Update on Wooden Fence to Raise Height of Garden Wall
It has been 4 years since I posted the article on using pine to make a garden fence to increase the height of my perimeter wall, and I want to share with you how it looks.
20/01/2023
The decorative fence on top of my brick wall - 4 years later!
In 2009, I posted an article on how I made a wooden fence to increase the height of the garden wall surrounding my property. The purpose of the wall was for both privacy and decoration and I wanted a fence that wasn't just plain panelling but added more curb appeal. The result was just as I wanted it and the fence has given us the privacy that we needed. Click here to read the article 'How to Easily Increase Wall or Fence Height'.
This year, it has been 4 years since the wooden fence was installed and I wanted to give you an update on the condition, especially since I used 12mm-thick pine for the construction. You always hear that pine is not great for outdoor use, to which I reply that pine (which is in fact a tree) does just fine outdoors if it is properly treated to protect it from the elements.
I have other outdoor furniture made using pine and all these are still in great condition after regularly applying the proper treatment, and by that, I mean an exterior sealer or wood treatment product. For the fence, this is the first time it is being treated since its installation 4 years ago, which is a testament to the fact that there is nothing wrong with using pine outdoors, particularly with it being a more affordable solution to other more expensive options.
One of the fence panels made using 12 x 94mm PAR pine purchased at my local Builders Warehouse.
The reason for using 12mm pine instead of 21/22mm-thick pine was so that it could be bent slightly to give it its design. Anything thicker would not have been able to bend, even slightly. The uprights of 50 x 76mm pine provide support for the panels and holes are drilled into the uprights for 10mm threaded rods secured in the wall with cement. Even after 4 years of winds, rain, and hot sun, the fence is still sturdy and the wood not cracking or breaking.
The point I am making is that you can use pine for your outdoor projects as long as you ensure to give it regular treatments. If you leave it untreated for too long, the timber will become brittle and be susceptible to rot and mould. Considering how affordable pine is compared to other woods, it makes a lot of sense to use pine and to just make the effort to apply a treatment annually.
Above is the wooden loveseat that I made for the garden as part of our DIY Divas workshops. It is made with PAR pine purchased at Builders and is treated annually with an exterior sealer. Click here for the step-by-step instructions to make the loveseat.
Another 2015 project using PAR pine is this garden table with built-in cooler for beers or cold drinks. Both 2015 projects are still sitting in my garden and in good condition. Click here for instructions for the garden table with built-in cooler.