How to Replace a Fence in a Stone Retaining Wall

Materials

• One of the primary considerations when replacing a fence in a retaining wall is the type of materials that construct the fence. This plays a role in determining how you go about replacing the fence itself. For instance, a wooden fence atop a stone retaining wall may require you to replace some of the existing stones and the masonry that holds it together.

  If the fence posts have been set in stone and significant wood rot has occurred, you may need to replace both the fence posts and the stone. Local building codes may require you to replace the old material with new material that closely matches the original.

Reinforcement

• The mechanical structure of the retaining wall and fence are also primary considerations. Retaining walls that are put in place beside large hills or mounds of dirt may need special reinforcement. You cannot simply assume that the existing wall is a freestanding wall without any additional support because often the horizontal and gravitational forces of the dirt pressing against the wall can push the wall outward, causing it to collapse.

  When you begin removing the existing fence, tinkering with the underlying wall may unleash some of these forces and make it necessary to replace some or the entire existing wall.

Drainage

• Drainage can also affect the design and installation of a fence location on top of a retaining wall. When determining what type of material to use and how you will install the fence, keep potential drainage issues in mind.

  If the retaining wall is located at the bottom of a large hill in a rainy climate, wooden fence posts are probably not the best idea, nor is a wooden privacy fence with closely spaced board. These will simply accumulate debris along the bottom and retain water when it rains.

Replacement

• Replacement of the fence on your retaining wall can be a time-consuming endeavor and it is a project that should not be approached lightly. If you carefully remove the existing fence material, you may be able to leave much of the retaining wall intact and avoid having to replace it as well.

  If the fence posts sit directly on the top of the training wall, you may need to use a concrete mixture to set the replacements in place. Once this is complete, you can then add the fence portion of the project.