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I will put all the posts in to the same height, usually 4’, I have a 4’ spirit level which is useful for getting the height and making them upright. It is a job far better done with 2 people, start with the top rail. Work all along nail in onto first post then eye it up and work along single nailing, then stand back, rails can be knocked up or down with a sledgehammer to make it look right, this gives a better look rather than following every rise and fall in the ground. Occasionally you may have to take a bit off the top of some posts so they look right, if you measure every one the fence goes up and down all over the place and looks wrong, unless the ground is perfectly even. Then cut a spacer and use this to put on the lower rail(s). Once all the rails are on then double up the nails. (I really need to get myself a nail gun, will save so much time).
Thats my method, hope it makes sense, I’m sure other people will have their own methods but this works for me!
Cheers Steve, my dad is a joiner and he taught me to cut all posts at same height then measure up 150mm to 200mm and mark at end posts and then ping chalk line and set rails and then measure down from top of post same as bottom rail and ping line then split the difference in the middle. Then attach fence boards at end posts and put string line on top then follow all the way along. But not sure on my fence today as maybe I should of kept level?? Yeah we’ve got a Rawlplug nail gun it’s decent for what we need it for.
Ah I think I misunderstood stood you, i take it you are doing a closeboard fence? I was thinking more agricultural style post and rail.
Yeah Steve Sorry about that haha. Cheers for replying though
This reply might appear twice, I hit reply and it seems to have disappeared into the ether?
anyway for closeboard fencing posts to set the same height off the ground, I would set gravel boards level and rails level assuming the ground is reasonably level. If a slight slope run the fence level until the height is 18” out give or take run a short slope to correct height then run level again. For steeper slopes bottom rail horizontal top rail parallel to ground and split the difference with the middle rail, mark and skill saw the tops to match the ground and use capping to finish it off nicely.
Every job is a bit different and needs to be approached in a slightly different way.
It might not be the best method but I think it looks right, I am not a fan of fences that step up and down like a panel fence has to.