Privacy Fence On A Wall

[Steve Campbell]

Hi folks,

Currently considering what to do with this "space".

https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/108075576/P103...

Whatever we go for, I want to add some further privacy...and the question is "how" ?

Intent would be to take the wall up to 2m high by the addition of a wooden extension. Current wall is ~165cm. This would need to "look good" but also be as low maintenance as possible in the longer term.

This video was interesting
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r3AUO0tYoPc
but I think might be high maintenance in the longer term to keep it looking good (eg water ingress at top would lead to longer term problems ?)

Another option I considered was using decking planking in some way which might be similar. The height extension is about 3 deck planks high so if I could find some way to do that it might be a good option, more simple to construct and more likely to weather well if I use high quality decking stain (as per the deck) ??

So...how might I join 3 planks of decking in such a way to make the wall extension and look good from both sides ? It would also need to be relatively robust as I don't want it blowing down in the first winter storm.

Total length is ~ 12 metres, 4 m at the end, 8 m down the side...so 12 * 4m planks of decking would form the "wall extension".

Thoughts ?

What other options should I consider ? Robust, looks good from both sides, made of wood, low longer term maintenance (ie I don't want to be painting it every year and I don't want to replace it in 3 !).

Thanks for your thoughts.

[Wacky Racer]

That link looks good, he's made a nice job there.

If you get the wood deep dipped at the suppliers it should not need treating for at least five years, and even then it would only be half a days work for two people.

Does it have to be wood?

[Steve Campbell]

Doesn't have to be wood...all options are open...I just thought wood would look good. I'm not too keen to build the wall higher to be honest, but anything "on top" is up for grabs.

[Pheo]

What about something like this: http://www.trellisdirect.co.uk/Garden-Screening-Pa...

[Chrisgr31]

What's the other side of the wall? You might need planning permission to extend the height of that in any way including adding trellis to the top.

[MitchT]

Check with planning. When I lived with my ex we wanted to make a wall higher to improve privacy and security but because the existing wall was running along a public footpath and public highway the limit was one metre. You can, however, grow a hedge above that height and, I believe, can add a wooden fence on top of the wall to a height of two metres. Double check it though as my memory is hazy and the rules might have been amended since. Also, variations to the rules can exist in certain places - it can be a minefield!

[Steve Campbell]

To the right of the picture is part of my neighbours front garden. Directly ahead, is a turning point for the close that we live in. The actual road surface is just over a metre beyond the wall...directly behind the wall is grass and part of my front garden (extending to the end of the wall front), then it becomes my neighbours front garden. His house is set at right angles to mine, in other words, his front of house faces to the left in the picture. Between the wall on the right & his front door is garden + his double garage. The wall directly ahead is built behind the front line of my house. Will post another picture tonight or over the weekend from the front of the house to show this more clearly.

The current wall replaced an older wall / fence construction to the same height (after the old one was destroyed in a storm). It was a "brick pillar / fence posts between" construction. That existed when we moved in and there were no warnings about planning etc. It was likely built when the house was built originally.

So..I'd need to look at this carefully wrt planning...doubtful any of my neighbours would have any problems but I would definitely talk to them about it anyway...we all get on well....but back to thread....what other options IF I could extend it ...and options for how I might do it with decking boards ??

[Steve Campbell]

Thread resurrection as now planning on doing this.

The intent is to build a small height (~36-40cm) wooden wall on the top of the existing wall. I was going to follow the original video (linked above) but have an idea to clad the sides with decking (3 deck planks on each side, + 1 on the top). Will need to build a "carcass" then clad it with the decking.

Would those "in the know" have any concerns with this approach. I know decking isn't "light" but I think it will create a nice effect and should be solid considering how I'm thinking of building it.

What would be the best route to bolt the carcass to the top of the wall ? What kind of bolts would I need ? It will need to be rock solid once built, given it will be 4m long on the short side, and 8m long on the long side (I guess the fact it has a right angle built in helps rigidity).

The wall is a good quality brick double thickness, capped with red brick as you see.

What anchor bolts / rawl bolts would be best & placed at what intervals ?

I'll probably build it in 6 * 2m sections for the carcass....4 bolts per section ? or is this overkill ? ...then use 4m long decking boards

Hope you can visualise the plan and offer advice / obvious pitfalls !

I know about planning permission etc, so just looking for building / DIY advice on actually doing it.

Thanks
Steve

Edited by Steve Campbell on Monday 24th November 17:28

Edited by Steve Campbell on Monday 24th November 17:29

[V8RX7]

To bolt it to the top of the wall would be a pain.

Personally I'd bolt through a 4x2, 3x3 or 4x3 post placed against wall - probably extending it to the floor for aesthetics.

[Steve Campbell]

Thanks.....it's the aesthetics I'm thinking about. Looking for a neat solution that looks great from both sides. Not sure the big posts on my side works for me, hence the "over engineered" solution proposed.

[V8RX7]

Personal choice obviously, I think breaking up that expanse of wall would improve it.

Top mounting a timber isn't a great idea - it will be wet 9 months of the year - holding water and you're drilling through the waterproof(ish) top bricks - it's a poor design.

[Willeh85]

We had a similar privacy problem. We first added a trellece to the top of our fence, but the neighbour complained and it was against the planning regulations as it took the fence height to something like 8feet?

We ended up putting conifers in which by the time we had left were 15feet tall, so nearly double what we originally had planned.

Might be worth building some small troughs at the base of the wall on your side and then planting some bamboo in there like in the picture below?

Looks pretty and will get around any planning laws and annoying neighbours.

[TA14]

Steve Campbell said:

hence the "over engineered" solution proposed.

FWIW your solution is not over engineering - you don't want any fixings in the top 450mm or so. V8's solution is far better although I'd stop the posts 150 to 200mm short of the ground.

[Steve Campbell]

Hmmmmm...looks like I need to reconsider. I like the idea of the bamboo planting but I do want it practically zero maintainence so have definitely ruled that out.

I'm going to look at the posts idea.....they may indeed "break up" the long expanse of wall and look OK.

Why would I not put any fixings into the top 450mmm ?

Let's assume I go with posts & continue with decking boards as the "face" of the wall....what fixings and how many per post to adequately fix the posts to the wall ? I'd like to limit the number of posts, let's say at 2m intervals ? How big do the posts need to be to be secure ?

Thanks for help so far...now seriously reconsidering. It might look ok...and would be easier to build with less materials !

[TA14]

Steve Campbell said:

Why would I not put any fixings into the top 450mmm?

If you put an expanding anchor in one course down what's going to stop the brick from lifting? Not a lot - the weight of the brick and the strength of the mortar in tension (roughly one tenth it's strength in compression) as you go down the wall you need to lift more and more bricks and mortar bonds (spreading out in a triangular fashion) so that eventually the mortar won't crack and you'll be OK. How far down do you need to go? Depends on a few workmanship factors; my guess is 450mm, over to you or the PH masses maybe 375?

As for the posts, they can double as supports for a bird table, creeper, etc.

[Tuvra]

Feather edge finished with a nice top. Cheap as chips, something like:

Can be cut any height you want and as strong as you like