Ways to Add Height to a Fence

Chain-Link Fences

Chain-link fences can be added onto to make them taller.Sean Murphy/Lifesize/Getty Images

Several groups that discourage keeping dogs chained in backyards have come up with suggestions for adding mesh fencing material to the top of an existing fence, thus adding height to a fence and hopefully thwarting Fido from jumping over the fence. Sometimes called "hardware cloth," this product comes in rolls of varying thicknesses. Choose one of the sturdier hardware cloths, and use wire ties to attach them to chain link fences.

Look for flexible fences made of plastic derivatives that are sold at hardware stores or online. Size 25-feet long by 2-feet high and made of plastic, key phrases to look for include "hardware net" and "utility net." Even "poultry fence" netting, with its hexagonal shapes, can be used to make an existing fence higher. These are lightweight and primarily act as extra deterrents to keep things out of a fenced area. Use zip ties to attach.

Wood lattice looks good for awhile.Jupiterimages/Photos.com/Getty Images

Sections of wood lattice, framed and attached to the top of a fence, look good after they have been installed. However, wood lattice tends to sag after awhile and pieces fall off due to harsh weather, and pretty soon you have a fence that doesn't look so good. Get a professional to install wood lattice fence toppers for the best appearance. This is no small job, so it will not be cheap. Also consider lattice fence toppers made with polyproylene, a hardy plastic. This product has a wood-grain appearance and is weather resistant. You can install it yourself with good results, but the labor is physically demanding work.

If you have room to do so, plant foliage next to short fences. Choose a shrub that grows very quickly in your specific area. In a few years, quick-growing plants could easily extend above a fence, adding privacy. Bamboo grows very quickly - not only up, but it also grows out, encompassing ground rapidly. Use bamboo with caution. Virburnum and Wax Myrtle shrubs are evergreen and grow medium-fast.

Check with your homeowners' association, if you have one, to ensure you don't break any rules of the neighborhood before working on fencing. Additionally, check fence codes in your city so you don't break any laws.