4 Locations Serving PA, NJ, DE, MD and Surrounding Areas
A section of fence is considered 1 post and 2 rails for a 2 rail fence or 1 post and 3 rails for a 3 rail fence.
11’ rails make sections 10’ 4” to 10'6" from center-to-center of the posts (you lose 6" to 8” due to overlap). 8 1/2' rails make sections that are 7’ 10” to 8' from center-to-center of the posts. We recommend checking the fit on a section or two before digging additional holes to get the fit you prefer.
Western Red Cedar rails make a 10’ section from center-to-center of the posts
Round Cedar rails are 10' long and make sections 9' 4" to 9' 6" from center-to-center of the posts.
If you know the dimensions of the area to be fenced, divide the total linear footage by the rail size (above) to get the number of sections. You will need one post per section, plus a final post at the end, and 2 – 3 rails per section depending on whether you want 2 rail or 3 rail fence.
For example, a 100’ length of 3 rail fence would use 11 posts and 30 rails. Plus you should take into account corners, ends and gates. Please call (215) 997-1828 or email pete@splitrailstore.com if you would like help with this.
3 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).
Most 2 rail posts are 6' long (A 2 rail western red are 5'4").
Split rail fence is rough cut so the exact dimensions vary, but line posts are approximately 3” x 6” x 7’ long.
End and corner posts are 4.25” x 4.25” x 7’ long.
Rails come in a variety of shapes, consistent with the old-time rustic look. The basic shapes are triangles, pie shapes (triangle with one rounded face), squares and diamonds. The average girth is 12 – 14”.
A 7' 3 rail post should be set 30” deep. This will make the top rail 4' high.
6' 2 rail posts should be set 30” deep. The top rail will be 3' high.
Cedar posts are generally 6" shorter and can be set 6" shallower (24"). Double check your measurements before finalizing your project, and if you are replacing an old fence do not assume the old posts are the same size.
No, the hole should be filled only with the dirt that came out of the hole and tamped back in . Concrete is bad for the wood (erodes it), and gravel simply creates a porous pocket where water can collect. Well tamped soil is very stable and waterproof. Some people use concrete for gate posts for additional stability.
My pressure treated wood is pine because pine is the best wood for pressure treating.
Untreated posts are made of locust, a very hard and long lasting wood. Untreated rails are made of hemlock.
We are also one of the only dealers in the area to carry western red cedar split rail fence.
Our pressure treated and locust split rail comes from West Virginia. Most split rail in this area comes from a handful of small mills in West Virginia that have been making split rail for generations.
Western Red Cedar comes from a mill in Montana.
Round Cedar comes from Ontario, Canada.
It is a copper based chemical called ACQ. Arsenic based preservatives were used in the past but are no longer commonly in use. ACQ is EPA approved for use around people and pets because the active ingredient is copper which is relatively non toxic.
Pressure treated fence should last 10-12 years, although specific conditions can vary.*
Locust posts should last 20+ years.*
Untreated rails should last 6-8 years.*
Cedar should last 10 – 15 years.*
* These are average life expectancies, not a guarantee. Specific conditions will vary.
No, you do not need to do anything to pressure treated wood, locust or cedar to increase its life span. Natural rails will benefit from Thompson's Water Seal or similar.
We have 36", 42”, 48”, 60” and 72" single gates and they can be doubled up to make 7’, 8’, 10’ and 12' spans. They are 54" tall to match a 3 rail fence and can be cut to fit a 2 rail system. We do not stock wood gates any wider than this because they tend to wear out and sag. For larger gates we recommend aluminum frame farm gates that come in a variety of large sizes (ask for pricing).
Cedar split rail is very rare in this area, but it is catching on because it is beautiful and unique. We are one of the only dealers in the area to carry cedar. It is split, not saw cut, so it is more rustic than traditional split rail. It fits together differently than traditional split rail (mortise and tenon fitting), so it cannot be mixed and matched with other woods.
Installation depends on your location, type of ground, rock content and the fence type. Delivery depends on where you are located. Give us a call or email with your location and we can give you the delivery charge and refer you to our outside contractor for a free estimate for installation.
Depending on our schedule deliveries generally take a couple days and installation can usually be scheduled in a week (up to 3 - 4 weeks in Spring).
Yes. By attaching welded wire to the split rail fence, it makes an ideal dog containment fence. 3 rail fence with 4' high wire is recommended for most dogs.
Absolutely! 3 rail split rail is very popular for horses and other livestock. Pressure treated is often used, but if you have a "cribber" and are worried about the chemicals, our natural locust posts and natural rails are a great choice
