Replacing an existing redwood fence with vinyl

shortmort37 · 02-28-2011, 04:21 PM

I have a redwood fence that needs replacing. The 3-1/2" posts are in solid shape, though. I'd like to clad them with 4"x4" sleeves and replace the fencing with vinyl privacy fence.

The problem is, the existing fence sections are exactly 96" wide - meaning, the posts are 99-1/2" on center. All of the 8' vinyl fence I can find is made for posts that are 96" on center. Is there no one that makes specialty vinyl fence for this situation - or, am I going to be stuck digging new fenceposts?

Dan

WillK · 02-28-2011, 04:43 PM

You could add a post in between for 4' panels or use every 3rd post, put in 2 posts in between and use 6' panels.

shortmort37 · 02-28-2011, 04:53 PM

I don't see where that helps me. e.g., a post in-between would put the posts 49-3/4" on center (bisecting the 99-1/2"), but the 4' panels are still less than 48" - expecting posts 48" on center.

Or, did you mean use 6' sections, and throw most of the rail away?

Dan

mrgins · 02-28-2011, 08:04 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by shortmort37

I don't see where that helps me. e.g., a post in-between would put the posts 49-3/4" on center (bisecting the 99-1/2"), but the 4' panels are still less than 48" - expecting posts 48" on center.

Or, did you mean use 6' sections, and throw most of the rail away?

Dan

I think what Willk is saying is that the thickness of an additional post at the 4' mark, subtracted from the total of 99 1/2 leaves you with 48" between posts. Cut your 96" fence sections in half and bingo!

WillK · 02-28-2011, 08:28 PM

Yep, exactly. Add a post and you get to subtract the width of the post from your spacing.

96" OC = 92" fence panel piece (using 4" for simplicity even though a 4x4 is 3.5"x3.5", and I don't know if 4x4 vinyl is really 4x4, but lets keep it simple.

so if you have 99.5" spacing, split it and get 49.75" which equals 45.75" between posts

Half of your 92" panel = 46"

I guess it's true though that you aren't truly getting 4' o.c. or 6' o.c. to use a stock panel.

TheFenceGuy · 07-29-2011, 07:16 AM

I think you'll be better off making new holes for the fence posts. Cutting the panels in half to add another post in the middle might lengthen the section a bit (although not by the whole width of the post if you are using routed posts since the panels extend into the post), but in that case you still need to make the same number of new post holes for all the "in-between" posts.

You'll have a hard time finding panels in such an odd size. Ours are 72" wide (6 ft. on center) or 96" wide (8 ft. on center) and that's pretty much standard for the industry.