Serving DELAWARE and surrounding areas
Here are answers to questions we often receive from our customers at Split Rail Store. If you have more concerns about split rail fencing, please feel free to contact our team.
A section of a fence refers to the span between two posts. Sections can come in from 6 - 11 feet. It depends on the size of the area you want fenced, your needs and preferences.
However, you’ll want to avoid spanning a section of your fence too long. Otherwise it will not have sufficient support and may not be able to hold up well against wind.
There’s no single answer for this. The dimensions of a split rail fence vary. But usually, they’re 3 inches X 6 inches x 7 feet long. Corner and end posts, meanwhile, measure 4 inches x 4 inches x 7 feet long on average.
Rail shapes also vary but they’re all characterized by their rustic look. Common shapes are squares, triangles, pie (triangle with one rounded face), and diamonds. Their average girth size is 12-14 inches.
Usually, it’s about 4 feet high for a 3 rail fence, and about 3 feet high for a 2 rail fence.
Most 3 rail posts are 7 feet long, while 2 rail posts are usually 6 feet long. A 3 rail cedar post, on the other hand, is 6.5 feet long.
We use locust for untreated posts. Locust is a durable type of wood. On the other hand, we use hemlock for untreated rails. For pressure treated wood, we use pine as it is the best type to use for pressure treating.
We also carry western red cedar split rail fence and we’re proud to say we’re one of its very few dealers here in our area.
You’ll find very few properties using a cedar split rail fencing in our area. But the number is increasing as clients begin to recognize the beauty and uniqueness of cedar.
Cedar is split and not saw cut, and this makes it look more rustic than the traditional split rail. Cedar, however, cannot be used along with other woods as it fits differently.
We source our locust and pressure treated materials from West Virginia. West Virginia is home to small mills that have been producing split rail for generations.
Our round cedar is from Ontario, Canada and our western red cedar, meanwhile, is from Montana.
For pressure treating, we use a copper-based chemical called Alkaline Copper Quaternary or ACQ.
ACQ is a widely-used wood residential wood preservative for it does not contain arsenic or chromium. Arsenic-based preservatives were common before but they no longer are these days.
The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) approves the use of ACQ as it’s non-toxic and safe for use around pets and humans.
First, you need to measure the area where you need the fences installed.
Once you have already identified the total length or linear footage of your fencing, divide it by the rail size so you can determine the number of sections.
Let’s say the area measures 100 feet and you’ll be using a 10 feet rail. Then, you will need 11 posts. That corresponds to one post per section plus the final post at the end.
If you want 3 rails per section, then that will total to 30 rails overall.
Don’t forget to include your gates, corners, and ends in your computation.
If you need assistance with this, please contact us at 302-365-8736 or email info@splitrailstorede.com
For single gates, we have 42, 48, 60, and 72 inches. We can also double them to make 7, 8, 10, and 12 feet gates.
For wood gate sizes wider than that, unfortunately, we don’t stock any as chances are, they’ll wear out and sag overtime. Hence, if you need large gates, we suggest that you consider aluminum as it’s available in more sizes.
Let us know if you need pricing for aluminum farm gates.
We don’t only offer a wide variety of fencing materials and products. We also provide installation services. Whether you need to purchase a fence and build it yourself or want us to have it installed for you, we can help.
Split rail fencing can be used to contain small animals, such as your pet dogs. However, we need to install a welded wire to your fencing to prevent them from getting out of the property. Find more details here.
Split rail fencing can also be used to contain medium and large animals, such as horses and other livestock. A pressure treated wood is often used for this purpose.
But if your horses are cribbing, you might want to consider our natural locust posts and natural rails to keep them from chewing chemicals.
As long as you have the necessary tools, installation shouldn’t be difficult. But, if you prefer to use your time for other matters, we can always take care of the installation for you.
No, you don’t need gravel or concrete for your fencing. Simply put back the soil or dirt that you dug out of the hole. Concrete might only cause the wood to erode. Gravel might only produce spaces where water can pool.
Just be sure to tamp the soil properly. That should be stable enough and not to mention, waterproof. If you want additional stability, though, you may consider using concrete for gate posts.
The lifespan of split rail fencing varies.
Pressure treated fence, on average, may last up to 12 years. Locust posts, meanwhile, has an average life expectancy of about 20 years. Untreated rails can last as long as 10 years and cedar can survive for up to 10-15 years.
The cost will vary depending on the size and fence type that you need. Specific requirements or requests may also impact the overall cost of your fencing project.
Installation, on average, costs around $5.75 to $8.00 per linear foot.
The delivery, on the other hand, depends on your location. Let us know where you are located and we’ll let you know the corresponding delivery fee. We can also provide you with a free estimate for the installation.
Turnaround time for deliveries is usually a couple of days. Installation services, on the other hand, can be booked within a week and up to 3-4 weeks during spring.
Pressure treated wood, locust, or cedar do not need any maintenance work. If you’re using natural rails, meanwhile, sealing with Thompson’s Water Seal may help increase longevity.
