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Hello, we have purchased merbau screenings (20kg each) and we would like to know how to secure them to our back fence without having to build a new frame. We are on a DIY budget so we'd like to do this project ourselves, and hopefully find a simple solution. Photo of the current fence below. It feels sturdy but given we are hoping to install a few of these screenings we want to make sure the fence can take the new load. Thank you
Welcome to the Bunnings Workshop community @Carocrowley. It's sensational to have you join us, and many thanks for your question about attaching screening panels to a fence.
It's great to see that @Ari_ has already provided a helpful reply.
It's important to bear in mind that fences are generally designed to support their own weight and are not built to carry additional heavy loads. Each Merbau screen weighs around 20 kg, so if you plan to install multiple panels, the total added weight could easily reach 150–180 kg or more, which is significant and could stress the fence, especially under wind load. Before attaching anything, inspect the fence posts and horizontal timbers to ensure they are in good condition, free from rot or looseness.
To avoid overloading the fence, as mentioned, have the panels sit on the deck so that the deck carries their weight rather than the fence. You can attach the bottom of the panels to the deck joists or timber using brackets or screws, which safely transfers the load. Once the panels are supported from below, lightly secure them to the fence for alignment and stability, pre-drilling and countersinking screws through the panels into the fence rails to prevent splitting.
Make sure the panels are evenly spaced and vertical, using small spacers or top brackets if necessary, so the fence serves only as a stabiliser rather than the primary support. This approach allows you to safely install heavier Merbau screens on a DIY budget without building a new frame.
Please let me know if you have any questions.
Mitchell
Timber sitting directly on timber can create a spot where moisture collects @Carocrowley, but since your panels are Merbau, a dense hardwood, this is much less of a concern. Ideally, you should leave a small gap between the panels and the deck. The easiest way to do this while still letting the deck bear the weight is to use small plastic packers under each panel. This transfers the load to the deck but keeps the panel slightly off the surface, preventing a pinch point where water could sit. Alternatively, you could place the panels directly on the deck, but it is a good idea to coat the bottom edge, where it will not be visible, with a bitumen-based waterproofer. This adds extra protection and helps prevent moisture issues at the base.
Mitchell
Provided the timber on your fence is in good condition @Carocrowley , the main limiting factor isn’t usually the rails themselves but the size of the concrete footings the posts are set into. Standard fence footings are designed to take the wind load of the fence at its normal height. Once you extend above that, you’re effectively increasing the “sail area” and putting extra force on those same foundations.
In most cases, this isn’t a problem unless the footings were undersized to begin with, but it’s something to keep in mind. There’s not much you can do to directly reinforce the fence itself apart from potentially tying the posts back into another solid structure. For example, connecting them to your decking frame if it’s close by. Do you know if your deck actually uses those posts as part of its support? Sometimes the last joist is fixed to them. If that’s the case, tying the two together could give you extra stability, but you’d want to be careful, as it might also mean the posts are already carrying some of the deck’s load. At that point, it could be worth having a carpenter check whether there’s a safe way to add strength before you put additional screening above the fence line.
Mitchell
