How To Attach Fence Rails To Posts

How to install fence posts.

How to attach fence rails to posts. Along with a 12 long dowelling machine that clamps the rail and pushes it into a dowelling head. A post driver is a hollow 2 foot long metal tube with handles and a cap at the top. Add six inches of gravel such as quikrete all purpose gravel to the bottom of the holes gravel provides a solid base for the fence post to sit on and prevents it from coming into direct. After posts are set the next stage in building your fence is attaching the rails which may also be called stringers.

8 galvanized 2 1 2 inch deck screws through each end of the rails and into the post. Now reason i say have a fence company dowel and drill for you because we like most fence businesses have a machine that can drill the post laying down with a sliding table and air driving drill. When attaching rails to the sides of posts use 16 foot rails and stagger them so there is only one joint per post. 4 measure and cut the remaining lower rails.

Screw or nail the top and bottom horizontal rails into the fence posts using either 4 inch wood screws or 18d to 20d nails. If the horizontal rails protrude slightly at the end of the fence. Spacers on the gate posts between the rails to support the gate hardware. Step 3 place the first picket board in the corner of the fence or edge of the gate post aligning it with the edge and string guide then attach it to the stringers with nails.

Don t cut notches in the posts to hold the rails. Cut the rails so joints fall at the center of posts and the ends butt together tightly. It creates a lot of work and weakens the posts. Pull the mesh taut and then attach it to the next post working your way from post to post until the fence is complete.

All fences will have a top and bottom. Fit it over the post lift the tube and ram the top down on the posts.