How To Build a Picket Fence

I’m just so excited to share how the Old Depot Project is coming together. We recently put up the picket fence and it’s the best feeling to see something being built that will make a lasting impact to an area. Not only are we saving an old train depot building but we are also making it multi-purpose by adding a garden and transforming the inside to be a “she-shed” or studio/playhouse:

Up until this point in the project we have laid out and squared off our large rectangular area  Once we had the space planned I sketched out a diagram to determine how many posts and how many panels we would need. These are the 8 foot fence panels I used…I love the gothic style:

I added three gates into my plan for easy access in and around the depot. These will be made from extra fence panels (which will be featured in a later step-by-step project):

Step 1: First we carefully measuring and marking where the fence holes were to be dug using marking paint. An X marks the spot:
Step 2: Before starting to dig we added a guide line 2 feet out from the original line, around the entire perimeter (believe me you don’t want to have to remeasure everything again!).
Step 3: Finally it was time to start digging! To dig our posts we used a long metal post bar and started at one of the corners that provides the least margin for error:
A post hole digger pulled out the loose dirt:
We have such hard packed earth that we dug the post holes pretty narrow. The post hole bar is a great tool for breaking up any rocks or roots in the way:
Step 4: Once we dug down about 2 feet for each hole we put a few inches of gravel in the bottom for drainage:
The post was set into the hole and leveled from all sides to make sure it was standing straight up:
We measured from the guide string to make sure the post was in the right position (2 feet away):
Step 5: Quick set concrete was poured into each hole leaving a few inches at the top. Add water according to directions.
Quick setting concrete can be mixed directly in the ground and only takes about 10 minutes to become firm. We used 2 scrap boards to keep the post level until the concrete was hard enough that the post wasn’t likely to move again. I checked our level again as the concrete set up just to make sure nothing had moved:
Step 6: We used metal brackets to attach the fence panels to the inside of each post. I like having the posts standing on their own in between panels instead of having a continuous row of fencing. The great thing about these brackets is that they can be easily moved and adjusted without damaging the fence panel if you’ve made a mistake or want to adjust height: