Split Rail Fence (An overview)

Split Rail Fence have a bunch of other names they are known by depending on locality. The one's that I am familiar with include worm fence, Virginia fence, snake fence, log fence, buck and rail fence, stack fence and zigzag fence.



This design of fence does not require posts to be dug into the ground as the fence is created by stacking similar sized rails in a zig-zag pattern to provide the fences stability. I believe the most common wood species utilized is cedar, but historically the prefered species was chesnut in the United States. I've seen some creative solutions to prevent the bottom rails from sitting on the ground from cleverly placed rocks to tree stumps.





Anyone have experience making these? There is a PEM badge bit for building 36 feet of split rail fence. It would be fun to try!

It seems like a terrible waste oif wood. is it?

John C Daley wrote:It seems like a terrible waste oif wood. is it?

I think the allure originally was that the fence's design did not require nails/screws/tools back in a time where they were harder to come by and that the area settlers occupied were flush with trees. There is a simplicity to following the order of dropping a tree, cut the trunk to length, split it into rails, and start stacking. Nowadays there are so many more convenient fence designs that can be put up quite fast if you have all the parts and pieces associated.

I'd say the historic factor is the most appealing to me. I'd hate to be the guy by himself trying to fence off acres of land with this system without some kind of mechanized assistance.

Built a few of these with hickory in the 70s with my dad. Learned a lot of woodcraft, especially how to read the wood grain.  Also, i grasped the importance of pacing yourself if splitting for hours

Th biggest drawback was the eventual creep of grasses and weeds taking over.... thats great if you want to create a hedgerow, but most folks like to offer a clear edge for mowing. Split rail fences are more aesthetic than practical IMHO.  My 2 rails...

There is another variation of the fence known as a split rail fence that utilizes posts dug into the ground. These posts have holes cut into them for split rails to be inserted into creating a barrier.



I have seen a few of these fences locally, and have noted that some folks have a layer of metal panel fencing attached to their split rail fence in order to have a 'tight' fence.



Depending on your climate, I have read that these fences can last from seven to twenty years before you might start experiencing post failure.

Here in Nonnewaug, in modern day Woodbury CT, it is my observation that many culturally stacked or laid zigzag rows of stones "snaking across the landscape" falsify Eric Sloane’s statement that:

  “One of the minor mysteries of old fences is the zigzag stone fence. Why would anyone place stones in such a fashion? The answer is simple: the stones were thrown there during a clearing, piled against an existing snake-rail fence. The rails rotted and disappeared, but the stones remained, winding across the land in the same crazy manner.”
https://wakinguponturtleisland.blogspot.com/2022/05/the-zigzag-stone-wall-dissenter.html

Hi Tim. Welcome to permies.