How to Snake a Fence

A snake fence is also known as worm or Viriginia fence. It's one of the oldest styles of fencing, primarily because it is essentially nothing but a rail fence made out of a zigzag of interlocking rails. While a snake fence can be constructed by laying pieces of wood on top of each other, the more stable version consists of wood rails with slots cut out so the pieces lock together. There are a variety of choices for fencing material. In this case, we'll use pressure-treated 8-foot 2 by 4s. But you could use anything from downed trees to recycled lumber of a similar size and shape.

Measuring tape
Hand or power saw
3/4-inch drill bit
6-foot long, 3/4-inch steel rebar
Hammer
Enough lumber or fencing material to complete job
Rocks at least 8 inches across

Instructions

Instructions
- 1
  Measure the ground you want to fence. There are two factors to keep in mind as you determine how much fencing material you'll need -- the angle of the fence line and the height of the finished fence. A completed fence with a zigzag angle of 130 degrees and a 4-foot height, a typical size for this type of fence, will require 60 feet of fencing for every 50 feet of coverage, times the number of rails required to reach the desired height.
- 2
  Lay out the lumber in the approximate place you want to construct the fence. This allows you to adjust the positioning of the rails before you've committed to cutting and attaching the railings.
- 3
  Lay out piece of lumber flat, and measure in 8 inches from the end. Drill a 3/4-inch hole completely through each end of the lumber. Repeat until every piece of fencing you require has been drilled.
- 4
  Cut one rail into a series of 6-inch long spacers. You'll need these at both the beginning and end points of the fence.
- 5
  Begin the fence by placing a rock on the ground and pushing it firmly into the dirt. Then begin making a stack of lumber. First an 8-foot foot rail, then nail a 6-inch spacer on top of the rail at the very end. Repeat until you have the height of fence you require. Make sure that the spacers and/or the rock do not cover the holes you drilled into the lumber.
- 6
  Hammer a steel rebar through the holes in the lumber, pushing it through the levels until it reaches the ground. Hammer the rebar until it is firmly in the ground. This will keep your fence strong and straight.
- 7
  Adjust the railings to the angle of zigzag you require. Place another rock on the ground near the end of the lumber. Pound it in, then place the bottom piece of lumber on top, making sure not to cover the hole. Begin attaching a second section of fencing by stacking interlocking layers of lumber, using the lumber for the second section in the spots where you used the spacers on the initial side. Adjust the lumber to the angle you require, then hammer the steel rebar through the holes to secure the fence. Continue this process until you reach the end of your planned fence.
- 8
  To end the fence, repeat the steps you performed at the beginning of the fence. Place the rock, then complete the fence by alternating layers of lumber rails and spacers.

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