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Tony Hwang

wrote:
On Sunday, May 17, 2009 at 12:34:30 PM UTC-4, SamTheBobber wrote:
Help!

There has got to be a simple math formula for laying out pickets on a wood
fence.

Due to odd terrain, I have several 4x4 posts spaced at 96" and some spaced as
small as 54".

I'm using 1x6 (5/8" x 5-3/4") treated pickets and want to space them about 3",
maybe 4" apart.

In the past I've just eyeballed the spacing and made a few adjustments. This
time I'd like to layout some centerlines for the pickets based upon the 4x4
spacing that varies.

Thanks!

On the smooth side with no post showing install a picket on each post. Measure the distance from picket on post to picket on post. Multiply the number on pickets times the picket width. Subtract the total picket width from the picket to picket distance. Divide this by the total plus one more picket and you have the exact distance between each picket. Example 43 inches and a 5.75 picket width. Five pickets times 5.75 equals 28.75. So 43 minus 28.75 equals 14.25. 14.25 divided by 6 equals 2.375 which is two and three eights of an inch. You can use an online decimal to fraction converter and visa versa..On the side of the fence with the post showing just make sure you install the pickets in the middle of the pickets that where installed on the other side. This formula worked perfect for me building my fence piece by piece. I looked online for a formula and could not find one so I figured this one out by myself. Hope it helps you!

I just made a spacer template cutting strip out of the picket board.
Start from center line between posts. Near the posts trim the board to
finish. Repeat.