Replacing A Railing On A Wooden Fence

When you first start out to look around at the different kinds of fences that are available on the market today, the one that tends to stick out as one of the more traditional and classy choices is the wooden fence. When you go through the more expensive parts of town or drive past the buildings that are nicely manicured, chances are you’re going to see a wooden fence or two, and although they are generally harder to maintain than their chain link cousins, most people who have them swear by their traditional good looks.

However, wood does not do as well when stacked up against the elements and you might find yourself needing to replace a wooden rail or two sometime in the life of your fence. To do that, there are several easy steps that you’ll need to follow and the first ones involve removing the older wooden rail.

First off, you’ll need to take away any other fencing that’s in the way as well as any latch assemblies or hinges. If you need to take off an entire fencing panel, start by removing the bottom rail first and then the top rail. To loosen the nails, hammer the bottom side of the rail near the posts or near any adjacent rail or brace. Make sure to cushion the blows with a wooden block if the rail is to be reinstalled.

Next, you’ll need to measure for and install a new rail and then you’ll need to buy the lumber for a new rail at the lumber yard. When you saw, make sure that the ends will form the new length. As needed, you might want to apply any preservative or finish that will match the new rail up with the older ones.

When installing the rails, make sure to start with the top one first and then the bottom ones last. Make sure to position the new rail up against the posts or gate snugly before you start to nail it in so that you can be assured of the fit. Make sure that you use at least two nails or screws to secure the wood in place. Fill any holes that have been left over from the operation with caulking and when you’re almost done reattach the hinges and such that you’ve taken off.

To reinforce an existing wooden post the procedure is simple and not all that different from the one used for reinforce a chain link post except that the wooden shim that’s used in this instance is attached to the post from behind for additional support.

home-inspection