Question:
How do I cut wood posts? Thank you for putting so much helpful information on the
Web. I do have a question I'm hoping you may help with. I am in the process of
replacing a 6 foot stockade fence. I have tore the old sagging fence down. The back
section was merely 8 foot landscape posts stuck 2 feet in the ground! The sides
were ~6 inch round posts (tapered to a point at the top) set in concrete. I used a
jack to remove those not in concrete, and also the corners in concrete, as I needed to use
the corners. The remaining posts (in concrete) I cut off below ground level. I used 10
foot pressure-treated 4 x 4s and dug out the holes 36-42 inches deep 8 feet apart, set in
quick set post concrete. So far, it looks great! The rails are very level and all
that remains is trimming (i.e. building some rises were the ground clearance would be too
great to fill, gates, etc.). My question is this: What is a good way to cut off the uneven
post tops? And at what height? I have tried a couple of ways, 1- using circular saw and
going around the post as the blade is on 8 inches and can not cut through on one pass...
very uneven results, 2- used a speed square to try and get 2nd/3rd passes more
even...limited success, 3- one pass with circular saw, finishing cut with reciprocal
saw...best results so far. As I will probably use post caps on the fencing posts
which are visible (the neighbor-side fencing), I guess the Hatteras slip-over caps are my
best bet.? With the post caps, I imagine they should be cut at fence level or
higher. Could you please confirm? Which of those that you carry do you
recommend? The lady there who answered the phone suggested using finishing nails
and/or shims to level. I am concerned with using finishing nails as they would rust. Thank
you very much for any help you might provide.
Applicable Products:
Wood Fence.
Reply:
Usually when constructing wood fences, care and consideration is taken prior to setting
the posts in concrete so that they are set at the correct height to begin with,
alleviating the need to cut any posts. However various circumstances may force you to
cut posts off at the correct height after they are set in the ground. Some of the
methods you mentioned are common methods to cutting off posts and with experience and
skill it can be done perfectly. We have also used a chain saw to cut off posts with
success. I do not know of a tool on the market to make this job easier. You may use
any of our ornamental wood post caps found online here: http://www.hooverfence.net/wood/index.htm
. We also have an assortment of quality hardware for gates found here: http://www.hooverfence.com/woodfence/hardwareindex.htm
. The choice of cap and the height to cut off posts is purely an aesthetic
choice. Cut them at your preferred height and remember to consider the height of the
post cap when doing so. You will most likely secure post caps to posts with finishing
nails or an adhesive. Either method allows one to level the caps on uneven posts
during installation. Use aluminum or stainless steel finishing nails to prevent
rust. A few other notes: *Since stockade is usually the cheapest wood fence one can
purchase, ornamental caps usually aren't used. Most privacy fences in wood won't have
ornamental caps since most of the post is hidden behind the fence section. Ornamental caps
or cuts in posts are more common in picket styles, especially those with fully exposed
posts. *Most customers who use this fence usually aren't very concerned with rusting of
fasteners since they installed the cheapest fence they could find to begin
with. Chances are a stockade fence will have lived its life, warped, cracked, and
generally deteriorated long before any fastener will rust. *As far as finishing
nails rusting - all steel rusts, all wood warps and cracks, and all concrete footers
fail. Of course, with proper choice of hardware and building methods, these things
can be prevented for a time, however they will still occur. Galvanized, stainless, and/ or
aluminum fasteners are items on the market to help prevent such deterioration. If you are
concerned about rust, I highly recommend you consider using a low maintenance vinyl fence
such as those found here: http://www.hooverfence.com/vinyl_fence/index.htm
.
Good luck with your project!
Updated 06/01/06
