Main Office: 802-754-6328

Burlington, VT 863-0567 

Toll free: 800-427-6320

E-mail: RoundHil@Together.net 

Split Rail Fencing

Beauty and simplicity—
Let’s talk about “split rail” fencing!

On a daily basis, we receive inquiries at Round Hill Fence about traditional “rail fence”. Well…it may surprise you to know that there are actually several different types of rail fence. Here are a few that we stock—available installed or “materials only”. 

This popular type of cedar rail fence is sometimes mistakenly referred to as “split rail” when actually the rails are round—and not split at all. Whole cedar logs are turned in a lathe to remove all of the bark and knots. Then, the ends of the rails are either dowelled or slabbed (paddle shaped). The posts of either style can accept up to 4 rails. Rails are available in either 8 or 10-foot lengths. This type of fence is manufactured from insect & rot-resistant Northern White Cedar in a mill right next door to us.

Dowel-End Rail: A
Round Peg in a Round Hole

Paddle rail
Posts are Slotted

*A quick note to do-it-yourselfers: for installation purposes, the paddle rail style is a bit easier to work with because the posts are slotted, allowing for some movement of the rails in either direction. The dowel-end posts however, are less forgiving—they have to be precisely positioned so the rails don't drop out.

Traditional split rail

For some folks, there is no substitute for the rustic elegance of a true “Split Rail” fence. When that is the case, we offer two types. 

• Black Locust (Think Abe Lincoln!) 
  This exceptionally decay-resistant tree is actually what Abe Lincoln made split rails from. The species is a hardwood variety and thus very heavy and dense. It makes great fence material. The rails are “paddle style” and are available in 11 foot sections.

• Red Cedar 
  This is perhaps the most beautiful of split rail fences. Its reddish hue is easily distinguishable from other varieties. It is available in a number of lengths and sizes.

Round White Cedar

Rail Fence with Mesh

To keep pets and children from roaming, we sometimes add  mesh to a rail fence, giving it the simple beauty of a rail fence with the security of a solid fence.

 Marking The Boundary

This paddlerail fence in Greensboro, is 720 feet long and simply marks the boundary between two neighbors. 

 This fence (shown being installed) is a perfect example of 3-rail Black Locust.
This fence can be found in Craftsbury,  Vermont, overlooking Lake Caspian..

Hi-tensile livestock fencing

Click this photo for more information