3' 2-Rail Fence with Pickets
Setup for a 3' picket fence.
  1. Material List
    Dog eared pickets 7 (4-72" pickets cut in half)
    2x4x67-3/4" composite sleeves 2
    4x4x78" composite sleeves 1 (cut in half) per panel (+ 1 half at fence end)
    Mounting bracket sets 4 total or 2 pairs (sold by the pair)
    Post Cap 1 (per post)
    1-5/8" screws 28
    AC2 treated 2x4x6' 2
    AC2 treated 4x4x6' post 1 per panel (+ 1 at the fence end)
  2. Cutting Materials
    Cut 1 78" 4X4 post sleeve in half, each piece will be 3'-3" long Cut 4 72" pickets in half, each piece will be 3' long.
    Making the Dog Eared Pickets Take 7 of the 3' pickets and measure 1" in from each top edge and 1" down on each side. Draw a diagonal line between the top and side measurements and with a miter saw set at 45 deg. Cut off each corner.
  3. 2 x 4 Sleeve Assembly
    Cut 2 - 2 X 4's and 2 X 4 sleeves to 67 ¾" (For 72" O.C. post spacing) Slide the 2 X 4 sleeves over the 2 X 4 boards until the ends are flush, these will be your picket backer rails
  4. Preassembling Dog Ear Picket Fence Panel
    On a flat surface position 2 backer rails parallel to each other spaced 17" apart. On the front face of the backer rail attach the first picket 4" from the left edge of the backer rail. Line up each picket so that it is at a 90 degree angle to each backer rail and the dog eared end 6" above the top surface of the upper backer rail. Using 1 5/8" screws attach pickets to the backer rail, 2 screws into each backer rail(4 screws per picket). From the right edge of the first picket measure over 4" and attach the second picket. Continue with this application to the 7th picket . The 7th picket should end up 4" from the right edge of the backer rails.
  5. Attaching Bracket
    Attach brackets to each end of the top and bottom backer rails.
  6. Installing Panels Between the Posts
    Lift the panel into position and attach to the side of the post sleeves with the top of the pickets even with the top of the post sleeve. Fasten the top brackets to the side of the post sleeve making sure the panel is level. Using a level check for vertical plumb alignment of panel and then fasten the bottom brackets to the posts sleeve.