bracing my picket fence

[jaso87]

hi
i have erected a 1.5m high picket fence, the base of the posts are supported by stirrups but the top of the fence still sways in and out... how can i make the whole thing more rigid?

[Sam]

Does the fence sway along it's entire length or just in the centre between the posts ? Can you wobble the posts easily by hand ?

If the whole fence moves it could be the connection between the stirrups and the posts - assuming everything else is ok ie stirrups properly fixed in concrete, rails not spanning too far, posts thick enough etc.

If it's only between the posts maybe your top rail needs beefing up.

Ordinarily the posts would be concreted in 450-600 and then cantilever out of the ground, this provides rigidity. A diagonal brace back to the ground would do the trick if you can grow plants around it or something. A more discrete way would be to sink a galv. steel SHS section into the ground behind the post and fix the two. If you can get close enough to the post, to hammer it home....

Good luck

Sam

[Sam]

BTW welcome to the forum !

Your question might be better answered if you posted it in the woodwork/general forum. Think this one is for unit conversions etc

Sam