Did you know you can build a fence from pallets with relative ease? Totally Awesome Fishing will show you how. This project has the best part: you don’t have to spend hours dismantling pallets, which is what pallet projects are all about. At least not in the way you are thinking.
For easy pallet dismantling instructions, click here
It seems like everyone dreams of the house, dog, and white picket fence around the yard. And of course, not all of us who dream, ever fulfill that ambition. It is a fact that houses, picket fences, and dogs cost money.
The housing market is improving and you can save a dog. After reading this article, you will be able to build a picket fencing for almost nothing.
Lets begin
1. Pallets
The first thing to do is measure your fence in order to determine how many pallets are needed. Once you have determined the size, find pallets that match your layout and size.
Finding the right pallets is the most difficult part of this project.
2. Remove Nails Or Staples From One Slat
Some pallets are constructed using nails and some using long heavy-duty staples. This step is much easier if you can find pallets that have staples.
You will need to take one piece of slat (the same as the slats that you’ll be using for your fence). You are going to be using this slat as a template to mark and cut the rest of your pallets.
If you cannot find pallets with staples, you can use a metal sawzall blade to cut the nails attaching the slats to the base of the pallet. This is a little harder, but certainly manageable.
3. Create Picket Fence Template
After you’ve removed your slat from the pallet, measure the dimensions for the basic picket fence design. Just measure 76 cm on the sides and 81 cm in the center of your template piece, then use a straight edge to connect the dots.
Naturally, you can just measure all of you pallets at the same length and have a straight edge at the top of your fence. You can skip steps 2 and 3 if you choose to do so, and move on to step 4.
4. Mark And Cut Picket Design For Pallet
Using your template, trace the edge onto all of the slats on your pallet, ensuring the template lines up with the slats you are going to cut. Then, use your sawzall and cut along the lines. Be careful.
5. Removing Backing
Take your sawzall, and begin to remove as much access wood from the pallet’s backside as possible. You will still have 2 pieces that hold all your slats together.
6. Check Out Your Awesome Bonus Garden Border
This project has a cool feature: the pallet portion you removed in step 4 can be used to create a border for a garden, or flower bed. Pretty cool, huh?
7. Prepare Your Fence Stake And Drive Into Ground
Depending on the availability of pallets, this is likely to be the only lumber that you will need to buy. Pre-cut treated 44 is recommended for fencing. If you have any larger structural pieces, you can still use them.
If you’re making them yourself, make sure each stake is the same length. If you do not, the stake will incrementally wander to the longer side each time you drive it into the ground.
8. Attach Fence To Stake
Everyone has a different idea of how they want their fence to look. Now that you have all the materials, you just need to drive your stakes, and attach your new fence (using nails or screws).
To prevent your fence from soaking up groundwater and rotting, keep it about 2-8cm off the ground. If you do that, and put some type of protection (stain, paint) over it, this fence should last you for years (depending on the climate).
You can make this project yours, as always. You can use different designs rather than the standard picket fence look, stain your fence, or just go with the traditional white paint.
Watch the video for the full, and rather humorous tutorial.
Remember, you have just built a fence for practically nothing. If I was you, I would be feeling quite good right now.
It’s time to let your dog go off the leash
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