Can I rip or cut a Trex picket in order to get the width I want?

Though you can rip a Trex picket to get the width you want, this is strongly discouraged in most cases unless you are building a Horizons fence and the bottom picket needs to be trimmed for height (see detail below). Trex Fencing pickets offer a unique "C channel" design, providing much of the strength of the fence and it is crucial for a successful installation.

In the case of either Seclusions or Horizons fence systems, there are times when adjusting the span of the fence section may be necessary. As previously stated, in the case of Seclusions, cutting or ripping the picket is not a viable solution. This is the same for Horizons, with one exception. So, if ripping the picket should be avoided in the majority of cases, what can you do to adjust the width of the fence? Let's start with Seclusions first:

Seclusions:

Instead of ripping the picket, you can adjust the spacing of the interlocking pickets and lock them in place with finishing nails or trim head composite screws in order to get the width you need for your section. 

Importantly, many situations in which you would be shortening the span of the fence would require you to cut top and bottom rails to length, and then you would remove the needed amount of pickets from the section. Many customers cut their sections back in order to fit spaces that just would not work for a full 8 foot section. 

You can view our Seclusions Installation Guide that explains how to adjust the spacing of your pickets in more detail. Look on pages 12 & 13 for instructions.

Ripped picket alternative:

If you prefer to rip the picket next to the post, cut the knuckle off the edge of the last picket to use as a C-channel against the post. The remainder of the picket can be ripped to fit into the channel. You will need to make sure the channel sits between the top rail and bottom rail so the ripped picket will fit in alignment with the rest of the pickets. Screw or tack the ripped picket to the knuckle.

Horizons:

As was mentioned with Seclusions, shortening the span of the fence can be accomplished by cutting the composite and steel components to the desired length. Because the pickets are oriented horizontally, there is no need to adjust the spacing of the pickets. However, some adjustments may be necessary if you are trying to change the height of the fence. Of course, you can cut the material and remove any amount of pickets that you need to. But in the case of ripping or cutting the picket to adjust spacing, cutting or ripping the picket is discouraged except for in the case of the last picket. 

The steel bottom rail is hung over the last picket, and then the rail itself is screwed into the composite material. When the pickets are manufactured, the material is extruded to the proper dimensions in order to provide an approximate 1'' gap between the ground and the steel bottom rail. But these dimensions are nominal, and there are times when the fence body is too long and the bottom rail will hit the ground without an adjustment. In these cases, cutting the last picket is a suitable solution. 

The ripped (or cut) end of the picket can be inserted into the bottom rail and then attached with screws. This allows you to make adjustments to the bottom of your fence, keeping it from direct contact with the ground. This also gives you an added level of variability in adjusting the height of your fence if desired. Our Horizons Installation Guide provides more details in regards to general installation, measurements, instructions, etc.

So, in summary, ripping your Trex picket is not recommended in almost all applications. We do recommend it only in the case of adjusting the bottom of your Horizons fence. In Seclusions, the "C" channel design of the pickets is a critical element of the fence design. You can achieve the desired width for your fence section by cutting the material and spacing out the pickets accordingly, and then using finish nails or composite screws to secure any gaps between the interlocking "knuckles" of the pickets. 

Of course, if you ever have any questions, you can call our team at 877-700-8739 and we would be happy to help you out with your installation.