Scallop Height

Well, at a casual look all seems to be fine with this fence pictured below, aside of course that this installation is a "rear-set" installation rather than an "in-line" installation (posts tops sticking up from behind the section). Upon closer look though you will notice a few things wrong with this fence.

The first thing is that the height of the scallop (the high point) is significantly lower than the height of the posts. While this does not pose any structural problems with the fence aesthetically speaking it does give the fence an awkward look as the posts seem to be oddly out of place significantly higher than the section. While company specifications can vary slightly, this stye of fence should have the highest point of the scallop installed no more than and inch or so higher or lower than the post height. (Please note that 6" x 6" posts tend to sit higher due to the taller top when cut for a French Gothic, also there may be some odd-ball add-on post top that would vary the height approximation for 4" x 4" posts thought we know of none off hand.).

Another thing wrong with this fence has to do with the gate. If you notice the top left corner of the gate, you will see the top 2" x 4" of the gate frame is almost a full 2" x 4" width lower than top 2" x 4" of the section. This is the same on the other side of the gate. While perfection of alignment is the goal, there is some allowable variation (especially with skewed gates) but in generally, that variation would be about an inch or so, not 3" or better.

Too, though difficult to make out here, this gate lacks a middle rail. This height fence (6') should always have a mid-rail. The fence does. What happened to the middle rail on the gate? Suppose we'll never know.