R&L Fence and Deck

Installation Instructions

Post and Rail

 

 

 

1.      Before installing your fence, you must call your local utility locator to check for buried utility lines.  Begin installing your fence by staking out your fence line, paying close attention to your property markers.  Dig and set your end and corner posts first and run a string line between them to help lay out the line posts in a straight line.  Lay out the line posts according to the proper post center.  Posts for post and rail fences are set on 8’ centers.  This means that from the center of one post to the center of the next is 96”, or 91” in between posts.

 

2.      Dig holes 10” in diameter and 30” deep, or to frost line.  Place a couple of inches of loose dirt or fine gravel in the bottom of the hole for drainage.  Insert the post in the hole making sure it is plumb and lined up with the string.  You may want to use a pole or a board cut to 91” and placed on the ground between posts to space them properly.  Now determine the rough height of your post, this can be done by using a second string along the top of the posts.  Your post should be set a little high at this point so it can be pounded into place later.  Fill the hole around the post with dry post mix or concrete mix and tamp it in the hole to eliminate air pockets.  Plumb your post again. You should use at least one 80 lb bag per post.  You can also pre-mix your concrete and pour it in wet.  

 

                  

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

3.      After all your posts have been set, they need to be pounded to the proper height so they all line up and your fence looks good.  When pounding posts down, always use a block of wood on top of the post.  Never strike the post directly.  If you have to raise any posts, make sure you re-tamp the concrete around them to prevent the post from sinking later.  When all your posts are lined up, pour water around your posts to set the concrete.  Your concrete should be about 4” below ground level to allow the water to fill the top of the hole and percolate through the concrete mix.  Each post should be watered twice.  Allow 2-3 days for concrete to set up.

 

        

 

 

4.      Installing the rails is the easy part.  Since the rails are 16’ long, you need to slide them through the line posts.  It is important to stagger the rail ends so they aren’t all located in the same post, except on ends and corners.  You will have to cut a rail or two at 8’ in order to alternate all rail ends.  This will make the fence more durable, especially if you have horses.  After you have slid the rail through the line post, install lock rings in both ends of the rail and insert the rail into the post.  Be sure to drill new holes for lock rings on rails that have been cut.  When all the rails have been installed, install the post caps by gluing them on with PVC cement.