Picket Fence Repair

Tools:

pry bar
nippers
saw
carpenter's square
replacement picket
paint, stain or water sealant
galvanized wood screws
screwdriver or drill with screwdriver bit
pencil
safety glasses

1. First, pry out the nails from the broken picket. If the heads of the nails snap off, pry the wood off of its backing and then use nippers to pull out the rest of the nail (figure A).

2. Hold the new picket in position upside down (figure B).

3. Place a carpenter's square across the top of the other pickets (figure C).

4. Then use the carpenter's square to mark your cutting line across what will be the bottom of the picket.

5. Saw the picket off at the line (figure D). Be sure to wear safety glasses when sawing and drilling.

6. Paint or stain to match, or if your fence is natural wood, just waterseal the new picket, especially on the top and the bottom.

7. Position the new picket right-side-up and drill pilot holes to attach it to the fence framing (figure E).

8. Secure the new picket with screws (figure F). Stainless steel screws will prevent rusting.