Installation Guide

Red Cedar
Split-Rail Fencing
Natural Beauty  Long Life  Easy to Install  Maintenance Free  Quality Workmanship
Red Cedar naturally contains its own preservative oils in the wood cells which make it highly resistant to rot,
insects, fungus and the effects of moisture. There is no need to apply chemical preservatives since Red Cedar can
outlast other treated woods naturally.
Installing your new fence is easy. All you need is a hatchet, saw, post-hole digger, about 8 to 10 pounds (one
big shovel full) of fine gravel per post, and a short 2x4 for tamping dirt.
Be sure to call your local Dig Line or phone and utilities company two or three days before you plan to dig the
holes. They will send someone out to mark where lines and pipes are buried.
Holes should be dug 10’ apart from center to center or 8’ apart if you have 8’ rails. The 6’6” and 5’4” posts can be
set 30” into the ground which will leave the same spacing between the ground and the bottom rail as there will be
between the rails themselves. The minimum recommended depth for these posts is 24”. The shorter 4’ posts
should be set 16” deep. It is best to dig the holes three to four inches deeper than you plan to set the posts to
make room for some gravel from drainage.
The best way to set posts is to put the gravel in the hole first, then line up the post in the hole and back fill the dirt
in around the post, tamping firmly with the 2x4 as you fill. Overfill the hole a bit so that you can slope the dirt down
away from the post for proper drainage. Once the first post is tamped in place, insert the rails, trimming the ends
as needed with the hatchet. Set the next post its hole, lean it into the rails and tamp it in place. If you need a
shorter section anywhere in the fence, be sure to cut the rails long enough to leave room to make tenons on the cut
ends, so they will fit into the rail holes.
Enjoy your fence. There is no painting, staining, preservative application or other maintenance work to do. Over
time the sun’s rays will transform the cedar color to a soft driftwood grey, further enhancing the rustic charm and
natural beauty of your Red Cedar Split-Rail Fence.