This past winter, the weather was pretty rough around Memphis. We got more snow than usual and some storms left a lot of damage. Power outages and property damage was a common theme. Over in Collierville, a massive tree was uprooted and took out a long stretch of wooden rail fencing with a 12 foot cattle gate.
After I got the call, my first goal was to get the driveway cleared and see what we could salvage.
How Much Lumber Was Needed?
The cattle gate was toast but I could work with some of the wood. My main focus was saving the homeowner money. They were kind of in a bind. But I also wanted to build the wooden rail fence back better than it was.
I figured it’d be best to replace a few posts. They were old and probably wouldn’t hold screws for much longer. As I was putting a material list together, I asked the homeowners to start looking for a gate.
Rail Fence Problem Solving.
On this project, the most difficult part was definitely dealing with a slanted driveway. The ground by the swing post was almost 10 inches lower than the latch side. Since the section I was repairing was about 130 feet, I wanted to make it as level as I could.
Some contractors just build the fence with the shape of the ground. I think this looks tacky. At every post, I prefer to re-level the planks with a gradual incline or decline. Since the ground dipped down before both sides of the gate (driveway), I staggered the fence levels on both sides.
This made the fence a bit higher; but I knew it’d look way better. I also knew I’d be able to make up for it (the stagger) at the corner. Using deck boards as planks gave me a little creative room. You’ll see in the pictures below.
Preparing for Wooden Rail Fencing.
Thinking though stuff like this is what sets me apart as a fence builder and carpenter. I don’t believe in running fence rows and solving problems as I go. For this job, I had to be prepared to cross a creek bed, cut through roots and manage uneven ground. It wasn’t your typical wooden rail fencing job.
How to Build Strong Fences.
In my opinion, fence planks are the key to stability. Planks are basically the horizontal pieces of wood that connect the posts. Most posts are about 8 feet apart. Most contractors install an 8 foot piece of wood (plank) in between them. I see this as low quality.
The main problem with this is that they’re fastening 2 planks to one post. How strong can this be? I stagger the planks so that most of them touch 3 posts. The only boards that don’t are on the corners or ends. This strengthens the frame a lot more! When a fence moves (and it will from the wind), what would you prefer?
12' Cattle Gate Installation.
The last step involved mounting the cattle gate. For the most part, this was pretty simple. It was aluminum and only about 54″ high. I was glad I set the latch and swing posts a little higher. The homeowner wanted me to cut them. But since the ground sloped up, it ended up being a solid look! Just like I planned.
Strong Fence Worth Building.
One thing I liked about building this type of fencing is it’s not that common. There are tons of 3 rail wooden fences, but not many 4 (or close to 4 feet high). I like how 5/4″ deck boards are used instead of 2x4s. They’re also installed vertically across the front.
Deck boards aren’t that expensive and the coverage helps keep the fence straight for a long time.
Quality Carpentry Should be Valued.
It may be easier and faster to just throw up some wooden rail fencing. At the same time, this is the entrance to your home! Building unique stuff that you’re proud of is what homeownership is all about!
I know I’m super proud of this wooden row! Especially since my son helped and my daughter caught dinner!
