how do I connect 4×4 posts vertically on a deck?
Right now I have a deck on the house professionally installed a few years ago and its great. The one neighbor is so close I need a privacy wall. Hindsight is 20/20. There is a 16 foot section of 3 foot high pvc railing connected at the house. There are 2 4×4 posts in the railing, one in the middle and one at the corner. How can i take these 3 foot sections and make them 8 feet high? Ideally i would like to put 1x6x16 going horizontally from the house to the end and make it 8 feet high, so i would be using 16 boards with minimal spacing between each. It will not have a roof on it and i just need it sturdy enough for the wall. I am torn between cutting it off at deck level and using a strong connect or splicing it and connecting that way. Or should i do something else?
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Any kind of privacy screen is going to have enough surface area to act as a sail in the wind. You need a stout attachment. I'd consider something that had posts attaching to the outside of the joists and extending into the ground.
I think Andy's right; you're proposing a sail on dry land. As he suggests, you might sister the existing columns and consider adding a couple more between the existing columns. You might consider alternating the 1x6 sheathing on opposite sides of the columns, giving a visually solid wall with horizontal slots to let the wind through.
I agree with Andy, too: this 16' x 8' privacy wall has a lot of surface area and you're going to need to build it strong. You didn't say how high the existing deck is above grade. My initial reaction is to run the posts for your privacy wall all the way to the ground, anchor them adequately, and ALSO connect these posts to the existing deck. This will provide two solid points of connection and a lot of resistance to wind-induced torque.
Bobbo has a good idea, too. Whatever specific design you use for the wall surface itself, allowing some of the wind to bleed through will take some load requirements off the structural design.
Thanks so much for the ideas. This is a picture of where it will be. It’s 3 feet off the ground. I do like the idea of alternating sides so the air goes through. I can’t go into the ground here for the extra spots now because electrical was run after it is right there and an outlet attached at the end. That’s why i was trying to add to the existing 4x4’s. If I could set 12’ posts on the ground and secure to the deck somehow and then bolt through the existing 3 feet that’s exposed after the railing comes off. I am open to anything to get privacy.
This is the railing I would like to take off
I'm a little confused about the details you provided regarding the presence of electrical wiring and/or outlets. Depending on details and priorities however, the electrical system could always be revised.
I believe you're referring to the existing posts as "4x4s", but they look to be made of some sort of plastic in the photo. I don't have much experience with plastic rail systems. It could be that there might be some extra flexibility in adapting the posts to your current objectives.... or maybe the opposite, LOL.
Unless there is a solid reason to avoid it, my guess at present would be that the most straight-forward solution would be to built a new wall right up against the edge of the existing deck. Anchor this wall in the ground, run it up to the desired height, and connect it to the edge of the deck (to joists) for added stability.
There's a lot of guess work without actually seeing it in person, of course. But I hope that helps.
Yeah, that’s a vinyl post cover and there is a 3 foot section of 4x4 underneath. The electrical is up against the deck in the ground right next to my deck. The neighbors house is so close I can’t move it. I had to get special permission from the previous neighbors and go to the village for permission to even build the deck. Fast forward to new neighbors and now i’d like some privacy. I wonder if I only made it 6 feet high and once I took the vinyl cover off The existing 4x4 then I could attach a 4x4 on both sides With bolts and make those six feet high. Then the one end would be attached to the house and the other end would be the same with one extra 4x4 attached. Then if I did alternating slats it would relieve some of the surface area pressure
Well, I'm still not entirely sure what's going on with the electrical (it might be a service line coming into the house, or maybe it's just some simple wiring to feed an outlet). But at any rate, it sounds like it would create problems for you to alter it.
Regarding extending the height of the existing posts, bolting a longer 4x4 (or any structural member) to the side of the existing posts would certainly work well in attaching those two members together. However, the problem is that your existing 4x4 was not specifically designed with that sort of increased torque load in mind. Think of a long-handled pry bar.. the longer the handle, the more torque you can apply.
I'm not saying for sure that your existing 4x4s could not handle the load, just that the original design didn't foresee what you're now contemplating. As such, it's very possible that the new loads could overwhelm the existing post connections.
Do you know whether your existing 4x4s extend to the ground? What supports the deck vertically? Understanding how the existing 4x4s connect to the deck would go a long way in estimating how well they would support the torque loads of your proposed privacy wall.
quick thought is to check w/ a fence company about using pre made sections of fencing - they may have something that has internal structure that works and alternatives for privacy
You only need privacy when you're using it. Google "patio curtain" and all sorts of images will come up to give you some ideas. Another idea is a lattice screen. Google "Yardistry privacy screen planter" and look at the images. Very high quality products. I'm currently using a set of 5 (bought the 3 screen package and made 2 more for a total of about 10 ft.) My deck is 5 feet off the ground so they give us privacy from our neighbour. ---This temporary screening overcomes bylaw restrictions on height. My wife has mini-lights twist-tied to it. I take it apart and store it under the (enclosed) deck during the winter. Easy peasy.
BTW That carpet is going to cause your deck to rot more quickly.