Cedar Split Rail Fence Installation

Cedar split rail is the fence for a property that wants to look like the country it sits in. Rails are split, not sawn, so each one is a little different, and they slip into mortised posts without a nail in sight. It lines driveways, marks the edge of acreage, frames a lake house, and separates a yard from a pasture without blocking the view of either. We have built split rail along county roads, around storage lots and RV parks, at subdivision entrances and down to the water, and it is one of the lowest-maintenance fences we offer.

Where split rail fits

• Driveway entrances and road frontage, where it frames the property without hiding it.
• Acreage boundaries where the fence marks a line rather than holding livestock.
• Lake lots, because it keeps the view of the water. See lakefront fencing.
• Commercial frontage for storage facilities, RV parks and businesses that want a rural look at the road.
• Yards with dogs, once wire is added to the back side.

Two rails, three rails, and wire backing

Two-rail split rail runs about three feet tall and is the classic decorative line. Three-rail is closer to four feet and feels more like a ranch fence. Either one can carry welded wire or woven field wire stapled to the back side, which turns a decorative fence into a working one that holds dogs, goats and most livestock while the rails still show from the road. Most of the split rail we build on lake lots and small acreages gets wire for exactly that reason.

How we build it

Posts are set in concrete below the soft topsoil, on spacing that matches the rail length, with ends and gate posts set deeper. Rails slide into the mortises and are set so the runs stay level along the grade; on a slope, each bay steps cleanly. Where wire is added we stretch it on the inside and staple it to posts and rails so it is nearly invisible from the road. Gates are built to match, from a single walk gate to a wide driveway gate on heavy hinges. Here is a longer look at why split rail holds up and how it should be built.

Upkeep

Almost none. Cedar weathers to silver-gray on its own and can be left that way. A clear sealer every few years keeps the warmer tone if you prefer it. Keep brush and vines cleared from the line so the rails dry after rain, and check the end posts after a wet winter. If a rail ever breaks, it slides out and a new one slides in.

What affects the price of split rail

Rail count sets most of it: three-rail uses half again as much cedar as two-rail. Wire backing adds material and the labor to stretch and staple it. Gates, especially a wide driveway gate on heavy posts, are the other variable. The posts and the concrete are the same whether the fence is decorative or working, because a loose post in split rail loosens every rail in it. A long straight run along a road is the most economical split rail there is; a lake lot with corners, slopes and a gate at the water is not. We price it on site.

Rails, mortises and what to look for

Good split rail is cedar split along the grain, not sawn, so the rails shed water and carry the rough texture the style is known for. Posts come pre-mortised for two or three rails, and the rail ends are tapered to seat in them. On the estimate we will show you the material we use and a bay of fence we have built, so you know what the finished line looks like before a post goes in.

Frequently asked questions

Will a split rail fence keep animals in?

On its own, no. The gaps between rails are wide. With welded or woven wire stapled to the back side it holds dogs, goats and most livestock while keeping the split rail look from the road.

How long does cedar split rail last?

Cedar rails and posts resist rot naturally and a split rail fence has very little surface touching the ground, so a well-built one lasts a long time here with almost no upkeep. Posts set in concrete and rails kept clear of brush are what extend it.

Two rails or three?

Two rails is the classic look for marking a boundary or lining a driveway. Three rails is taller, holds wire backing better, and reads more like a ranch fence. We build both and will show you the heights on site.