Can I extend retaining wall fence brackets with bracket plates?

Hi everyone,

This is my first time posting question here and I hope someone could give me some advice of DIY colourbond fence.

We hired a contractor to build a 1700mm long retaining wall approx. 80-100mm off our house boundary line. Instead of putting the offset fence brackets, he put straight fence brackets and they probably cannot be redone now.

We are now thinking of DIY colourbond fences, is it possible (or safe) to add some bracket plates to existing fence brackets to make it offset, so we can put our fence on the boundary line?

Thank you in advance for your help.

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Comments

Jewelleryrescue

Hi @Kare

Well hello to the workshop. Ummm I am very familiar with color bond fences. But a little confused about your fence goals and current retaining wall placement. Did you want to run the fence on top of the retaining wall?

A / For example that white surveyors peg is the real corner of your yard typically the color bond posts start exactly there and run down your mutual fence line half paid for by neighbour. So the fence forms its own corner with standard color bond posts on top of the peg.. That would a normal fence arrangement .

B/ It looks to me you want to attach a color bond post to the metal bracket and have it run along top of the wall?

If this is true I would take bracket off and not use it.

More simply dig in and cement a standard color bond post at the end of the concrete retaining wall which will also be able to position on your true fence line next to white peg (No offset required) . The color bond bottom rail will then simply sit on top of your retaining wall.

If you build inside your peg line you will be losing property space if this is the situation as a guess.

So i highly recommend building fence line starting on the surveyors pegs that is what its there fore. This will move your fence off the line of the retaining wall and in line with surveyors peg next build up your color bond fence on top of one or two 50mm x 2400 x 200mm treated sleepers plinths that slip into color bond post slots and put bottom fence rails on top of that this will form your proper fence line and it will be level with your cement retaining wall.

So please tell me where I assumed wrong and we can go from there.

Also this guide may help

https://www.bunnings.com.au/diy-advice/building-construction/fences-gates/how-to-install-colorbond-fence-panels

Kare

https://www.workshop.bunnings.com.au/discussion/comment/34947#Comment_34947

Thank you for you detailed reply. That is very informative.

Yes, we are hoping to build the fence on the surveyor peg. However, we are not sure how to secure the posts.

The area between the peg line and retaining wall has been filled with gravel and ag pipe. We are a bit afraid to dig and damage the drainage.

Therefore, we were thinking to add some bracket plates to extend from the original fence bracket installed, and attached the plates between the posts. Kind of like DIY the offset fence brackets. Or, is digging the ground and cement the posts are the only way to install the fences?

I hope this doesn't confuse you. Thank you again for your help.

Jewelleryrescue

https://www.workshop.bunnings.com.au/discussion/comment/79783#Comment_79783

Thanks @Kare

You guys have gone to some trouble and expense with the backet idea I follow your plan it will work to a certain degree with a bit more creative DIY thinking but I dont want to rain on your parade but I know color bond needs proper posts for long life.

Thanks for extra info its much clearer I understand your concerns re ag pipe but I think we can work with the ag pipe as it is flexable.

My advice is based on what I would do in your yard as if it was my yard but you guys are the project managers so your decision rules and we will support that as you choose just so you know.

I still highly recommend the standard color bond fence build and not try to attach brackets method. my reasons are.

- Bracket will not make a strong fence high up . Regular posts will be stronger wind proof all day every day.

- It wont look very nice and it is quite hard and to attach that bracket to a color bond post . You might custom make a bracket lower down but it wont hold fence at the top.

Lets look again

The ag pipe is on the inside of the peg between the wall. So the post goes where the peg is on the outside of the ag line.so no need to disturb ag line. If need be the ag line can be sqaushed a bit and it will go out of round a bit but still 100% effective as posts push past it for more posts down the line.

If you dig carefully a post holes besides the outside of ag line you wont hurt it and it already has holes in it so even if you damage it water will still flow into it. and its function is 100% ok. Plus there is room to add fence posts on the out side and follow surveyer marked boundaries.

Use a manual post hole digger for cleaner post holes past the ag line less risks of hurting it. Cement in the post hole can stay below ag line and not clog it up.

Can I suggest you contact a color bond installer and get a quote off them to do the job and get there opinion as to how to proceed. They may have some new approach too we have thought of.

MitchellMc

Welcome to the Bunnings Workshop community @Kare. It's wonderful to have you join us, and many thanks for your question on fencing.

Unfortunately, Colorbond fencing is designed to be installed between posts that have been concreted into the ground. Even then, due to wind loads, the footers need to be sizeable. As @Jewelleryrescue has mentioned, attaching the posts to brackets likely wouldn't be a positive enough connection and wouldn't comply with installation requirements.

It would be best to do some exploratory work to see if you can make the appropriate space for the footers behind the retaining wall.

Please let us know if you have any questions.

Mitchell

Kare

https://www.workshop.bunnings.com.au/discussion/comment/34963#Comment_34963

Thank you guys for your advice.

We agree that concretting the posts to secure the fences will be much safer and will reconsider this method.

We will evaluate the situation and see if we can still DIY it, otherwise better to leave them to the professionals as you all said.

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