Putting Split Rail Fence in

[MMH]

Want to put in a 300' split rail fence in. I was planning to dig about 2 feet deep w/ a PHD, tamp & put down some gravel. Drop post in and back fill w/ dirt. Don't really know how rocky the soil is (I'm in western PA, just east of Pittsburgh). Want to start next month (January). Other than putting up w/ the cold, are there any issues w/ doing this in the dead of winter?

Am I oversimplifying, or is that all that there is to it?

 

[Mousefield]

Not sure what type of split rail you are putting up. Ours is a zig zag style. We just put a starter piece on the ground and then built it up from there. They are wired together. Hope this helps.

 

[lakngulf]

Not sure what type of split rail you are putting up. Ours is a zig zag style. We just put a starter piece on the ground and then built it up from there. They are wired together. Hope this helps.

That is a great look in Mousefield Meadows. What is the origin of the name?

MMH, do you have a design in mind that differs from the picture mousefield has posted. Looks like no post hole is needed for this type

 

[MMH]

That is a great look in Mousefield Meadows. What is the origin of the name?

MMH, do you have a design in mind that differs from the picture mousefield has posted. Looks like no post hole is needed for this type

I was thinking about a split rail type where the posts get placed into the ground & have slots cut in them for the rails.

 

[beenthere]

Are you concerned with frozen ground (dirt) ?

I have put in a lot of the rail fence on posts, and found it to be rewarding, but time consuming.

For me, had to do one post hole at a time, then place the three rails in the previous post (that was tamped, on the line, and straight up/down) and the new post. Then level it, see that it is on the line, and tamp it in. Then move to the next post hole, and repeat.

The desire to punch all the holes first and then go back to erect the fence is good only in theory. In practice, it doesn't work that well as the hole spacing will get "off" rather quickly.

A string for a line to then paint a stripe on the ground helps keep a straight fence.
Then a means to keep the top rail (controlled by the depth of the post and height of the slots) straight with the ground is important and sometimes difficult to do right.

 

[forgeblast]

After putting a three rail fence in Pa ground, I can say do one post at a time. I had to move around shelves of rock, had to use jackhammer bits to smash some of the shelves just to get down. I backfilled with gravel. I also put field fencing on the inside of mine to keep the mutts in.

 

[Reverend Blair]

I'd go 3 feet deep on the posts, then backfill with 3/4 down lime. That's pretty standard for fences around here.

For knocking the slots in, I find a large electric drill, followed by cleaning the slots out with a chisel, works best. Others say a chainsaw is the way to go, but I find that it's not as accurate. I like the joints tight enough that they rails have to be tapped into place. I like to use screws to fasten them too...just a little extra security and fewer call-backs. Just counter-sink the screw and nobody but you will know it's there.

I generally drill the post holes and put all of the posts in first, but don't backfill or set them until the carpentry is done. So you have one set post, and one loose post until the rails are in. I try to keep the distance between posts closer to six feet than eight. Then I mark and slot them one at a time.

If you're using pressure treated wood, be sure to use end-cut treatment on all of your cuts.

I hate doing split rail fences because people say they want that rustic look, then expect them to look like fine furniture. They are the current style though.

 

[Mousefield]

That is a great look in Mousefield Meadows. What is the origin of the name?MMH, do you have a design in mind that differs from the picture mousefield has posted. Looks like no post hole is needed for this type

We have a meadow and we have mice so the wife called our little place Mousefield Meadow. :laughing:

 

[Mousefield]

I was thinking about a split rail type where the posts get placed into the ground & have slots cut in them for the rails.

Lots of work on that type, cutting and drilling. I have seen them were two posts are put in the same hole and then the rails go in between the posts, one on top of the other. The posts and rails are often wired together. Sorry I don't have a pic of this but basically the rails are sandwiched between the posts. Means you just dig a bigger hole for the two posts

 

[MMH]

Lots of work on that type, cutting and drilling. I have seen them were two posts are put in the same hole and then the rails go in between the posts, one on top of the other. The posts and rails are often wired together. Sorry I don't have a pic of this but basically the rails are sandwiched between the posts. Means you just dig a bigger hole for the two posts

I was not planning on doing the cutting, but buying the posts w/ the slots in them. Commonly available for $9 a post or so.