Wooden Slot In Fence Posts

Repairing different parts of a wooden fence can sometimes be daunting. So we present this comprehensive guide on how to repair a wooden fence, it's rails, posts, screens, and gates etc.

• Wooden Slot In Fence Posts Home Depot
• Wooden Slot In Fence Posts Post
• Wooden Slot In Fence Posts At Home Depot
• Wooden Slot In Fence Posts Installed

• Wood Fencing and Wood Fence Posts. The most cost effective means of keeping in what you want kept in and out what you need to keep out is properly pressure treated wood products. Wood fence posts have been used for years as the most effective means of fencing.
• Building a wooden fence with metal posts isn't as difficult as it sounds, because you can buy brackets that make hiding the posts and attaching the fencing a simple matter. The finished fence looks like it has wooden posts, but it will last many years longer.

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Environmental conditions such as snow, wind, rain, and rot expose wooden fences to significant damage. Decay mainly affects untreated posts buried in the ground. As a property owner, you must routinely repair your wooden fences. But doing so can sometimes be daunting. So here we present a comprehensive guide on how to repair a wooden fence, it’s rails, posts, screens, and gates.

But before that, if you would rather want to know how to care for your wooden fence and protect it from damages in the first place, then we have a separate article on that here: 12 Outstanding Ways To Protect Your Wooden Fence From Damage. Check that one out too!

If you are getting started with your fence repairs, you will need some basic supplies and tools to help you repair and maintain your fence. Mostly, the type of fence dictates the type of tool to use. Below are some of the commonly used tools.

The best rated wood fence posts product is the 4 in. Western Red Cedar French Gothic Fence Post (2-Pack). How much do wood fence posts cost? Most wood fence posts range from $30 to $150 in price.

Necessary Tools

1. Saber Saw

You can use a Saber saw for quick cutting and shaping wood. It is a versatile and handy tool. It uses a reciprocating motor to move the saw blades up and down and across the object to be cut. While using this tool, ensure you wear eye protection.

2. Coping Saw

If you want to make a curvy cut on thinner materials, then this should be your best tool. A coping saw uses thin metal blades to make turning cuts on the wood. In order to use this tool, firmly hold the material with clamps or in a vise. Place the saw blade on the line to be cut and push the saw with some short strokes.

3. Primers

These are inexpensive undercoatings that smooth out the uneven surfaces. Additionally, they provide a barrier between the porous surface and the finish coats.

4. A hammer

Used to pound fasteners into the wood. A hammer is a simple tool that aids users in manually driving brads, nails and other fasteners. You can also use a fencing nailer if your fence is long and you have to do this quickly.

Other must have tools include gloves, T-braces,and screws. In the later sections of this guide, you’re going to learn how to fix the fence rails, screens, posts, and gates of your wooden fence.

How to Repair Wooden Fence Rails

Instead of replacing a wooden fence because it’s rotting, consider repairing its rails. The rails usually run horizontally from post to post to provide support to the fencing structure. You can use 2×4 metal T-braces or scrap metals to repair a broken track. Here’s how you should proceed with the work.

Step 1: Saturate the damaged areas with a wood preservative before starting the work. The wood preservative helps prevent the rot from spreading to other parts.

Step 2: Ensure that the rail is level, and install 2×4 cleats snugly beneath it. Drive several galvanized nails into the wedge when carrying out the installation.

Step 3: Proceed with caulking the top and sides of the repaired parts to prevent moisture exposure. You can get galvanized steel T-braces from most home improvement centers and hardware stores. The braces make the repair stronger and long-lasting.

In order to use T-braces in the repair, first, level the rail and then drill several holes into the guardrail and post. Use galvanized screws to secure the T-braces onto the railing and caulk the joint. Finish with painting the T-braces with the same color as the fence.

How to Repair Wooden Fence Screens

Repairing wobbling wooden fence screens requires simple carpentry skills and takes only a few hours.

Step 1: To start the process, measure the weak part to get the exact length and width for the repair pieces you’ll need. You can use boards ripped to a proper width with a handsaw or lumber that has the same diameter as the wobbling screens. You can check all the cuts using a carpenter’s square before you make them. In order to get the right angles, you need to use a carpenter’s square.

Step 2: Use a carpenter’s square to measure the cuts before installing them.

Step 3: Remove broken wooden pieces using a hammer and prying them away from the rails. Ensure you pull out the nails.

Step 4: As you set and align the board alongside the rails, use galvanized 8d nails to nail it resolutely into place.

Step 5: Paint the repaired parts with the same color paint or stain in order for the fence to look uniform.

How to Repair Wooden Fence Posts

Before making the repair, determine the cause of the weakened post. For a decayed or broken pillar, you can use a pair of splints to repair it. However, if the breakage is beyond repair, you should replace the post entirely. Fixing the pillar may work if it appears to be loose in its hole.

Steps 1: Find a pair of 2×4 wood pieces that extend 18 inches from the ground and are long enough to reach below the fence’s frost line. Only use pressure-treated clear redwood, cedar or lumber.

Step 2: Cut one end of each 2×4 piece and then insert them in the ground in the opposite sides of the post.

Wooden Slot In Fence Posts Home Depot

Step 3: Drill two holes through the 2x4s and the existing post and then use galvanized carriage bolts to bolt everything together.

For long-lasting repairs, temporary plumbing braces and pouring concrete around a post’s base that you dug out may work. In this case, prepare and stir the concrete well with a spade to remove any air pockets. You should also mound the concrete on the post’s base to shed excess water.

How to Replace Wooden Fence Posts

To carry out the replacement, you need work gloves, work boots, a post-hole digger, and a narrow shovel. You also need a tamping tool, fence post replacement, spirit level, and tape measure. A drill/power screwdriver, tarp, and screws also come handy in the job. Follow these procedures to replace the rotted or broken posts.

Step 1: Remove the Damaged Post

Start pulling the rails out of the damaged post and setting them aside. Firmly hold the old pillar and wiggle it in all directions for it to loosen. Continue grasping it as you pull it out of its base. Use a shovel to dig out the part that remains in the ground if it happens to break. You may need to dig a hole or remove the base if the post lies on a concrete base.

Step 2: Dig a New Hole for the Fence Post

Also known as a post-hole digger, a narrow shovel can guarantee you the best results in this step. Shove the two-handled shovel into the ground harder as you pry the two handles apart. Lift and remove the shovel from the land with your hands on the stems. Continue digging out the hole to the desired length as you deposit the soil on the surface.

Step 3: Scrape the Hole When Digging

With the end of a tamper tool on the ground, loosen the soil at the bottom and scrape the sides. The tamper tool helps you create a narrow, straight-sided opening that can support the new post. Continue digging and scraping until you reach the appropriate depth for inserting the post. The recommended depth, in this case, is 20 inches.

Step 4: Place the New Post into the Hole

When putting the new wood fence post into the hole, line up the slots needed to accommodate the fencing rails. Use a tape measure for accurate measurements of the height of the rail slots from the nearest standing post. Adjust your new pillar to fit that height. To help settle the pole, replace a portion of the soil inside the hole.

Step 5: Level the Post

Use a spirit level when you need to check whether the new post is in scale with the existing ones. Ask a friend or relative to hold the pole for you as you shovel soil in its hole. If you’re alone, shovel soil in the hole as you periodically check whether the pillar is straight and erect. Add more soil around the post for it to stand firmly on the ground once it appears to be straight.

Step 6: Put the Rails Back and Secure Them

Start installing the lower rails first and then proceed to the higher ones. Use a power screwdriver or drill to attach the tracks to the posts with a screw to prevent them from falling. Finish the work by cleaning and oiling your tools.

How to Repair Wooden Fence Gates

The first thing you need to check on a slightly sagging gate is the hinges. Replace the hooks with heavier ones if they appear to be bending. Remove them and then drill new holes that you’ll use to install longer carriage bolts or screws. Remember only to use galvanized steel hardware in this procedure.

You can straighten up a slightly sagging gate by shimming under its bottom hinge. To do this, you should remove the screws lying on the post side of the hook with the gate wide open. Fit a thin piece of cedar shake into the mortise of the hook. Continue this procedure by driving longer screws through the shim.

At times, gates sag because their weights pull them out of alignment with a fence. Driving a screw eye into the lower corner on the gate side and another into the upper edge of the gate on the hinge side may help. Be sure to run a heavy-duty turnbuckle on the screw eyes and tighten it until the frame of the gate is square. You may consider replacing the gate by getting a new one if it’s beyond repair.

Final thoughts

Repairing your wooden fence is an investment in your property’s aesthetic appeal, privacy, and security. As a property owner, continuous check on your wooden fence will enable you to notice the problems beforehand. Whether you need repairs or maintenance on your fence, ensure you use the right tools and procedures. In the long run, repairing your fence brings back the beautiful flair that your home yard or business deserves.

Conversation

3 Comments here

1. Putting a wood preservative at the fence repair site is a great idea. This step is often overlooked in an effort to just get it done and over with. Your article is a great overview.

2. There is quite a bit of thought that goes into the type of fence you have for your property. Especially when it comes to privacy wood fences . They can last many many years if they are kept up with and repaired if need be. We recently had to replace a privacy wood fence to our old house before it was rented out because the fence was so old and had been there for over ten years. It had been through many climate changes and needed to be leveled and put together properly so we decided to replace the whole thing.

3. I’m trying to brace a wooden fence. Two panels keep falling down so I was going to put 2×4s in with cement 8 feet apart and screw in wooden slats from one pole to the next, top and bottom. I’m hoping that it will brace the fence since the poles and slats will be placed in front of the existing panels. This is my first time trying this so if anyone knows an easier, faster and cheaper way to brace a fence, please let me know. So far the cost is about 70.00. As you have probably already guessed, I am a single female but I have done and learned how to do most repairs to my home successfully. The panels are a little heavy so I decided to use cement as it has worked great when I put up the T’s for a clothes line.

For fence posts that are firmly set and straight, all you need is a good technique, a helpful friend, and the right products.

Photo: istockphoto.com

Good fences start with good foundations. Installing fence posts in place with concrete is the best way to guarantee that they remain upright and unmoving, but you might not relish the idea of mixing batch after batch of concrete to fill each posthole. The good news? You don’t have to! With a surprisingly low-effort product from Quikrete and the following technique, you’ll avoid the mess and your fence posts will be able to withstand virtually anything Mother Nature dishes out.

How to Install Fence Posts

MATERIALS AND TOOLS Available on Amazon
– Metal or treated wood fence posts
– Posthole digger (or auger)
– Quikrete AllPurpose Gravel
– Gloves
– Protective eyewear
– Dust mask
– Quikrete FastSetting Concrete Mix
– 1gallon bucket
– Carpenter’s level
– Sharpshooter shovel

STEP 1

For a fence, it’s imperative to start with posts that are arrow-straight. This isn’t an issue with metal posts, but wood posts have a tendency to twist or warp slightly. If you’re using treated wood, select the straightest posts you can find to avoid running into problems.

STEP 2

Dig the postholes using a manual posthole digger or an auger. The standard rule of thumb is to bury at least a third of the length of the fence post in the ground (half is better), but local building codes may require a minimum depth, such as 30 inches, so check with your local building authority before you start. After you determine how deep the hole should be, add six inches to allow for the addition of gravel in the bottom.

STEP 3

Make the holes wide enough to fill with concrete. The minimum recommended diameter is three times the width of the posts. So, if you’re installing standard four-inch-wide treated wood posts, the holes will need to be 12 inches in diameter.

STEP 4

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 contact with the soil below, which might increase the risk of rotting.

STEP 5

Tamp down the gravel using the bottom of the fence post. To do this, set the post in the hole and, with gloved hands, lift the post up a few inches and bring it back down hard on the gravel. Repeat this three to five times to even out the gravel.

STEP 6

Position the post in the center of the hole and hold it upright. This is where you’ll need an assistant who can hold the pole in place while you fill around it.

Photo: quikrete.com

STEP 7

Grab your work gloves again and also put on protective eyewear and a dust mask—pouring dry concrete mix is a dusty job, and you don’t want to inhale it or get it in your eyes. Then, pour dry Quikrete Fast-Setting Concrete Mix into the hole, getting an even amount around all sides of the post.

Keep the post upright and centered as you fill the hole, but do not lift the post—if you do, you’ll have a tough time getting it back to the gravel bottom.

STEP 8

Continue filling the hole with the dry fast-setting concrete mix until the mix sits approximately three inches below ground level.

Wooden Slot In Fence Posts Post

A 50-pound bag of mix will make approximately 0.375 cubic feet of concrete. So, to fill a 30-inch-deep hole that is 12 inches in diameter, you’ll need five bags of Fast-Setting Concrete Mix. If you don’t want to do the math, enter the depth of the hole into the Quikrete Fast-Setting Concrete Mix calculator. It will tell you exactly how many bags of mix you’ll need to set for standard post sizes and hole diameters.

STEP 9

Pour water on top of the dry concrete mix at a ratio of about one gallon per 50-pound bag. For the 30-inch-deep hole mentioned above, that would require about fivegallons of water. Add slowly, allowing the water to seep down and saturate the mix. As you’ll see in this video from the concrete experts at Quikrete, the dry mix will react on its own without more work from you!

NOTE: For holes deeper than 30 inches, it’s a good idea to add the dry concrete mix and the water in two steps. For example, if you’re installing a tall post in a four-foot-deep hole, add half of the estimated amount of dry mix, then add half of the water, followed by the rest of the dry mix and the rest of the water. By doing this, you’ll ensure that the dry mix at the bottom of the hole receives adequate water.

STEP 10

Photo: istockphoto.com

Level the post as soon as the mix and water have been added to the hole. Place a carpenter’s level along two adjacent sides to make sure the post is plumb.

NOTE: While you can level every post by hand this way, it’s not the most efficient process for installing three or more fence posts in a straight line—see the tips for “Creating a String Guide,” below, instead.

When the post is perfectly level and plumb, use a narrow sharpshooter shovel (even a stick or pole will do) to press the wet concrete firmly around the post’s base.

Work quickly. Quikrete Fast-Setting Concrete Mix will set in 20 to 40 minutes, and once it hardens, the post can no longer be adjusted. Wait four hours for the concrete to cure before continuing construction of your fence.

STEP 11

Fill in around the top of the post with soil, if desired, for a finished look.

NOTE: If you live in an area that gets a lot of rain and you’re installing treated wood posts, you may want to top off the hole with sloped concrete to help direct water away from the post to prevent the wood from rotting. See tips for “Topping Off the Hole with Concrete,” below.

Photo: istockphoto.com

Tips to Keep in Mind

Creating a String Guide:

When installing multiple fence posts in a straight line, the simplest way to guarantee professional results, with all posts level and perfectly aligned with one another, is with a string guide. To get started, you’ll need a hammer, nails (8d is a good size), and resilient string or twine.

1. Dig all the postholes and then set just the two end posts following the step-by-step above. Let the concrete cure four to six hours.
2. Insert two nails into the outer side of each end post, one six inches from the bottom and the other six inches from the top. Leave the heads of the nails sticking out 1/8 inch from the posts.
3. Run two strings taut between the posts, one on the upper set of nails and the other on the lower set of nails. Push the strings outward, toward the heads of the nails, to create a string guide that’s 1/8 inch away from the posts.
4. To set the subsequent posts, position each post in its hole, keeping it 1/8 inch away from both the top and bottom strings.
5. Repeat Steps 4 through 10 while your assistant holds each post in place. Don’t allow the posts to touch the strings—maintain the 1/8-inch gap, and your fence should be in line and level with the first two.

Wooden Slot In Fence Posts At Home Depot

Topping Off the Holes with Concrete:

Live in an area that gets a lot of rain? Instead of filling in the top of the hole with soil that could hold moisture at the base of your fence post, add a little more concrete to divert rainwater away from the post and protect it from rot at ground level. You’ll need just a bucket or wheelbarrow to mix the concrete and a trowel to smooth it in place.

Wooden Slot In Fence Posts Installed

1. After all the posts are set and the concrete has cured, mix some extra Quikrete Fast-Setting Concrete Mix in a wheelbarrow or bucket, following the mix-to-water ratio on the bag. One 50-pound bag of mix will top off approximately four 12-inch-wide holes.
2. Shape the semi-solid wet concrete around the post using a trowel to create a gentle slope away from the post. A slope of about ½ inch is all that’s necessary.
3. Top off all the holes in the same manner so that when it rains, the water will run down and away from the posts.

This content has been brought to you by Quikrete. Its facts and opinions are those of BobVila.com.