Q–I would like to have a decorative wood picket fence on my property. However, tackling such a project raises a lot of questions.
What are the biggest obstacles one must overcome when building a fence? What kind of lumber should I use? How do you install a fence in a straight line?
A–I surely can understand your desire for a wood fence. My wife and I have one. It was a joy to build.
Probably the biggest fan of my fence is my neighbor, who uses it as a backdrop for her flower garden. The solid color of the fence does a magnificent job of showing off the colors of her flowers and plants.
Rocks, zoning laws and specialized saws are probably going to be your biggest obstacles.
Fences can be blown over by strong winds. To prevent this, certain areas of the country require that fence posts be embedded to minimum depths in the soil.
Rocks can be hard to overcome when digging fence post holes. You may have to use a long iron spud bar to break them while digging.
Zoning restrictions can limit the placement, height and type of fence. Some localities make you put the most attractive side of the fence towards your neighbor’s property. You should check your local zoning office before proceeding with your fence construction.
Be sure to survey your property line if you are placing the fence on a boundary line. Many a fence has had to be moved because this step was overlooked.
If you decide to construct a picket fence like mine, you better have access to band, radial arm and miter box saws. I needed all of these to make the decorative cuts on my fence posts and pickets.
You can save money and time if you standardize your fence sections. Twelve-foot-long, treated 4-by-4s can be cut into two equal pieces.
Each 6-foot length will create a 4-foot post when buried 2 feet into the ground. Using 8-foot-long, treated 2-by-4s for the horizontal beams allows you to standardize this portion of the job as well.
Picking the type of lumber you will use is important. Redwood or western red cedar makes an excellent fencing material. Locust makes a superb fence post, if it is available.
The pickets need to be only 3/4-inch thick. The width of and spacing between pickets will be controlled by your individual design.
My wife, Kathy, chose to use 1 1/2-inch-wide pickets with a 1-inch space between them. I think she was mad at me that day. She knew it would be nearly impossible to repaint the sides of the pickets at a later date.
I like to dig the fence post holes as I build the frame for the fencing. This method insures that I don’t make a mistake when laying out the fence posts. There is little room for error if you decide to use standard length material as I did.
You start the project by stringing a line an inch away from where you actually want your fence posts. If you build right up to the string and each post accidentally pushes the string, the fence line will wander.
By holding the line away from the fence line you can get the fence perfectly straight.
I suggest that you install the fence posts and the horizontal beams first. Be sure the fence posts are plumb. After this is complete, stain, paint or seal this portion of the fence. Precut all of your pickets and pre-stain or pre-paint these as well.
Use hot-dipped galvanized nails or stainless steel nails to fasten the pickets to the beams. If you are careful, you will only need to do minimal touch-up painting to complete the job.
Have questions about the remodeling process? Write to Tim Carter, c/o The Chicago Tribune, P.O. Box 36352, Cincinnati, Ohio 45236-0352. Questions will be answered only in the column.
For detailed instructions on constructing wood picket fences, a sample material and pricing list, and other tips on fence construction, send $2 and your name and address to Tim Carter at the above address. Ask for Builder Bulletin No. 189.
For a list of past Builder Bulletins and a wide variety of individual job bid sheets, send a business-size, stamped, self-addressed envelope to the same address.
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Ask the Contractor can also be accessed via the Internet at http://www.chicago.tribune.com/homes/articles/askcon.
