How to Build a Picket Fence for Your House from Scratch

Picket fences have been used for a long time America; some might say they are as American as apple pie. A picket fence can add a classic look to any house, while at the same time providing a clear indication of your property line and confinement for your pets. You do not need to hire a professional to build a picket fence; you can build one without professional help. Everything you need to build a picket fence is available at any major hardware store.

A picket fence signifies a healthy and peaceful living and is also considered as a symbol of urban life led by people of middle class. The wood fencing style that a picket fence has is the most common distinguishing feature. The picket fence is either painted in white or is completely whitewashed. Also, the picket fence has a widespread fence design. To build a picket fence, one must know about the designs and techniques. The fence is designed in such a way that it is of average length, rather short and the upward side of the fence is conically shaped towards the tip. With the increase in technology, some people also use plastic fences. The fences are almost identical to the wooden ones, and some times have superior quality. However, prior to starting the picket fence project, the zoning laws should first be checked and confirmed. Explained below is a simple method on how to build a picket fence.

As before every construction project, there are a few materials that are necessary to build a picket fence. These are:

• Spray paint
• A measuring tape
• Some gravel or crushed stone
• A post hole digger
• A circular saw
• A long rope
• A cement that dries quickly
• 6″ x 6″ posts
• Pickets that have been precut as well as pretreated
• 2″ x 4″ rails
• Some packets of galvanized screws
• 4″ x 4″ posts (this is to be used for the entrance gate)
• Some hinges
• Bolts
• Latch

With the tools and all the required materials in place, we can now start to build a picket fence.

Start with marking the spots where the fence will be placed. With the spray paint, now mark each spot where the corner posts will be located. Once all these markings are done, mark the spots of the rest of the posts. For your convenience, place the posts at an interval of 8″. There may be an issue when a gate has to be put. In that case, the posts will have to be place according to the gate.

When complete with all the markings, we should now start to dig the holes. For this, use the tool for digging holes. The dimensions of the holes should be the same. The hole should now be dug 3 deep and should be a feet wide. Now pour the gravel into the holes and make a layer of it that is about 2″ high. After the gravel bed has been laid, the poles should now be fixed. When doing so, the posts should all be well leveled as well as standing straight. Add the cement in the hole and leave it to dry. This usually takes a couple of days to dry.

After the cement has been added, it is now time to attach the rails with the posts. For this reason, screws are to be used. For each rail, there should be three pinning points. One at the very top, the other one in the middle and then the last one, placed ideally approximately 8″ above the ground.

After all this is finished, it is now time for the pickets to be placed. These are arranged with a gap of about 3″. Galvanized screws are used for this purpose.

To construct the gate for the fence, we use the 4″ x 4″ posts. Form two squares using these. To provide support to this structure, we can use a diagonal.

The frame is to be put together with the pickets now. Add the hinges with the frame. Also, with the 6″ x 6″ posts, attach them to the frame. For the frame to remain still in its place, we use the bolts.

For attaching the latch, we have to now make use of a circular saw. The center pickets will have to be cut from both sides for this purpose. Finally, in the cuts, fix the latch. The picket fence stands ready!

Sources:

Beneke, Jeff The Fence Bible: How to plan, install, and build fences and gates to meet every home style and property need, no matter what size your yard. 2005

Geist, Kevin How to Build Wooden Gates and Picket Fences: 100 Classic Designs 1994