skip to main content

Landscape Design Design Dilemma Exterior

Get rid of split rail fence or not?

4 years ago

To get rid of it or not is the question! The previous owners installed this split rail fence and unfortunately, painted it some brown color. After a few years, the fence needs to be sanded and stained and it is damaged in a few areas. We are hesitating between repairing it and doing the work to have it beautiful again or simply taking it all out. We think it is cedar because it is the usual grey underneath the chipped paint. We welcome any suggestions, with or without?

Thanks for your input, we need fresh eyes!

Featured Answer

HU-161159613

4 years ago

I think it's quaint and cute and would leave it. Maybe plant some kind of vine on it.

Sort by:Oldest

Comments (11)

houssaon
4 years ago
You pictures are tiny. Is there a reason for the fence?
bila66
Original Author
4 years ago
No particular reason. It was there when we bought the house.
Related Discussions
Grapes on a split rail fence
Q
Comments (4)
Your best bet is probably to skip the lower rail. I think 16 inches is way too low, you'd have canes on the ground. Even the top rail could be a little higher, but will probably work. There's definitely not enough room for 4 arms, barely enough for 2. Your posts are 11 feet apart, right? You could plant 1 vine at each post and extend the arms half way to the next post (5.5 feet in each direction would be a pretty good length). Snow cover should not hurt the vines, it will actually insulate them somewhat from the cold. The only question I would have is, do they use any chemicals (or salts) on the road? I don't grow seedless concord, but everyone that I have talked to that does says not to waste your time. I have heard the yield is small and the taste is not the best. You might want to consider getting a different kind or even regular, seeded concord.
...See More
Grapes on a split rail fence possible?
Q
Comments (3)
I have pastures full of Muscadines. They seem to grow everywhere. I just back my truck under them and cut off the vines to get the grapes to make wine. The more you cut them back the faster they grow. They will grow like crazy on the fence.
...See More
split rail fencing, anyone?
Q
Comments (3)
I agree. I like Lowe's much better than HD. Ironically it used to be the other way around. Back in the 80's Home Depot was much more superior to Lowe's. Lowe's was closer to us but I drove across town to go to Home Depot. I will let you know if I find out anything. Penny
...See More
Will split rail fence work?
Q
Comments (17)
louislinus - Try searching board and post fence - those are the actual components of my fence but it really is a variation of post and rail. The first one beverly posted has the same components as mine but the second one has square rails instead of flat or split. They're all variations of classic split rail, which i still think you can do. Try a google image search for post and rail, board and post, open rail fencing, Kentucky horse fence..... you'll come up with a ton of pictures and some of them will show split rail with traditional houses in the background. They don't have to be surrounding a log cabin or a rustic stone cottage to look right. Your house makes me think of Bucks County and there are plenty of old colonials there with spit rail fence. (thanks Tibbrix)
...See More
PRO
Patricia Colwell Consulting
4 years ago
Where do live ? IMO this style of fence works best in the country and see if you can post pics that can be enlarged
kitasei
4 years ago
Grow something wonderful on it snd forget about refinishing it. If it’s cedar it will weather. You csn slap a stainon top of what’s there if it really bothers you. You could remove the cattle chute sections leading to the front door.
PRO
Yardvaark
4 years ago
Pictures are too tiny. (If you have them in an app like MS Paint, you might have forgotten to remove excess white space that surrounds them.)

Where the fence is used to corral the entrance, I would definitely get rid of that portion and reconfigure the rest.
bila66
Original Author
4 years ago
Sorry for some reason, I can't edit the pictures
PRO
Yardvaark
4 years ago
Not sure what you mean. Just need to set the camera to take larger pictures and then not cut down the size before you submit them.
bila66
Original Author
4 years ago
In Houzz, you only have an hour to edit a post. Passed an hour, you can no longer edit. I understand, that the pictures are small but really? Tiny? Didn't mean to have this post about picture formatting on Houzz!!
bila66
Original Author
4 years ago
bila66
Original Author
4 years ago
Trying desperately to upload larger pictures but it's impossible. This is the best I can do!

Related Stories

HEALTHY HOME How to Get Rid of Mosquitoes Indoors and Out

By Erin Carlyle

Follow these tips to keep your summer bite-free and healthy despite the uptick in mosquito-borne diseases

FENCES AND GATES How to Choose the Right Fence

By Laura Gaskill

Get the privacy, security and animal safeguards you need with this guide to fencing options

CURB APPEAL 7 Questions to Help You Pick the Right Front-Yard Fence

By Matthew Ankeny

Get over the hurdle of choosing a fence design by considering your needs, your home’s architecture and more

GARDENING AND LANDSCAPING 12 Great Fences and Gates

By KitchenLab Interiors

Add Texture and Structure to your Garden With Fences with Flair

LANDSCAPE DESIGN How to Choose a Fence That Feels Right and Works Hard

By Jay Sifford Garden Design

Making a thoughtful fencing choice now can create happiness for years to come

LIFE How to Get Along With the Neighbors — and Live Happier at Home

By Laura Gaskill

Everyone wins when neighbors treat one another with kindness, consideration and respect

LANDSCAPE DESIGN Get the Look: New England Garden Style

By Lauren Dunec Hoang

Stone walls, clipped hedges and flowering borders contribute to this traditional look

FENCES AND GATES A Deer Fence Can Be Decorative as Well as Protective

You need a monster-size fence to shelter your garden from deer, but it doesn’t have to look like a monstrosity

LANDSCAPE DESIGN 10 Creative Fence Designs

By Shawn Gauthier

Unique materials and imaginative applications turn this yard staple into a powerful outdoor accessory

REMODELING GUIDES Get What You Need From the House You Have

By SPACE Architects + Planners

6 ways to rethink your house and get that extra living space you need now

Sponsored

RTS Home Solutions

3 Reviews

BIA of Central Ohio Award Winning Contractor

More Discussions

hiring pest control for our new home / backyard, it is worth it?

18

Another Ground cover ideas Question, part shade dappled sun

14

UNIQUE HOME LANDSCAPING HELP!

7

desperately needing landscaping help! SOS

4

Plants that love to too much water and wind

9