Post & Rail Fences
What A Class Fencing builds
About Our Post & Rail Fences
Post and rail fences are the classic look of country property — clean lines, beautiful curb appeal, and a build style that's been used on Western ranches for over a century. A Class Fencing builds wood post and rail in 2-rail, 3-rail, and 4-rail configurations, plus vinyl post and rail for a maintenance-free version of the same look.
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More About Post & Rail Fences
Built For Alberta — The A Class Way
Post and rail fencing is the most recognizable look on any acreage or hobby farm — long, clean, parallel rails on heavy posts, framing the property and the laneway. A Class Fencing builds post and rail fences across Springbank, Bearspaw, De Winton, Bragg Creek, Langdon, Foothills County, Mountain View County, and acreage country around Calgary. We work in pressure-treated wood, rough-sawn cedar, and premium vinyl rail for owners who want zero maintenance.
The classic 3-rail wood post and rail fence is built with 6x6 pressure-treated posts (set 4 feet deep with concrete in Alberta), and 2x6 or 2x8 rough-sawn rails fastened with structural screws or through-bolts depending on the spec. We brace every corner, build entrance gateposts up to 8x8 or larger when the look calls for it, and finish with optional stain or oil sealer for added lifespan.
Vinyl post and rail gives you the same iconic look without the every-five-year maintenance cycle. Heavy-wall vinyl rails slide through routed posts, the colour stays bright (white, tan, or black), and there's no painting, no staining, no rot. A Class Fencing uses steel-reinforced posts for wind load and runs aluminum or galvanized inserts in rails where mid-span strength matters.
Post and rail fence is a great match for Alberta climate when it's built right. The open structure lets chinook wind pass through instead of catching it, so wind loading on individual rails is much lower than on solid privacy fence. Pressure-treated wood handles ground-contact moisture; rough-sawn cedar handles freeze-thaw cycling well. Vinyl rails won't crack at -30°C if you buy the cold-rated grade (which is what we install). Snow drift can build up against rails in winter — drift patterns are the only real seasonal consideration, and they don't damage the fence.
Post and rail fence cost typically runs $25 to $60 per linear foot installed depending on material (pressure-treated < cedar < vinyl), rail count (2-rail < 3-rail < 4-rail), and post size (4x4 < 6x6 < 8x8 entrance posts). Vinyl with steel-reinforced posts is at the top end. Custom entrance gates and stone gatepost combinations add to the total — those are quoted as separate line items.
Maintenance on wood post and rail is light: optional stain or oil within the first year and again every 5 years if you want to keep the colour. Bare cedar or pressure-treated will weather to grey, which many owners prefer for the classic ranch look. Vinyl post and rail needs essentially nothing — a rinse once a year. Both versions of post and rail typically last 25-30+ years.
Every post and rail build comes with a workmanship warranty in writing. Process: walk the property and lay out the run together, written quote within 48 hours, deposit confirms the schedule, balance on completion. Typical post and rail run takes 2-5 working days for a residential acreage entrance and laneway. Call (403) 971-4882 or request a free estimate online.
Where A Class Fencing builds post & rail fences: We install post & rail fences across Calgary, Airdrie, Cochrane, Okotoks, Chestermere, and High River, plus the surrounding Foothills County, Rocky View County, and Mountain View County.
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Common Questions
Post & Rail Fences FAQ
What's the standard rail spacing on a 3-rail post and rail fence?
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Typically 10-12 inches between rails, with the bottom rail 10-14 inches off the ground and the top rail at 48-54 inches. Exact spacing depends on what you're fencing — for visual curb appeal (no livestock), wider spacing looks cleaner; for paddock use, tighter spacing prevents animals from putting heads or legs through.
Does post and rail work for livestock containment?
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On its own, post and rail is a visual barrier — fine for horses with adequate training, marginal for cattle, and not sufficient for goats, sheep, or escape-prone animals. For real livestock containment we add no-climb V-mesh wire backing or run electric wire on insulators along the inside of the rails. Many of our post and rail paddock builds include wire backing.
Wood vs vinyl post and rail for an acreage entrance?
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Both look good. Wood gives a more traditional ranch look and can be stained to any colour; needs re-staining every 5 years if you want to keep colour. Vinyl looks identical from 20 feet away and needs no maintenance for decades. Up-front cost: vinyl runs higher; lifetime cost: typically similar once you factor wood maintenance.
How deep do post and rail fence posts go?
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Minimum 4 feet for 6x6 corner and gate posts, set in concrete to handle Alberta frost-line cycling. Line posts at minimum 36 inches. Larger 8x8 entrance gateposts often go 5+ feet deep with significantly more concrete. We engineer post depth based on rail count, wind exposure, and post size.
Can you build a custom entrance with stone gateposts?
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Yes — we partner with mason crews on stone-pillar entrances, or we'll build with 8x8 oversized timber posts that look like solid columns. Custom entrances with arched gates, automated openers, and matching wing fences are a regular part of our acreage work.
Related Fencing Services
Also Built By A Class Fencing
Horse Fences
Safe, visible, and built for the herd.
View Horse Fences in Calgary
Farm & Acreage Fences
Long runs, uneven ground, miles of property line — handled.
View Farm & Acreage Fences in Calgary
Wood Fences
Classic Calgary curb appeal — built to weather chinooks, snow, and sun.
View Wood Fences in CalgaryOur work
Post & Rail Fences & More
Recent post & rail fences builds first, followed by everything else A Class Fencing has built across Calgary and Southern Alberta.
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