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I recently bought a condo with a 11'x13' patio with a wooden privacy fence. The fence is in pretty bad shape so I want redo it with new wood in a more modern design by doing horizontal planks. I posted another question about materials (Rebuilding fence - lumber questions) and from that discussion now have questions about the structural integrity of my design. I sketched out the existing framing and proposed framing with an sky view and front view.

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The main difference is that I will be increasing the size of the corner posts to 6x6 so that I can screw the horizontal planks to the framing and the post will still stick out of it. Something like (https://i.pinimg.com/originals/8c/e8/d4/8ce8d43018c740fb1c6b47f8a6a369d8.jpg). I also want to add a 4x6 post in the middle of each side to break up the long stretch of horizontal planks.

Is this plan sound? I am open to all suggestions, thanks in advance!

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You aren't clear on how the posts are anchored. Are you pouring concrete piers or doing metal mounting plates with concrete anchors? Either way, I think your plan is sound but you should also anchor the center posts which are floating in your current plan. That will add considerably more structural integrity to your fencing.
I like the 6x6 posts for strength and aesthetics.

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  • I will be using a post base bracket with a 5/8" x 10" concrete wedge anchor. I was going to anchor all of the posts originally but was told that would reduce the structural integrity of the fence. See the comments in the linked post if you want to see more about that
    – Long Nguyen
    May 9, 2020 at 5:36
  • I read the other post. I don't want to recreate the original post but the comment was made that you will "want rigid bases or embedded posts" I didn't see any comment that anchoring all of the posts "would reduce the structural integrity of the fence". Again the issue is lateral strength (wind forces). You have hinge points at the unanchored posts in the center of your fence. Solid fences like yours act like a sail catching wind. I would prefer that the posts were embedded but they're not. The next best thing is to attach all of the posts into the concrete with anchors.
    – HoneyDo
    May 9, 2020 at 15:06
  • My understanding of the comments were that using the post base would not be rigid enough and would act more as a hinge point. The current fence doesn't have an attached post in the middle as well so I figured it was true.
    – Long Nguyen
    May 9, 2020 at 16:14
  • I may be wrong but the hinge point referred to is the vertical hinge point at the center post of each side which is not anchored. Isherwood made the comment that "you'd want continuous rails between the corner posts" which will also help prevent hinging at the center. If I were doing this I would anchor the center post and install continuous rails from corner to corner.
    – HoneyDo
    May 9, 2020 at 19:56
  • By a continuous rail, is a 2x4 that goes from one corner post to the next sufficient? By continuous rail I assume that means an uncut piece of wood? Would it be more secure if the wood was screwed in on top of the posts or to the side?
    – Long Nguyen
    May 9, 2020 at 20:55

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