If you have a lot of old wooden pallets lying around, here’s a nice project you can do to use them.
1. Measure the perimeter of your home, stable, or garden.
Make a sketch of your picket fence. Indicate the color or finish of the fence. Draw the accessories or signs you want to attach or hang on the fence.
Mark the places where you want to place or plant foliage or trees. Note that the standard size for wooden pallets is 48” x 48” (4’ x 4’). You might find pallets with dimensions 48” x 40” and 42” x 42”. Also, the number of planks you can procure from your wood pallets will vary.
You should insert a lumber post every 4’6” of the fence. A 2” x 3” lumber should be enough to support your picket fence.
Indicate where you will install the gate for your fence.
2. Procure the materials you’ll need for the fence.
You’ll need one wood pallet for every 8’ of your fence. If you’re going to reclaim old and used wooden pallets, inspect the quality and health of the wood planks. If you’re not allowed or cannot inspect the pallets, get at least two or three spares.
Your lumber post should be at least 4’ tall. This means that you need one 2” x 3” x 12” lumber for every 13’ of your fence.
Get two pieces of 2” x 2” x 12’ for every 12’ of your picket fence. These pieces of lumber will be your picket fence’s rails.
If you’re going to use the picket fence for your garden, chicken house, or stable, buy some chicken wire to secure your plants and animals against predators.
You can use the extra planks from your pallets for your fence’s gate.
You’ll also need some stainless hinges for your gate.
3. Prepare the tools you need. The optional tools can make the building process easier.
Hammer
Saw
Shovel
Level
Nails
String Line Level
Sandpaper 100 grit (one per two pallets)
Screws (Optional)
Staple Gun (Optional)
Crowbar (Optional)
Hammer Drill (Optional)
Buzz Saw (Optional)
Reciprocating Saw (Optional)
Wood Glue (Optional)
Hoe (Optional)
4. Remove the planks from pallets. Saw all the planks to common length and width. Dig a 6” deep trench on the place where the picket fence will be built. Only proceed with digging if you know you’ll not hit any of your utility lines.
Sand the planks you retrieved from the pallets. Saw the lumber posts and railings.
5. Hammer down the posts in their respective spots.
6. Use a string line level to make sure all posts are leveled. Create a mound of soil on the bottom of every post.
7. Install the railings on the posts. Then nail the planks on the railings. Apply wood glue on them for added sturdiness.
8. Install the door or gate and nail or staple the chicken wire. Make sure the wire touches the trench.
9. Bury back the soil on to the trench and finally, apply a finish on your picket fence.
Please Share This Article 🙂
