How to replace fence palings to extend height?

[ifresh]

Hi Team,

We are in the middle of a backyard renovation and are looking at increasing privacy with our fences. The fence is at the top of a large rock retaining wall with the boundary at the bottom of the wall so the whole thing is ours to change (and the neighbour knows/expects that). 
We currently have a timber fence that is 1.5m high but we can go to 2m without council approval. We’ve considered replacing the whole thing with colorbond but actually prefer the timber look. Is it possible to just replace all the palings with longer ones and just leave the existing posts and frame? Would we need to replace the top railing or just add a third one up higher for support? 
Thanks!

[EricL]

Hello @ifresh 

Welcome to the Bunnings Workshop community. It's sensational to have you join us, and thanks for sharing your question about your fence extension.

From a fence building point of view, it would be best to change the entire structure. Changing the rails and adding longer palings on a short post is added weight that that was not accounted for in the original fence plan. Although it may appear that the posts will be able to handle the added weight, when viewed in the long term the posts might begin to lean or get stressed due to the added weight. While a proper post installed to the proper depth will be able to withstand harsh wind and weather along with the weight of a two-metre-high fence.   

Let me call on our experienced members @Dave-1 and @Nailbag for their recommendations. 

If you have any other questions we can help with, please let us know.

Eric

[Dave-1]

Afternoon @ifresh 

Any chance of a photo of the area Maybe your posts are close enough to carrythe load, maybe not and a photo would be easiest way to judge

Here is a story that shows pretty much what @EricL was describing...

My grandmas fences either side of her yard.... 

First fence was put in by my grandfather and neighbour plus cases of beer consumed, they went for long spans to save digging holes for posts, they use mini orb metal for the fence withtimber rails. (It sagged within 3 years)

Second fence was put in by a fence installer, fence posts were a lot closer, timber fence palings were used. No beer harmed in this exercise. Fence never sagged.

Id be tempted to change over the fence itself, adding a quarter more weight to a span ill be fine for a yeah or so maybe but will sag with age. Unless the posts fit the span to carry the correct weight (plus size of rails)

Dave

[Nailbag]

Hi @ifresh 

The first thing you need to consider are your neighbours as they will have a say and you want to keep in their good books. So, working with them is a great idea. If a 2m paling fence is a minimum requirement within your council, then legally the neighbour only has to pay for half of that style, and then your up solo for the cost of a colourbond fence. But it could get complicated if the current 1.5m fence is in good shape, they may not want to contribute anything. 

Then to answer you question on extending the current 1.5m, then that would be a no. The posts need to be able to support the height of 2m, which they can't as they won't be in the ground far enough. Posts should be a min 1/3rd height in to the ground. So, as @EricL  mentioned, you're up for a new fence.

Nailbag