How to Put Up a Wood Picket Fence
- 1). Check local building codes and zoning laws. Some areas require you to have a building permit to install a fence. Others may have zoning requirements that prohibit picket fences. You may also consider having your property surveyed if your fence will be along the edge of your property. Taking these steps early on in the building process can save you hours of work and disappointment later on in the process.
- 2). Measure the fence line. Use wooden stakes and string to mark the location of your proposed fence. Clear any brush and undergrowth from the area. Make a diagram that shows the location of the fence line, as well as any other features, such as gates, to help plan your project better.
- 3). Install the corner posts. Use 4-by-4 inch pressure-treated wood for all your posts. Using a post hole digger, make a hole that is at least 24 inches deep for each corner post. Insert the end of the post into the hole, make sure it is plumb (vertical), and tamp the dirt into the hole using a tamping bar. Run a string between the corner posts to mark the locations for your line posts and gate posts. Install line posts approximately 24 inches deep, in the same way you installed the corner posts. Your line posts will generally be between 6 and 8 feet apart, depending upon the length of the rails that you choose to use. Install gate posts 30 to 36 inches into the ground, using concrete to anchor them. A gate post undergoes much more stress than regular posts, and this step provides additional strength.
- 4). Attach two rails between the first corner post and line post using galvanized or stainless steel nails. Locate the rails on the outside of your posts. The bottom rail should be 6 to 8 inches from the ground and the top rail should be 6 to 8 inches from the top of your pickets. Be sure the ends of the rails are centered on each post to maximize the strength of the fence. Repeat this process for each set of posts, making sure they are level with one another.
- 5). Install pickets on the outside of the rails using galvanized wood screws and a handheld drill with a screwdriver bit. Pickets can be flush against each other, or you can choose to leave a space between them to create a more open feeling to your fence. Make sure the bottoms of the pickets are at least 2 inches from the ground to minimize rotting of your fence. Finish the fence with a stain or wood preserver.
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