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Many customers are interested in reusing their existing wooden posts on fence projects. Many times they are extending the height of a wooden fence that they already have in their yard and are looking for suggestions on the 'best' wooden fence post extenders to use in this situation. We usually suggest that customers replace the existing posts because the price of new posts isn't much and if you install new wooden posts you know that they are sturdy and structurally sound. There are some situations where adding a fence post extender is much more economical.
One such situation would be if the post is set in a sidewalk, concrete pad, or other surface where it would be expensive and difficult to jackhammer through the surface to replace a post. Here are some of best methods for extending wooden posts that we have come up with through years of experience.
Extending Wooden Posts - Method 1:
We use 1/4" thick x 4" x 4" galvanized steel plates that have holes pre-drilled in the corners (before galvanizing to avoid rust). Install two plates on opposite sides of the post, on sides that are least conspicuous, depending on the style of the fence. We prefer that these plates do not show anymore than necessary. We bolt the extension on with galvanized lag bolts. This splice will hold until 'the cows come home'.
Extending Wooden Posts - Method 2:
Another quality method is to face the 4 x 4 post on four sides with your choice of wood. Use 1" x 6" ripped to fit around the post. A spacer/nailer 4 x 4 must be inserted as an extension to nail the face boards into. This method also gives a 'beefier' look to the post. It will measure 5" x 5", if you use 3/4" thick wood (actual size of a 1x6) as face boards.
Sometimes we use these 'face' boards even on new construction to make posts bigger, or to face off a treated pine post with cedar to match the rest of the cedar fence. Don't forget the post caps for your new extended wooden posts. We offer fence post caps in everything from classic wood post caps to quality low voltage and solar post cap lights.
The photo below shows a post 'faced' in cedar. The post is a 4 x 4" (actual size 3 1/2" x 3 1/2") with 1 x 6 red cedar face boards ripped to the proper widths. This gives a larger appearance post. If this had been an extended post, you would never know it.