13/07/2024
I recently had a customer that wanted to change the layout of his fence and add a gate style that he personally designed but was leaning on an experienced contractor to bring the design to life. He wanted to replicate one half of the ornamental picket accent concave going in the opposite direction. I generally don’t give away trade secrets but here’s how I accomplished the concave for all the DIY’ers.
First, I determine the variation in inches from the top of the tallest picket to the top of the shortest picket on the existing fence.
Second, I mark the two posts where the swoop will be made. In this case I marked the right side facing, measured straight down the exact same inches aforementioned and mark there. I then run a level from the lower mark to the left side post to get my low mark on the opposite post.
Third, I run a string line with enough slack from the high and low mark to give it the swoop that I want.
Fourth, starting from the left I cut the picket so that the measurement is from the ground to the bottom of the string minus 1” for gate swing clearance. I nail the first picket.
Finally, one by one I take my measuring tape and from the bottom of the abutting picket measure to below the string to get my measurement to cut the picket to length before I nail it in place. I go one by one for accuracy in design.
Swipe left to see reference. Now go build yourself a custom wood gate!!!
