Wattle Fence Extension

INCREASING FENCE HEIGHT WITH WATTLES

Wattles are an ancient style of fence/barrier that go back approximatley 7000 years. We wanted a creative and cost effective way to increase our backyard privacy. We had a lot of fun constructing the wattles which were sandwiched using recycled wood on both sides of a pre-existing fence.

Supplies:

Recycled Wood: 2x4s / 1x 6 planks / 1 inch diameter hard wood sticks / slender branches (in our project all wood was collected from roadside recycling piles)

* More traditional wattles would have employed peeled logs instead of 2x4s

Other materials: 3 and 1.5 inch deck screws / varnish / 2 litres cedar stain / large paint brush

Tools: hammer / electric drill / electric screwdriver / measuring tape / circular saw / hand saw / machete / ladder / saw horse

Step 1: (steps 1-5: building the wattles)

We used the saw horse, measuring tape and circular saw to cut: 6 - 4 feet lengths of 2x4 / 12 - 6 foot lengths of 1x6 plank / 12 - 1 foot lengths of 1x6 plank and 12 - 1 foot length of 1x4 plank

We used the electric drill to make 4 holes right through each 2x4 (approximately 10 inches apart) they were varnished using spray.

(the next day after the varnish dried)

A machete was used to sharpen 24 recycled strong sticks and hammered them securely into the 2x4 holes.

We weaved and compacted the fresh branches along the vertical sticks in each 2x4. We made sure to alternate the branches to ensure that in one row the branch started in front and for the subsequent row, the branch started in the back. This was repeated until a 3 foot stack was achieved. Smaller branches were weaved through any big spaces that emerged. We stopped at when we reached 3 feet. The weaving part took about 30 mins to construct a 4 by 3 foot wattle.

Using the ladder, electric screwdriver and 3 inch deck screws, we attached one long 1x4 plank onto the top of a pre-existing fence. We also screwed vertical planks on the back of the fence. We then attached the bottom of each wattle to the top of the fence. Then we sandwiched the wattle by adding a line of horizontal planks along the top of the fence at the bottom of the wattles. We also attached vertical pieces of wood to the front of the fence thereby securing the wattles in place.

Using the ladder/paintbrushes and cedar stain, we stained each plank to match the fence's color

Approximate time: 12 hours over 2 days

Approximate cost: deck screws/stain - $50 Canadian (we already owned all the tools)