Split Rail Fence

The split rail fence is truly the traditional American fence. From the earliest times of the pioneers and the colonial period to the civil war and the gold rush, the split rail fence has been the symbol of American manifest destiny since the time of Plymouth Rock.

The reason you see so many split rail fences is that they rarely break down and they are extremely practical. Time tested to prevent insect infestation, a cedar split rail fence has no enemies it cannot repel.

Natural Appeal
Another great feature of the split rail fence is its natural appeal. Once installed, there is little need for upkeep and maintenance. You don’t even have to paint it or stain it! Its natural organic brilliance is enough to please anyone with at least a rudimentary knowledge of American tradition.

Most split rail fences are about 4-feet high and the support beams are ten feet long. However, depending on your needs, you can mix this up a little - and this is the beauty of split rail fences. The design of a split rail fence is so simple, you can do almost anything you want with it while still keeping the design principles intact.

Easy to Install
Split rail fences are also some of the easiest fences to install. They are cost effective and do not require many tools to install. After all, it is the fence the pioneers used, and they didn’t have gas-powered power sanders. They also do not need concrete, which can be dangerous to lay if not used properly.

One of the only drawbacks to the split rail fence is that you have to look after it for a while after you install it. A fence that is supposed to last forever needs to get used to its environment. Therefore, you have to help it settle. This means tamping and re-tamping several times after the posts have been installed. However, you can use gravel to make this process a little easier.

For farmers, this is a great fence to keep livestock such as horses and cows on your property. But the fence cannot prevent smaller animals from getting on to your property.