Road Sign Fence

Step 5 Pickets 2

To put up the pickets, first pull a centerline down each horizontal with a speed square or chalkline.  Starting in a corner, align the mounting holes on the centerline.  Pop a screw in one hole; hold the level to the picket and plumb it.  Make sure the bottom of the picket is aligned with the centerline on the middle horizontal.  Put in the other three screws.  Repeat for the picket below.  

Cut a spacer block to your desired picket spacing (we went with 1-1/4") and put that against the picket you just mounted.  Chock the next picket against the other side of the spacer block, pin, plumb, screw, and repeat.

For a more finished look, the students suggested we use the pickets we cut off the edges of the signs -- the ones with rounded corners -- to set off each eight-foot section.  We set the four edge pickets, then worked towards the center of each eight-foot section, ensuring that the fence looked symmetrical if our spacing ended up a little off between the last two pickets.  

When you're done, a quick pressure wash will brighten 'er up.  

Our fence adds a bold color to the campus by day, and a ghostly reflectivity at night.  The aluminum will last forever, and the pressure-treated lumber should last a decade at least.  

Comments

[janesycamore]

There are a bunch of instructables on here that use road signage. If nothing else, you could sell some of the signs to city people on the Eday or Craigslist and get some startup money. If people like the look of your fencing, sell it in unassembled sections. DIY for the far off homeowner!

Sorry for rambling on so much, my inner capitalist just went into overdrive!