How to fix wooden slats to an exterior wall?

[newbie251]

Hi team,

Would love your advice on putting up wooden panels on our outdoor walls. We would like to change the current walls to wooden panels, the problem is the walls are currently uneven and the one side has a wire fence only. Although there are a few wooden stakes in the ground. Just wondering if you think these wooden panels would work? https://www.bunnings.com.au/good-times-decking-1113-x-555mm-single-panel-merbau-modular-decking_p071....

The heights ok the walls are also quite uneven so not too sure in individual ones would work better? Also what would you advise to use to adhere the panels to the wall? Is it a simple nail gun? 

Thanks! 
Newbie 

 

  

[JacobZ]

Hi @newbie251,

Thank you for your question about adding timber panels to your existing fence.

Unfortunately, it would not be as simple as just screwing the panels to the existing fence as it appears to be made of fibre cement sheeting, which is not capable of supporting weight. If you tap on the wall, does it sound hollow? Or solid, like it is made of cement blocks?

I can see there are what appears to be metal posts, but I can't see any screws along the fibre cement sheets that would show how they are attached. Can you see any screws along the cream-coloured panels?

If the existing fences are in good enough condition to support the additional weight, you'll have to attach horizontal rails across the front of the walls, which you can then attach the timber panels to.

The first thing we'll have to do is work out how the cream coloured wall is constructed, so we can determine whether it is possible and, if so, how we could go about attaching those rails.

Let me know what you find so I can assist further.

Allow me to tag @Dave-1, @AlanM52 and @Nailbag for their thoughts.

Jacob

[Dave-1]

Good Evening @newbie251 

@JacobZ has really stated a good place to start figuring out what will be needed. 

Some things to consider when working out your way forward.

-Slats compared to solid timber panels (lighter weighted wall)

-Adding aditinal posts along the fence line that you want the timber on, By the sound of it you will need to have a stronger structure so more posts for sure, I would have a minimun spacing if 1200mm between posts for carrying those type of panels.

-Is it a dividing fence line? As there are issues with it if it is. (height and strength)

If you went for vertical slats with space between them there will be less overall weight, probally still have the same amount of posts, Just a slat, same air space and another slat. (cant really go horizontal if there is a chance the slats can be climbed next to the pool)

I would start with figuring out what you have, sketch it up on a piece of paper. It will show if the fence line is straight, if you need more posts and with the existing makeup you know what the existing posts can carry.

Dave

[newbie251]

Hi JacobZ 

Thank you for your response. Apologies for the delay we haven’t moved in yet so went to see the property over the weekend.

I tapped on the cream coloured walls and they are indeed hollow sounding. There weren’t any screws in the wall panels, there were holes though as previously there was fake ivy hung on the walls held on by screws which we took down as a climbing hazard in the pool area.

Thanks

Newbie

[newbie251]

Thanks Dave-1 for your reply, that makes sense will need to get someone else to help put up additional posts as at the moment there were only 3 visible ones and they were 106cm wide, this is the dividing wall. 

it is also annoyingly uneven in parts where I think the previous owners tried to add just a wooden plank for privacy which is why we’re ended up with all sorts of surfaces.

Thanks I will give a sketch a go and let you know. Do you have an example of the wooden slats that are lighter than the timber panels? 

thanks

[JacobZ]

Hi @newbie251,

With the knowledge that they are fibre cement sheet walls, you could not attach panels to them; rather, you would have to run rails between the posts. This is because fibre cement sheeting is not structural in nature and is not able to support any significant weight.

Are the posts thick metal?  It could be possible to utilise them, but if the metal is too thick, screws may not be an option. If you could bolt timber rails to them, this might work, but it seems increasingly likely you would have to install new posts.

When you are able to, can I ask for some photos showing the top of the posts and a measurement of their thickness?

Hopefully, with a few more details, we can find a solution that will work for you.

Jacob