Private Backyards » About Privacy Fences

Privacy Fence Gates

Admin — Fri, 19 Mar 2010 09:39:06 +0000

You will find two main privacy fence gate styles. The first is a pedestrian gate, which is designed specifically for people to pass through. The other style is a driveway gate or a vehicle gate, which is designed to allow cars and trucks to pass through.

Pedestrian Privacy Fence Gates

Privacy fence gates can be particularly difficult to build. They need to be designed in such a way that they are self supporting, since they will be swinging open and closed and will not have any support on the swinging end. A faulty design will cause the gate to sag and eventually miss the latch. Privacy fence gates also need to be carefully leveled so that they don't inadvertently swing open.

There are a number of options for securing your privacy fence gate closed. A simple latch will work, but will not prevent strangers from slipping into your yard. Many latches are available with holes for a pad lock and some come with locks built into them. Gravity latches will automatically latch closed when the gate is shut. You can also get a latch with a bolt that will slide for locking. If you have young children playing in your yard, consider placing the latch up high, out of their reach.

To ensure that your privacy fence gate closes properly, your best bet is to get a spring hinge. These hinges feature a spring along the main bolt that will ensure the gate closes. Combined with a self-locking latch, this ensure the best security for your privacy fence.

Privacy Fence Gates for a Driveway

A driveway gate is the only way to secure access across a driveway. Although you can get a manual gate (where you must leave the car in order to open and close the gate) you will likely quickly tire of this. Many gates come with automatic openers and closers that operate from either a keypad placed at the gate or from a controller that you keep in your car.

Keep in mind that when you secure your driveway with a privacy fence gate, you will need some means to allow deliveries to be made to your home. A mail box outside the gate might be fine, but for larger packages you might prefer that they not be left outside the gate. In that case, you will need a way for packages to be delivered through the fence, or you will need to open the gate to allow the delivery personnel access.

There are many great options for a privacy fence gate. It is not recommended that you try to build one yourself without significant research and planning. However, installation of a privacy fence gate can be fairly straightforward with the proper hardware and a friend to help level the gate.

Privacy Fence Cost

Admin — Mon, 15 Mar 2010 16:14:25 +0000

Privacy fence prices can vary quite a bit depending on a number of factors, including the location of the fence, the length and height of the fence, how many pedestrian and vehicle gates it has, the materials used, and any decorative touches that are added.

Approximating Privacy Fence Cost

The privacy fence cost estimates given here are for basic fences with no decorations. Uses these estimates as a guide for relative pricing between different fence types, rather than as exact prices.

A chain link privacy fence will run anywhere from $6 to $10 per linear foot. There are many different options for chain link fences, including the types of slats used to make them private, and the weight of the fencing material. These factors will affect the cost.

A wood privacy fence can vary greatly depending on the type of wood used. Cedar and bamboo will be more expensive than pine, for example. There are many decorative options that can be applied to a wooden privacy fence as well. Expect to pay anywhere from $8 to $20 per linear foot.

A vinyl privacy fence is much more durable, will last longer, and require less maintenance than a wooden fence. The longevity and low maintenance are reflected in the cost however, so expect to pay anywhere from $20 to $30 per linear foot.

An decorative privacy fence, such as an ornamental or wrought iron fence is also a more costly option, but again prices can vary greatly depending on the style and weight of the material used. Prices will range from $20 to $30 per linear foot.

If you have an existing fence that you would like to make private, a privacy fence screen can be obtained for anywhere from $1.50 to $5 per linear foot. The actual cost will depend on the material you select and the amount of blockage you want.

As you can see, there are quite a number of factors to consider when determining privacy fence costs. Hopefully, this gives you a general idea of the relative pricing between fences.

Privacy Fence Designs

Admin — Thu, 04 Mar 2010 16:42:09 +0000

Different privacy fence designs do more than just change the look of a privacy fence. The design you choose can also affect the performance. Here are a few privacy fence designs, and some of their benefits.

A stockade privacy fence offers the most complete privacy solution, especially if installed in heights exceeding six feet tall. A stockade fence contains vertical slats with no gaps between them. Sound and wind are both deadened by this design.

A picket privacy fence is similar to a stockade design, but the slats have a certain amount of gapping between them. The size of the gap will affect how much people will see when peering through the fence, and how much wind and sound will get through.

A shadowbox privacy fence, also knows as board-on-board, also contains vertical slats. The difference is that every other slat is attached to the opposite side of the fence. These alternating slats have no horizontal offset between them, but the rails running through the center of the fencing does cause gaps between the slats. If you stand at a sharp angle to the fence, you can see through these gaps, but only marginally. This style allows more sound and some wind to pass through, but still provides a high degree of privacy from spying eyes.

A lattice privacy fence consists of diagonal slats that cross over one another. In the case of chain link privacy fence, these can be fairly tight, working as a wind break and to keep people from looking in your yard. Made from other materials, such as wood, there might be more gaps between the slats, and therefore might not afford quite as much privacy.

Other things to consider as well is the decorative effects added to a fence, usually along the top. These choices do not affect the performance of the fence, and are strictly for visual appeal.

Vertical privacy fence slats can be dog-eared. Very simple, this means that the top corners of each slat are cut at an angle, giving them the appearance of a dog's ear.

A scalloped or concave privacy fence design has a downward curve between each support post. This give a simple, wave-like appearance between the fence posts.

On the other hand, a halfmoon or convex privacy fence has an upward curve between the fence posts. These look more like rolling hills.

Another common option is to include a lattice fence along the top of another fence design. This provides the visual appeal and interest of lattice, without sacrificing the privacy offered by stockade or shadowbox designs.

Of course, for a more utilitarian look, you can simply keep the top of the fence flat and straight.

So there you have it, many options for privacy fence designs. Combine the ones that work for the particular look you want to achieve and level of privacy you desire.

Why install a Privacy Fence?

Admin — Tue, 24 Feb 2009 19:48:32 +0000

Privacy fences do more than keep prying eyes from your backyard, though this is the reason most people install them. Whether you are installing a wood fence, a vinyl fence, or any other type of privacy fence, consider these benefits.

Benefits of a Privacy Fence

1. Noise reduction. Privacy fences create a solid, or nearly solid, wall around your yard which will help deflect sound. If you live on a busy or noisy street, a privacy fence will provide some measure of quieting the din. If you already live in a relatively quiet area, you may find a solid fence will knock down the volume to almost nothing. You can't cut out all noise, but choose a fence that has few gaps, such as a stockade style, and go for the tallest you can to get the most effective noise reduction.

2. Security. Any fence will provide a measure of security, but consider how thieves operate. They first scope out a location, looking for easy access and targeting a home that likely contains high-value items. If your property is surrounded by a privacy fence, they won't have much luck in determining if your property contains anything worth stealing. And if they still decide to breach your property, a privacy fence is more difficult to climb over than a chain link fence.

3. Wind break. If you live in an open area with few other houses or trees around, you may find your outdoor belonging blowing around on windy days. A privacy fence can provide an excellent wind break and give you protection from strong gusts. It can be especially useful on chilly days or evenings when the wind would otherwise make it too uncomfortable to sit outside. Choosing a tall fence will provide the best wind breaking effects.

4. Beauty. A privacy fence will create a solid backdrop to your yard, blocking out views of your neighbor's cluttered yard, or the parking lot behind your property, or the street littered with bits of garbage. Planting flowers or trees along the edge of a fence, such as a pure white vinyl fence or a beautiful, natural wooden fence, will lend a lot of beauty and serenity to your outdoor living space.

5. Investment. A privacy fence is a great investment in your property and will greatly help the resale value of your home, for all of the reasons given above. In addition, many families have pets and children, and any type of fence provides an extra degree of security and comfort for these families. Be sure to install fence latches high up, out of the reach of children. This will prevent them from leaving the safety of the backyard.

If you are considering installing a fence around your property, consider a privacy fence. There are many great companies out there that offer a wide array of options, including wooden, vinyl, bamboo and others in a vast array of prices. Even if you have an existing fence, you might be able to turn it into a privacy fence and gain all the benefits discussed above.