How to install 3 rail wood fence

This helps keep the boards away from ground moisture, preventing decay, and makes it easier to trim grass if present. If the rails will be placed between posts, use a square to transfer the marks to the applicable side of the post.

For sloped landscapes, you can either run the rails parallel to the slope of the hill or keep the rails level, but lower their placement between each set of posts in a stepped style. The most common — and easiest — methods are to either nail or screw the rails directly to the post using rust-free fasteners or to use galvanized fence brackets.

A fence bracket is an open U-shape that holds the two-by-four rail between the posts. Two-by-fours can be installed wide-side up to prevent side-to-side pressure or narrow-side up to limit sagging.

Using a narrow-side up top rail and wide-side up cap rail is the optimal combination for strength and durability.

Depending on design , rails should only be visible from inside your yard. The reason for this is for aesthetics, giving more curb appeal to your home, and for security, making it more difficult for someone to climb your fence or peek into your yard. Attaching fence boards to the rails is the next step of the process.

Close search. Calculate Fence Shop by Fence Parts expand. Temporary Fence Panels Stands Hardware. How do I install the rails for a solid wood fence?

Lay your rails out three per bay for six foot fencing and two per bay for four foot fencing. Mark your post with a crayon at top of rail for each rail. This is important as it applies to some strict building codes that require the good side facing out. As the rail extends to the next post, cut the rail at the center of the post.

Repeat this for all three rails. Then, start with another rail butted firmly against the installed rail. That guarantees a lifespan measured in decades, not years, so you get access to a cost-effective solution that will last a long time. It can work well with property owners who have livestock, including horses and sheep. Because the third rail is closer to the ground than with two rail fences, smaller animals can be fenced in, as well. Of course, the bottom rail does not touch the ground, so trimming the grass below it is not a problem.

When everything is said and done, three rail wood round rail fencing is an excellent option that will look great for decades to come.