Fence Tips from a Pro

By Mark Clement

I love Fences-good ones, anyway.

Shooting my eye down 100 feet of pitch-perfect, parallel fence posts rising true and straight from the earth speaks to my inner carpenter. And, once connected by rails and slats, I love to see how this simple amalgam of boards ignites featureless landscapes and bolsters boring borders. I also enjoy that the mere presence of a fence is pivotal, because fences impact the homeowner and the homeowner’s neighbor. I really think it’s important that considerate attention be paid to designing and building a structure I’m proud to put my name on.

A knot called a Trucker's Hitch works on more than just mason's line for laying out fences. I use them anywhere I need constant, dependable leverage, like holding this sapling out of the way.

Detailed here is a Western Red Cedar privacy screen designed to beautify a back yard and erase a poorly maintained rental on the adjoining property. The screen delivers succulent lines for the interior and a crisp, but solid, wall from the outside.