How Can I Make a Fence Taller?

So you have a 6-foot fence in your backyard, but you need an 8-foot fence? Fortunately, there are quite a few ways to make a fence taller. Depending upon the type of fence you have, it can be simple or more complicated, but definitely easy for any homeowner to accomplish. Extending a chain length fence would require a bit more work. Making a wooden fence taller only requires adding more wood slats to the existing wood slats. This article will discuss how to make a block wall fence taller.

Things You'll Need

• Tape measure Pencil Table saw 2-by-4 lumber Drill motor Masonry bit 1/4-inch by 4-inch galvanized concrete screws Screw gun Nail gun 16-penny nails Fence slats

Instructions

1. Determine how much taller you need to make your fence. Adding a foot of extra fence to a block wall only requires making a pony wall a foot tall, securing it to the block wall, and attaching attractive wood slats to the yard side.

2. Measure the length of the wall to determine the amount of material you will need. Measure and cut 2-by-4 lumber so you have enough 1-foot wall supports to extend the length of the wall, placing one every 16 inches on center.

3. Create a bottom wall plate by screwing down 2-by-4 material along the top of the concrete wall. Pre-drill holes in the block every 16 inches using a masonry bit and a drill motor.

4. Place the lumber on the wall and screw it down through the pre-drilled holes with 1/4-inch by 4-inch galvanized concrete screws and a screw gun.

5. Nail the 1-foot wall supports to the wall plate every 16 inches on center. Use a nail gun and 16-penny nails. Put the nails in at an angle--two on each side, to prevent the boards from twisting.

6. Place a 2-by-4 wall plate across the top of the wall supports. Nail the plate straight down through each wall support using 16-penny nails and a nail gun.

7. Attach 18-inch-by-3-inch fence slats to the yard side of the pony wall right next to each other the entire length of the wall. The fence slats provide the necessary privacy. Place a nail through the fence slats into the top and bottom plates.

Tips & Warnings

• Shop around for the style of decorative fence slat to add the right look to your yard. Fence slats come in many different shapes, sizes, colors and textures.

• Always wear gloves to protect your hands from power tools and wood splinters. Wear goggles to protect your eyes.