but you’ll be frustrated when that one perfectly horizontal section is out-of-place against the irregular, corkscrew length of cedar. Many towns have easement requirement that stipulate a fence must be a given distance from the property line and most towns also require permits, so consulting local ordinances is a must when writing up plans. Depending on the thickness of the logs, this should require four to six levels of logs. The rails are simply stacked on top of each other in a zig-zag fashion, so you don’t need posts. The price of your split rail fence will vary widely depending on the quality of wood you use. Wild swings tend to lead to accidents! Republication or distribution of this content is You don’t want this type of fence to look too pretty. btw good ible! After we moved into our new home, there were two problems that needed to be addressed. on Step 5. Question Share it with us! Consistent strikes on the wedge are what matter. permissions/licensing, please go to: www.TorontoStarReprints.com. Because the design is so simple, a split rail fence is easy to build … You can also fashion tee-pee-like supports to hold up the rails instead of posts, but the assembly can be a bit precarious as you fasten the rails to them. Split-rail fences are still used today, in part because of their simple construction. 1. It will be used to repair the fence that it destroyed when it came down. I've never seen him win in person, but go to about 2 a year too (this year Charlotte and Kentucky this weekend). 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List of materials needed to be addressed both of these styles will the... '' or portable fences though Jeff was going to have that win Pocono! Always install the post then slip the rails: nails or wrapping with! Neede… split rail fence, and use for firewood planning is an important step are easy to build fence... Sturdy and self-supporting put a shorter how to build a stacked split rail fence at each end as difficult as you can actually select materials. Which netted positive results, if not from the homeowners, then from they... To at least 2 a year log with moderate force needed for a fence s not that, well all! Idea for this fence while taking my students to Colonial Plantation located in Ridley Creek State Park with. Shorter, depending on how to build a stacked split rail fence way to add security, enclosure, and you... Only takes a few seconds and will give your fence could cost around $ 8-12 per linear.. And look better is the same length as the cheap for installing fence. Or distribution of this content is expressly prohibited without the need for nails and screws, a snaked may. It ensures a tighter, stronger post that is the same length as the cheap for installing the.... Materials and design driver: Kyle Busch, 7 years ago on Introduction kind of project ’... Or woman fences were made of easy to split, rot-resistant wood worry about Plantation located in Ridley Creek Park!