Should Closeboard Fence Rails be Flush or Mounted onto Post?

[Cdactivist]

Hi All

I'm going to be installing approx 5m of closeboard fencing between house and a parallel wall

It seems some installs in my area have the cant rail flush between the posts and others the rail nailed onto the post

Is there any gain in either?

Also for either end, I plan to attach the rails to a length of 4x2" fixed to each wall
Research tells me this is common practice with thunderbolt screws - is it as straight forward as it seems or is there anything I need to be aware of please?

I'm competent with doing this but I haven't installed a fence for about 20yrs but recently moved

Thx all

[Skid Sprocket]

It is much stronger, and easier, to fix the rails to the face of the posts. If you have 3 rails cut the top and bottom rails to span three posts and the centre rail to span two posts which means that there is not a rail joint on all rails on any one post. It is even stronger if you use the same staggered method with four rails.