How many rails do I need for a 5 foot fence? You will have to figure how many boards you need to purchase to 'rip' your custom pickets. It is recommended that you use a minimum of 2 horizontal rails between posts for all fences less than 5' high, 3 rails for fences 5' to 7' high, and 4 rails for 8' high fences.
How many rails do I need for a fence post?
Number of Rails. It is recommended that you use a minimum of 2 horizontal rails between posts for all fences less than 5' high, 3 rails for fences 5' to 7' high, and 4 rails for 8' high fences. Fences taller than 8' are outside the scope of this calculator due to structural considerations.
How to calculate the number of rails on a fence?
1 Number of posts = (fence length / post spacing) + 1 (round the result up) 2 Number of sections = number of posts - 1 3 Post length = fence height * 1.5 4 Total number of rails = number of rails per section * number of sections 5 Total number of pickets = fence length in inches / (picket width + picket spacing) (round the result up) More items...
How do I calculate picket spacing between fence posts?
For a solid fence enter 0" for the picket spacing. You can enter any space you choose in inches. Enter fractions as decimals. Example: .5" It is recommended that you use a minimum of 2 horizontal rails between posts for all fences less than 5' high, 3 rails for fences 5' to 7' high, and 4 rails for 8' high fences.
What size pickets do I need for a 6 foot fence?
If you choose 6' spacing for example, you can use 12' rails. Pickets are the vertical members of a wood fence. Pickets can be installed tight to each other or with a space between them. Typically, pickets are 3 1/2" wide, 5 1/2" or as much as 11 1/2" wide, if you are going to use dimensional kiln-dried lumber.
How many fence rails do I need?
All fences will have a top and bottom rail. One general rule of thumb is to have a horizontal rail for every 24 inches in height. For a six-foot-high fence, this means three rails. While a middle rail may not be a structural necessity, it will help keep fence boards in place and may limit warping and twisting.Jul 24, 2018
How far apart should fence rails be?
Once you verify the style of fence that you are building; you will be able to determine the wood fence rail spacing and location. Typically, the top rail is placed 7-8” from the top of the fence. The bottom rail is typically 7-8” from the grade. And the middle rail is placed even between the top and bottom rails.
How many rails do I need for a 4 foot fence?
Start this project by setting square fence posts 8 feet apart on center. Two parallel rails are sufficient for fences shorter than 4 feet. Three rails are necessary for taller fences and for heavier privacy fences.
How high is a 3 rail fence?
about 4' high3 rail fence is about 4' high at the top rail. 2 rail fence is about 3' high at the top rail. Most 3 rail posts are 7' long (A 3 rail western red cedar post is 6.5' long).
Where should fence rails be placed?
Typically, the top rail is placed 7-8” from the top of the fence. The bottom rail is typically 7-8” from the grade. And the middle rail is placed even between the top and bottom rails. Do not place your rails any further from either the top or bottom of the fence.
Is it better to nail or screw fence boards?
Nails are faster than screws to install, meaning less labor for you or your builder (which may translate into lower installation cost). However, nails are more likely than screws to grow loose over time. Screws, on the other hand, secure the fence better than nails.Jul 30, 2019
Can I use 2x3 for fence rails?
Wood posts, in general, are less reliable than steel posts, and we recommend steel posts for all of our fences. Another framing product to avoid is any support rail smaller than 2x4. Many companies use 2x3's as their support rails (which are actually 1.5x2. 5 inches), including the big hardware stores.Jun 12, 2014
How do you stagger fence boards?
Attach the top rail to the first post. Stretch it across the second post and then attach it to the third post over. For the second rail, start at the second post, cross the third post and attach to the fourth post. Continue staggering the rails in this fashion until all the posts are surrounded with rails.
How do you attach fence boards to rails?
0:225:01How to Build a Privacy Fence - Part 2 -Installing the boards - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipSo when you hold put the boards in place you put it up. Until it just touches the string. Line. EachMoreSo when you hold put the boards in place you put it up. Until it just touches the string. Line. Each board gets six screws. It's two screws in each rail. And it took a lot of screws.
How tall should a 2 rail fence be?
The standard height for a 2 rail pole fence is 3′ above the ground but we can also create a custom height for your project as shown below for a beautiful garden fence we did.
How do you build a 4 rail fence?
1:4811:12How We Build Kentucky Four Board Fence - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipAt each post. So rough cut lumber if you're not familiar with it you're going to have some plus andMoreAt each post. So rough cut lumber if you're not familiar with it you're going to have some plus and minus on your widths. And your thicknesses.
How tall is a 4 rail wood fence?
4.5-5 feet tallFour rail fences are 4.5-5 feet tall.Feb 7, 2016
How to use the fence calculator?
Although our fence estimator may seem complicated at first, in reality it is quite a simple tool. Read this short set of instructions to learn how to use it.
Equations used in the fence calculator
If you want to know how we calculate the amount of fencing materials you need, here is a list of the equations we used:
Using the fence estimator - example
To make the process of estimating fencing materials even clearer, let's go through an example together.
A tip for buying fencing materials
Even professional construction workers are bound to make mistakes sometimes. After all, we are only human. Always keep a mistake margin in mind. It is generally recommended to buy about 10% more fencing materials than you actually need, in case you need to correct a mistake.
Why have a privacy fence around your property?
You might wonder why you should even bother building a fence. There are a number of reasons why having a fence around your property is a good idea:
Why build a privacy fence on your own?
There are a number of reasons why you should consider building a fence on your own rather than getting a contractor to do it for you. Here's just a few:
Saving on DIY house renovation
Are you keen on saving money and enjoy DIY? Learning how to build a fence is not the only thing you can do. There are many other projects you can do by yourself, and we have a number of tools other than this fence calculator which you may find useful. Consider, for example, painting your walls to give your place some fresh energy.
How To Determine How Much Fencing You Need
A common question we get from ranchers and homeowners is ‘how much fencing do I need?’
Length Of The Fence
You’d be amazed by the number of people who call us up and say ‘I need to fence off the yard to stop the dog running off.’
Fence Height
Remember that you will need to bury 1/3 of the fence post for stability.
How Much Material Will You Need?
The amount of fencing material you need will depend on the style and the type of fence you are planning.
In Conclusion
Now have an idea of how much fencing you may want for your fencing project.
How high should a deck railing be?
If your deck ranges between 24 inches and 30 inches from the ground, local building safety codes require your deck to have a railing that is at least 3 feet (36 inches) high, extending from the deck’s surface to the top of the railing.
How far apart should spindles be on deck?
In order to comply with building regulations and codes, balusters must be spaced no more than 4 inches apart on center.
Do you need a railing on a deck?
However, if your deck is near a steep drop off, embankment, or cliff, you should include a railing for safety purposes. Your deck will require a railing that extends on both sides of your stairs, and around the perimeter of your deck.
