How to add cat netting to a fence in a rental?

[cmc1]

 

Hello lovely people! 
my partner and I are adding a dog to our family. Obviously they need free access to outside, so I need to make our backyard safe so our cats don’t get out and roam the streets! They would have access from the back sliding door, to a pergola, that then opens to the lawn. 

We’re in a rental so there isn’t a lot of permanent stuff we can do for that. 

I was thinking of building the attached, and zip tying the metal poles to the wooden fence pools. What do you think the best way to approach this would be? Also open to other suggestions 😊 

[EricL]

Hello @cmc1 

Welcome to the Bunnings Workshop community. It's sensational to have you join us, and thanks for sharing your question about installing cat netting.

I propose speaking to your landlord and asking them if you can screw the small metal posts to your timber fence. Assure them that when the time comes to move, you will remove the posts and use timber filler to fill the screw holes in the fence. If they are not too keen on the idea, I propose looking at the Crescent 680 x 7.9mm Stainless Steel Cable Ties to hold the posts in place. It will be necessary to have access to the entire fence post as the cable tie needs to go all the way around the post as well as the cat net post as well.

If you need further assistance, please let us know.

Eric

[cmc1]

Thank you! Do you know what kind of poles these are called? 

 

[Dave-1]

Good Evening @cmc1 

I think plastic cable ties would perish in the sun resonably fast 😕 I would be tempted to screw the posts to the timber posts of the fence tho  

If you are concerned about that or not allowed to do it then I do have an idea on how you could support them

Purchase a hole saw the same diameter as the posts.

Then a piece of timber 90mm * 90mm.

Mark out 90mm squares, drill through the center with the holse saw. (will be easier to hold the timber and drill is why this sequence)

Saw them up into their respective squares.

Then cut through the center of the block so you end up with the hole cut down the center (think of a timber clamp in two halves)

Using Craftright 80 x 300mm F Clamp  clamp one side against the post, then half circle, bar, then oppisite half circle, then the other side of the clamp. 

Tighten.

I have these clamps and have used them for the past decade and a half, they have sat out in the weather and maybe picked up some surface rust but seriously they have held up extremly well. In fact I have had 3 of them holding a temporary rail on my front balcony for the past year (saving money for timber ) They still work the same, If you are worried spray them and the thread in particular with WD40 every 4 months. 

Dave

[EricL]

Hello @cmc1 

I'm not sure if they have a style name, but the material is sometimes referred to as SHS Square hollow steel, Galvanized steel square tube and painted square hollow section steel. 

If you need further assistance, please let us know.

Eric

[Dave-1]

Good Evening @cmc1 

If @EricL has the type of pipe right (probarlly has id say) then even easier, you just need the clamps I mentioned, no need for the timber surrounds to be able to clamp it firmly. Just two of the F clamps per post and no holes needed.

Dave