| Project by Ken Stenzel | posted 635 days ago | 473 views | 1 time favorited | 15 comments |  |
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This project began with our desire to enclose our side yard for a bit of privacy from the street. We also wanted to include an inviting entry into our landscaped back yard. I designed a simple arbor using pressure treated 4×4’s, and a cut 2×12x8 for the header. I used 2×2’s dadoed to form the trellises. 2×2’s were also used for the bonnet of the arbor. I ran each edge of every 2×2 through my router using an ogee bit to add a little detail. It all was a simple construction but sturdy enough for the grandchildren to use it as a jungle gym. 
The face of each fence picket was run through my jointer to create a gentle curve. To give it more interest and curb appeal I cut the pickets to dip in the center of each section.
We covered the whole project with a good quality beige exterior paint. 
This is the back side of the fence showing how the rails were constructed. For an eight foot section use a construction 2×12 and cut a 3 1/2 in. high curve as radically as the 2×12 allows. Cut the pickets to follow the curve of the rail.
-- kstenzel
15 comments so far
Thor
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64 posts in 1175 days
posted 635 days ago
The word “inviting” perfectly describes it. Wonderful place you have there.
Christina
HallTree
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2041 posts in 666 days
posted 635 days ago
Very nice Ken. The things that you have added to your yard makes it a showplace in the neighborhood.
-- Ron in Osseo, Minnesota
GaryK
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9549 posts in 887 days
posted 635 days ago
Great looking fence. I really like that curved top rail.
-- Gary, East TX -- The longest journey begins with a single step.
trifern
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7897 posts in 666 days
posted 635 days ago
Wow, extremely nice. Looks very sereign.
-- My favorite piece is my last one, my best piece is my next one.
Robb
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356 posts in 833 days
posted 635 days ago
That’s a great addition to your backyard! Your place looks neat as a pin. Nice work!
-- Robb
CharlieM1958
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7675 posts in 1117 days
posted 635 days ago
Great job, and I love your house!
-- Charlie M. "Woodworking - patience = firewood"
Scott Bryan
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20784 posts in 721 days
posted 635 days ago
This is a very nice project that adds a lot of curb appeal to your home. If it can survive the grandchildren then it is a testimony to your craftmanship. If there were any weaknesses in the construction they would have found them without any trouble.
Thanks for the post.
-- With God's help all things are possible- even woodworking. Woodworking is not just a hobby, it is an (expletive deleted) expensive hobby.
cajunpen
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5968 posts in 965 days
posted 635 days ago
Nice addition to a beautiful house and yard. Looks very inviting.
-- Bill - "Suit yourself and let the rest be pleased." http://www.cajunpen.com/
woodup
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145 posts in 842 days
posted 635 days ago
Great Posting! Nice progression with the added pictures which adds great detail from one step to the next! The second to last picture is like a magical entrance into a special park. Very beautiful. I agree with GaryK about the curved top rail on the fencing. It really captures the imagination. How’d you do that…...
-- Michael, Fort Worth, TX. "I wood if I could!"
grovemadman
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558 posts in 671 days
posted 635 days ago
Great addition to an already nice looking yard!
-- --Chuck
Ken Stenzel
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16 posts in 664 days
posted 634 days ago
For Woodup….
The slope of the fence top was governed by the top rail. I cut the top rail out of a planed 2×12. I started with the longest section (8 feet) and cut the 2×12 that ended up with the same dimension as a 2×4. Then I simply cut the pickets to match the curvature of the rail. I also used braces that were screwed in so that if I had to access the back yard I could dismantle a section of fence. This gave us the privacy we were looking for. We could sit behind the fence in lawn chairs and not be seen from the street. That way we could do silly stuff and no one would see.
-- kstenzel
Chris
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1470 posts in 890 days
posted 634 days ago
Ken,
Great looking Fence and Arbor… Heck, That’s a great looking house youv’e got there as well.
So… who won the water fight???
-- Chris
paddyo
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11 posts in 669 days
posted 634 days ago
Ken:
Your pics really display the arbor & fence well and capture the magic of your house and garden. It’s a delicate balance you achieved in gaining privacy in your lawn area while presenting a welcoming image from the front/street. I know from the “silly stuff” picture, that your shots were taken in a much warmer season. Thanks for sharing what you do so well with the rest of us!
-- Pat, Hoover,AL Fresh cut wood smells almost as good as fresh baked bread!
relic
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342 posts in 835 days
posted 632 days ago
The project is amazing, the picture looking in to the garden is very inviting.
-- Andy Stark
Mark D.
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116 posts in 667 days
posted 563 days ago
OMG… where do you live and when are you selling your house!?? You home is AMAZING…
-- Looking for free wood working plans? Visit us at www.AwlFreePlans.com