I am building a low stone wall with a wood picket type fence on top, total height about 4’. The wood fence will consist of 2.5â€x 2.5†clear heart redwood rails and 2â€x 3â€x 24†pickets of clear heart redwood. There is a space of about 12†between the rails. The owner desires the following method of picket installation: Pickets will be installed with a total of 2 screws per picket; each 3.5†screw will be centered on the picket and rail and installed through the rail into the backside of the picket (this is so no fasteners can be seen from the street side of the fence). Each rail where the screw is installed will be pre drilled with a countersink so that the head of the screw will be flush with the face of the rail. Each screw will penetrate about 1†into the backside of the picket and cannot be cranked down very much in order to keep the head of the screw flush with rail. Was wondering what your thoughts might be regarding this system of picket attachment. Would two screws at each rail be better?
On a related topic the owner would very much like to maintain the color of the redwood. Our plan is to use oxalic acid to re-pink the redwood and then preserve the color with some type of coating. Any thoughts on coatings that might last and not change the color of the wood?
Replies
This post raises a whole lot of questions, and most of them don't concern the fence!
My advice is to walk away from this job. Failing that, charge plenty and by the hour. You will likely lose your shirt trying to satisfy this customer on a fixed-price basis.
I don't often have customers telling me how to do the job. Those that think they know exactly how a job should be done will not respect your skills, training, experience and talent. All they want is your (minimum wage) labor.
What was your question again....?
Al Mollitor
Sharon, MA
I read your post three times and it sounds like a fence that's been designed by AN IDIOT! I also agree with MOJO man. The redwood will begin to change color as soon as it's exposed to sunlight and within a week or two, it will not appear like it did the day it was purchased. Best thing to do is walk away from this job or go by the hour and have the homeowner make up a sample of this hair ball picket-rail attachment scheme. I'm afraid to ask just how the pickets are going to be mounted in the concrete lower fence. Oh, by the way, redwood will rot off in about 15 years when mounted directly into the concrete lower part of the fence.
Run away as fast as you can! Seriously, this "fence " is prone to fail in short order. Let some one else hang themselves.
All I can think is, what a waste of good redwood. Seems like everything is a lot thicker than it needs to be, and no matter how thick, it is still susceptible to rot (if imbedded in concrete). Seems that unless it is coated with something with lots of UV inhibitors, the sun will change its color. There has got to be a better way to attach the pickets to the rails, but it doesn't sound like the owner has allowed any room for changes. I was thinking of the hidden fasteners that are used to fasten deck planks to deck joists (in this case the deck plank would be the picket and the joist would be the rail). Sounds like the guy has more money than brains. Good luck!
Penofin for UV protection.
BUT make the owner pick the color. Do a picket in each of several colors and let the owner pick. Maybe even set them out in the sun for a while. Not sure how long the color change will take.
Would an exterior construction adhesive afix the pickets to the rails? You'll need a bunch of spring clamps but you could pick up a bunch of cheap ones from harbor freight or something.
Be sure you use Deckmate or similar screws - they are treated to resist the acids in the Redwood, and are the same color as the wood so they blend in. I have 6 years on some and they still look great.
That's of course if you are crazy/courageous/hungry enough to take the job :-)