5 Helpful Things To Know Before Building Your Split Rail Fence

This is a video I made during the first time I tried to assemble a split rail fence. In this video are several nuggets and helpful how-to's that I discovered along the way. Please leave your comments down below with additional ideas and helpful tips!
#1) 3:50 -Stretch wire mesh with one person
#2) 5:35 -Cement at the base of your fence post?
#3) 6:40 -Create a corner post
#4) 8:17 -Gas powered vs hand dug post holes
#5) 10:07 -Shorten a length of split rail fence to complete a run

[@greghopper607]

Very helpful. So many youtube DIYs are unrealistic sugar coated baloney. This one actually shows the details and the problems. And the solutions. Much appreciated.

[@averychapman6414]

This was an incredibly helpful video, thank you! You really showed the details and problems you encountered that I haven't seen anyone else talk about, so it's really appreciated!

[@SpiritofaHandyman]

You just made my day!

[@jamesparsons4162]

Good video. Really helps out the DIYers like myself. I’m gonna be replacing my split rail fence, rotting like the one you show in the vid. I get where some of the critics are coming from, but don’t let their negativity get to you (I can tell from your replies that you don’t). Keep up the good work.

[@SpiritofaHandyman]

Thanks James!!

[@38tech]

Nice vid. Thanks man. Doing mine tomorrow.

[@mikearcher2673]

One of the things I see a lot, is post rotten off at ground level due to the ground or concrete used being level or even sunk in a little around the base of the post. This is an easy fix. mound the fill or concrete up the base of the post about 2" so the water will run off away from the bottom of the post and not sit and rot your post at the base.

[@mamierouthier5697]

Thank you. I needed that info.

[@sdeaglefeather]

Just what I was looking for. Thank you. I guess it takes longer than I imagined it would.

[@petesanchez557]

I first fill some soil tamp down to avoid the heavy cement moving down, tamping it for me throughout time. It also allows not creating a cement bowl, trapping water. I use a 50lb bag of cement mix for post. I try to leave about 7 ish inches on top for soil, but before backfilling I treat it with oil. These fence are fun and easy to work with.

[@faythemoon]

Thank you, it help a lot. I’m doing a 300 feet split rail fence and was going to pre dig the holes but after watching your video, I’m not. Thank you

[@SpiritofaHandyman]

Glad to save you some time!

[@teenariley6593]

Adorable children 😂please safety glasses😮

[@gilbertsmith9716]

If your not going to use concrete, paint on from the bottom up about the height the post goes in the hole with driveway sealer. I have done this to my ground level deck where some of the joists are touching the ground. Doing this, when you look at a board that was not painted, its gone after 20 years, where as the board that was painted looks like it was put down yesterday. Totally no rot. Fence posts are no exception. Driveway sealer seals the wood from pests and water. The top will have to be replaced before the bottom.

[@SpiritofaHandyman]

GREAT idea

[@sergedaney3511]

Cool vid bro! Lovely family too :) Cheers

[@blakebiltwell5]

Thanks for sharing! How tall is the fence post from the ground?

[@SpiritofaHandyman]

4’ out of the ground, 2’ buried

[@dgriffin6074]

In really damp soil conditions have you considered spraying the bottom of the post with Flex Seal?

[@SpiritofaHandyman]

That's a great idea, and basically what they do with telephone poles dipping them in tar--great tip!

[@JoelWetzel]

"Privacy" fence? I can see right through it.

[@SpiritofaHandyman]

lol I know! I should have said "split rail fence" but part of the job was building a privacy fence and I had just finished that portion of the fence when I made this part of the video. Doh!

[@Thathumanoverthere1701]

HaHaaahahaha. You wrong for that.

[@mikeblank7165]

Thanks for the video. 0:01 But we can look right through your "PRIVACY" fence. .

[@DanielRead87]

LOL, yes. I made a slip up in that regard. For this video I am talking about the split rail fence. But for this particular project I also added a privacy fence on the side of the house that faces the street. The customer wanted split rail around the 3 backyard sides of the fence but privacy fence for the street-side so their dog would quit barking at the neighbors.

[@xXxWh0xXx]

Why not start both sides at the back of the house and make both shorter pieces at the back of the yard?

[@dremwolf5419]

I wish they still sold that type of split rail fence here in Florida. All you can get now is special order via YellaWood.

[@Theferg1]

Thank you sir!! Definitely helped me A LOT!!! Definitely appreciate it!!👍💯

[@SpiritofaHandyman]

Glad to be of help!

[@chellebenner7706]

Does a split rail fence need to be squared corner to corner? If it possible to grade it our slightly along an uneven property line?

[@SpiritofaHandyman]

The corner posts are set to be squared but you can get away with angling the corners. Most of the holes are big enough that there is some wiggle room

[@LukeWigginsMusic]

Don’t tear up wet ground it will clump and turn to mud

[@painkillerO8]

Thanks for the Video. What was the cost of the materials for your project?

[@SpiritofaHandyman]

Right around $2000

[@levimartin7204]

I’m a fencer by trade and concrete actually rots away posts really quick but I do what the customers want just a tip

[@ProjectCLC]

I was about to say the same thing should never concrete wood always tamp.

[@thestrawberryaniahomegarde7228]

Could you please advise me between red cedar,white cedar or "mixed hardwood locust" for a split rail fence? Which wood is the least likely to rot and will last the longest?

[@irafair3015]

Good to know. Thanks.

[@akbychoice]

@@thestrawberryaniahomegarde7228black locust and Osage orange will outlast your lifetime.

[@richolon4648]

Do you have any idea how old the previous fence that you replaced was? Curious how long it lasted. Thanks!

[@SpiritofaHandyman]

I'm not quite sure but I think ~20 years

[@richolon4648]

@@SpiritofaHandyman Thanks for the quick response!

[@irafair3015]

You build a split rail for a privacy fence?

[@BaileeGermanotta]

This made me realize how bad it will look when I do this myself and just to pay the $13,000 to get a black chain link up 😂

[@akbychoice]

Ours rotted off at the surface . We won’t be using untreated wood in the ground unless it’s Osage orange or Black locust.

[@moolacue]

I know video old, but never pree drill holes. When dealing with organic natural cut wood. Lots of variations. Build as go, lay rail out when butted to previous post. That gives you the hole.

[@moolacue]

Also to bring a level out on any natural cut wood is not a good look. Big no no. Its an eyeball only type fence.

[@philipw5669]

Uses screwdriver in place of chisel . . . handy?

[@SpiritofaHandyman]

Sometimes it isn't what you have, but what you have on hand.

[@riosmoodie5763]

I heard very good opinions about the Woodglut plans.

[@briangessler1046]

concrete.

[@Chris_L034]

think i would stain it before putting it up.

[@SpiritofaHandyman]

If you're going to stain it, that's a great idea!

[@wayneguy6043]

That thing is crooked😂😊

[@johnsmith-dk7ny]

Seeing your old rotted fence...why not stain your new fence?...and not with that water base crap stain..

[@mikd1420]

What kind of stain do you suggest for the best results?

[@johnsmith-dk7ny]

@@mikd1420 Thompsons waterseal timber oil comes in colors..its like $38.99 @ lowes but its worth it..used it on my deck and love it

[@Theferg1]

I was told by this older farmer guy he said ever since he was a kid that he saw his grandfather do it this way and that he is using old motor oil and putting it into a pump up sprayer like the cheap ones you can buy from Lowes or Home Depot for like 10 or $15 and spraying it on the fence he said it will last for 15-20yrs!! He said every 5 to 7 years they will go back and spray it again and you know those guys the farmers they have miles and miles of this type of fence so they can’t be replacing the stuff every few years cost a lot of money so that’s what I’ve been doing for the last 15 years and I haven’t had any problems and the fence still looks as good as the day I put it up and I sprayed it!! I hope this helps!!💯👍

[@tonymussatto2882]

Don’t quit your day job!

[@robertbutler8004]

Instead of calling it a split rail fence it should be called shit rail fence because that is what it looks like.

[@colstace2560]

Boy, not meaning to be rude but you really have no idea do you? You use the wrong terminology when describing the parts of the fence, its posts and rails, it's concrete not cement, the post is plumb not straight, etc, too many to remember. When doing an instructional video you need to make it accurate please

[@SpiritofaHandyman]

haha, true! My hope is that this video empowers DIYers and first-timers (just like me) more so than using accurate terminology. But thanks for catching those!

[@colstace2560]

@@SpiritofaHandyman I don't mean to be picky, I'm a carpenter 45 yrs it just jumps out at me, sry 😊👍

[@SpiritofaHandyman]

@@colstace2560 It's all good!

[@Theferg1]

@@colstace2560 maybe you should have came and done it for him (MR IM SO PERFECT) ! And maybe you should have made a video!! Oh I forgot your here watching his!! So being negative all your damn life!! Be happy dude!!

[@moolacue]

Pretty fucking sad all around.

[@jamesparsons4162]

Wow, you’ve just got it all figured out doncha Kidd