Fence posts set, few inches off here and there

Mr.Burns

So we took advantage of the warm weather this weekend to dig he holes and set our fence posts in concrete. Realized that on the first run, we didn't exactly measure post to post, we measured hole to home when digging.

Went and measured the now set posts, a couple are over by a couple of inches, a couple are short, has anyone come out of a situation like this on top? I'm hoping that a bracket here, a skinny picket there, and all will be well.

Advice is appreciated, will post some pictures when I get the panels started this weekend

joecaption

Are you putting up panels, or just boards?
If the center to center is more then 8' then just buy some 10' 2 x 4's and cut to length.
I try and attach the rails as the post are being set, this way I know there spaced right and the post will not tip.
If your using panels I set the rails so the panels will just be hung on the rails and attached with ceramic coated screws.
Just lift the panel and let it rest on the top rail, and slide it over.
Use a piece of brick string pulled tight to set the rails.

Mr.Burns

Thanks for the reply, it's panels.

If your using panels I set the rails so the panels will just be hung on the rails and attached with ceramic coated screws.
Just lift the panel and let it rest on the top rail, and slide it over.
Use a piece of brick string pulled tight to set the rails.

Not exactly sure what you mean here. Do you mean that you have a separate rail on which you hang the panel, which already has three rails? Or do you mean that you cut the top rail to size then attach the panel, now with two rails, to that?

Or am I just confusing myself more?

joecaption

You install 2 X 4 Pressure treated rails to the post first, then just hang the panels sitting on top of the rails on the panels.
Sort of like the way a french cleat works, but without the angle cuts.

http://www.bing.com/images/search?q=...4DDA6D&first=1

It's a whole lot easyer to install the panels this way and your not counting on an exact distance between the post.
The post could be off 6" and my way would still work.

Mr.Burns

This sounds like the solution I need, thanks. In the spots where there are 1-3" between panels, would you cut a skinny version of the rest of the pickets (privacy fence, just usin picket here for lack of a better word), and screw it onto the 2-4?

Also, I have coated deck screws, do you think those are good or are ceramic the only way to fly?


Edit- wow I finally just got what you were describing. So the new rails allow you to put the panels where you want them, still screw into each post, and try to add up the slack 1-3" spots to make enough room for a full sized extra picket at the end.
You're smart dude, I was pretty worried about this

Do you think I could get away with doing a single 1x3(4?) rail at the top, hang the panels and slide into position? Then I would still be able to drill through the rails on the panels

joecaption

Coated screw? If there not ACQ rated then do not use them.
Not liking the 1X idea, to flimsy, and prone to splitting.
Only screws I keep in the trailer are ceramic coated or stainless steel, tired of snaped off rounding heads off and having them rust after a year.