Constructing Your Featheredge Fence
This is a difficult fence to construct well and is not for the DIY novice! It is easier to construct on flat ground; although it is a perfect solution to erect a quality fence on slope. In this situation, we would definitely recommend it is a job for the professional.
Choosing your materials:
- Postcaps (1): to protect your posts from weathering.
- Capping (2): a strip fitted on top of the uprights for protection.
- Feather Edge Board (3): also known as ’pales’.
- Posts (4) and PostMix: there is a choice of post sizes to suit; posts would normally be ‘dug in’ and secured with PostMix.
- Gate (5): adding a gate is often a good idea- we have a wide selection in stock
- Hinges, Bolts & handles (6): - if you plan to add a gate make sure it is secure by fitting the right galvanised hinges, bolts and handles
- Arris Rail (7): these form the horizontal frame for attaching the uprights. They fit into pre-cut notched posts.
- Gravel Board (8): these fit across the bottom of the fence, to protect against the weather and add a finishing touch.
- Galvanised Nails: 75mm galvanised nails are used to fit the gravel board, and potentially to shape the arris rail. 50mm galvanised nails are required to attach the pales.
Construction
- Clear the line of any old fence or undergrowth and peg out the line.
- Posts will need to be dug to a depth of 600mm approximately every 1.8m.
- Check the length of the fence is level.
- Keep the post holes as small as possible. Dig the depth to just over 600mm and put some small stones in the bottom. Use struts to hold the post in place. Remember to check the post is upright, has notches on the correct side and the postface is in line with the fence.
- Fill with PostMix, ideally, the concrete should slope slightly away from the post and be slightly below ground level.
- Arris rails are 3.6m long. Cut the first one to 1.8m: this is to stagger the joints. The arris rail will be flush on the outside of the first and last post but in the centre of the intermediate posts to allow the join.
- If you need to shape the arris rail slightly to get a good fit, use 75mm galvanised nails.
- Next, fit the gravel board. This must be level for the length of the fence, even if you have to drop the bottom slightly below ground at one end and slightly above the other.
- The pales sit on top of the gravel board: overlap them by 25mm to allow for expansion and contraction. Use 50mm galvanised nails to attach them - it is important you only use one nail per pale per rail (i.e. 3 nails) - do not nail two pales together. The single fixing is to allow the pales to expand and contract with the weather.
- As the top of the fence is continuous, capping can be any length.
Traditional featheredge fencing is one of the most popular types of fencing that is used all across the country. We stock an extensive range of featheredge boards, rails and posts in different sizes to help you create a perfect fence.
Need a hand determining the amount of material required? Try our easy-to-use Feather Edge Calculator.
How can we help?
It's important to remember that the information and advice in this article is provided in good faith and is designed to give general information and guidance. Any reliance you place on such information is therefore strictly at your own risk. If in doubt we strongly recommend you seek professional assistance.
If you need further advice with your purchase please get in touch with our experienced staff, we will be happy to help!
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