Notching 4×4 to Use as Fence Rail

fence

I have a 6 ft tall fence (standard home-store pickets) that was installed before the home was purchased.

A tree, that I assume was planted prior to the fence going up, has grown up through the fence line, so much so that it has pushed the panel in front of the tree off the fence line. I am replacing the pickets and rails due to age/rot.

To work around the tree, I was thinking of using a 4×4 instead of 2×4 for the rails, where I would notch the 4×4 down to 2×4 near the tree. The 4×4 width would be kept near the post to support jutting the fence inward from the normal fence line.

Is there anything I should be concerned with structurally with such an approach?

The tree is primarily in the neighbor's property, so cutting it would not be an option. My concern with new posts is trying to bury such in an existing root structure.

Proposed solution

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             |______________|  (proposed solution)

Best Answer

Structurally, maybe. The weight will be twice as much (assuming two rails) on the same wood at the notch due to the larger lumber. This could result in more sagging or even breakage.

Some other ideas...

Add posts and route around the tree

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              | |
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           |      |_____
           |      |_____
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Space out the one panel

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___________|      | | <-- offset spacer block
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