We build beautiful swing gates from a wooden picket fence

Advantages of the material used

Many summer residents treat the idea of ​​building a fence from this material with some disdain, considering it to be of lower quality and reliable compared to the use of more modern technologies. But this is not true at all. A wooden fence is in no way inferior to analogues made from other materials.

Moreover, it has a number of advantages:

  • Environmental friendliness - wood is the most successful solution if you care about the health of your family.
  • Easy to maintain - such fences do not require special attention during operation, and they can be decorated and updated at any time and without effort.
  • Simplicity in construction - anyone, even a novice craftsman, can make a wooden fence with their own hands.
  • Practicality - by fencing with a wooden cover, you can reliably protect your site from bad weather, provide good sound insulation, and delineate the boundaries of your territory.
  • Naturalness in combination with the surrounding interior.

Final works

The gate for the fence is made of pickets, the same ones from which the gate trim is made. Its width is usually no more than one meter, without a lower crossbar or threshold. Otherwise, it will be difficult to enter/exit with a bicycle, car or baby stroller.

picket fence fastenings
The process of installing wooden pickets to the gate frame

Bolts, hooks, and locks are attached to the frame frame from the inside. It is not recommended to use a locking device with a latch that can be opened by inserting your hand between the pickets. The best option for a gate is to use a rim lock that can withstand moisture. You should familiarize yourself with this, as well as the technology for installing it, before purchasing, so that you don’t have to throw away the purchased mechanism afterwards.

It is necessary to ensure that swing gates in the closed position are more stable, do not sag, and do not open under the pressure of strong winds.

swing gate picket fence
Design of swing gates made of wooden picket fence

To do this, attach metal ears to one of the doors and insert a piece of reinforcement bent into the letter L into them. And in the ground you need to bury a piece of pipe of the appropriate diameter into which the locking device will be inserted.

Types of wood fences

If you are still hesitating when choosing which version of the protective structure to choose, then you should take into account one more important feature. A wooden fence for a private house has excellent decorative properties and a variety of styles.

Installation of a wooden fence on the site

If you decide to build a fence on your site yourself, then you should not delay the start of work. Moreover, installing a wooden fence is not particularly difficult. You can choose the most suitable design option:

  • without a foundation, when it is necessary to prepare only wooden pillars and metal supports;
  • with a foundation.

At the same time, the fence itself is additionally finished using a wide variety of materials - brick, corrugated board, stone. But remember that the wood itself must be of high quality, without damage, and treated with an antiseptic.

Finishing the finished fence

When the fence is completely ready, it can be painted or varnished. The choice of finish depends on the landscape and your own preferences. But you should not forget about the decorative and protective coating, since without it the tree will quickly begin to be exposed to the negative influence of the external environment. It is recommended to paint the fence approximately once every 2-3 years, but it is important to do it the first time immediately after installation. If paint is not suitable, then you can use special oils for impregnation or colorless varnish, which allows you to preserve the natural texture of the wood.

When choosing a wooden fence, you must remember that only dry wood is selected, it is easy to process, but is as reliable as possible in use. The installation itself usually does not cause any problems; the work can be completed in a couple of days, not counting the drying of the concrete solution for the pillars.

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Specifics of installing a checkerboard fence

This is a more decorative design that can be arranged either more densely or with gaps. The pillars are mounted using traditional methods. Beams are attached to them. You need to cut grooves on the pillars. If you use metal supports, then you need to weld corners to them at the place where the beams are attached.

After you have determined the type of fastening - horizontal or vertical - you need to secure the guides. For vertical type chessboards they are arranged horizontally and vice versa. Then the planks are attached in a checkerboard pattern using self-tapping screws or nails.

Materials and tools

Before you begin work on building a fence, you need to prepare materials and tools. To make a picket fence you will need:

How to make a wooden picket fence with your own hands

Attaching a picket fence using a template (dimensions are indicated in millimeters): 1 – cord; 2 – template; 3 – board to which the cord is attached.

  • processed wooden boards;
  • beams for transverse veins;
  • support posts for fencing;
  • nails and screws for fastening;
  • bitumen or creosote is used for waterproofing;
  • drill, ordinary shovel;
  • pegs for marking, rope;
  • cement, sand, gravel or a ready-made dry mixture, which just needs to be diluted with water;
  • container for concrete solution;
  • saw, jigsaw;
  • hammer;
  • building level.

Decorative fencing

Fences around the perimeter of a summer cottage not only serve to protect and ensure safety. They also carry an aesthetic load. Anyone who wants to decorate their garden can safely install a decorative fence around the perimeter.

A small multi-colored fence will enliven a flowerbed or vegetable garden. You can also easily build an antique structure, transporting residents and guests of a country house to the past or a fairy tale.


You can see various decoration options in the presented photos of a wooden fence. For example, fences with patterns printed on the surface look effective. It is also allowed to combine wood and other materials when making fences:
  • using corrugated sheets to look like wood;
  • combination of wood and brick;
  • combination of wood and stone.


A fence installed along the perimeter of a plot of land is an excellent addition to an interior designed in any style. You will not only reliably protect your home from uninvited guests, but also significantly decorate the landscape.

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