Replace Rotten Fencing

Here's a great project for replacing damaged support boards in a fence.

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Home repair expert Henry Harrison helps a homeowner replace a rotting beam in her picket fence. He shows her how to remove the damaged wood, and cut a replacement piece. On his elbow grease scale of one to four, Harrison gives this job a two.

Materials and Tools:

power drill
pry bar
hammer
tape measure
pencil
small carpenter's square
circular saw
3-inch deck screws
wood screws
safety goggles
pre-treated 2x4s

Steps:

1. Remove top screws from pickets that go into support board.

2. Pry up support board using hammer and pry bar. Remove nails and lift out rotted support board (figure B).

3. Take a length measurement using tape measure. Transfer measurement onto a treated 2x4.

4. Using a small carpenter's square as a guide cut a new support board with the circular saw.

5. Sometimes pickets aren't installed in a straight line, and one end of the new board may not fit flush against the pickets.

6. Do not force the pickets against the board. Instead, cut the new board at the point where it was last flush and make two boards. Cut at an angle, and make the cut so it falls in the center of a support post.

7. Install support board using 3-inch deck screws. Drill a pilot hole first, creating a pocket for head of deck screw and making it easier to drive in the screws.

8. Once all support boards are secure, use 2-inch wood screws to re-attach pickets.

9. Apply water seal to the new boards, give it about a week to dry then paint boards desired color.