Private Backyards » privacy fence

Lattice Privacy Fence

Admin — Mon, 22 Mar 2010 08:36:35 +0000

A lattice privacy fence has strips of wood, vinyl or metal arranged in a regular patter that creates either an open diamond or open square pattern. The size of the openings will determine how much privacy the fence actually provides. Lattice privacy fences look great and can provide quite a bit of privacy and security, especially if onlookers are at a distance. The real problem is when someone is able to approach the fence and peer directly though the openings.

Make a Lattice Privacy Fence More Private

If you really want to make a lattice privacy fence as private as possible, then consider turning the fence into a trellis by allowing vines or other vegetation to grow up it. This can provide a wonderful backdrop to your yard, especially if the vines are a flowering variety. Be aware of three things with this approach, however.

First, vines can take some time to grow and fill in, so you may have to be patient for a couple of seasons. Second, some vines die away in cold climates during the winter, eliminating some of your privacy. Third, vines are living plants, and will need to be tended, fertilized and pruned if you expect them to grow well and look great all year long.

Other Lattice Fence Uses

A common use of lattice fencing is to hide eye sores around the house. Such items might include a central air conditioning unit, a outside propane or oil tank, or other such items.

Another common use of lattice fencing is along the top of an existing privacy fence, to both raise the height of the fence and to add decoration.

Lattice privacy fences look great and are a great choice if you are not looking for complete privacy from onlookers.

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.

Chain Link Fence Slats and Inserts

Admin — Mon, 09 Feb 2009 03:31:17 +0000

Chain Link fences are popular, but don't provide much in the way of privacy. Adding chain link fence slats or inserts can create a privacy chain link fence, and there are plenty of style and colors to choose from.

Weave – Slats are inserted diagonally through the fence, creating a woven-look. These are easy to install for the do-it-youselfer, or you can buy chain link fences with the weave already installed. Slats are typically available in vinyl and aluminum.

Vertical – Like weave slats, vertical slats are narrower and install vertically in the fence. These don't close up the fence quite as much as the weave, but still provide a decent level of privacy. These are typically found in vinyl and come in a wide variety of colors.

Hedge – If you are trying to blend a chain link fence into the landscape, a hedge insert gives your fence the look of a well-groomed hedgerow. Include some simple planting beds in front of your fence for a wonderful, natural look.

Another way to make a chain link fence private is to add a privacy fence screen. These are available in a variety of colors and degrees of visual blocking. They are simple to install and fairly inexpensive compared to other options.

Privacy Panels for Ornamental Fences

Admin — Mon, 09 Feb 2009 03:26:33 +0000

Ornamental fences provide beauty to any yard, but offer little in the way of privacy. Adding ornamental privacy panels provides a solution that allows you to enjoy the beauty of ornamental fencing with the comfort or privacy.

Some privacy panels are made from metal, which integrates wonderfully with existing ornamental fences and provide a consistent, elegant look. Others are made from durable vinyl, are easier to install than metal, but will still provide long-lasting comfort and enjoyment. Some ornamental panels can even be swiveled, like a louver, so that you can open up the panels when you want to enjoy the sights outside your yard, but close them back up when you want privacy.

Bamboo Privacy Fence

Admin — Mon, 09 Feb 2009 03:21:02 +0000

A bamboo privacy fence is not only beautiful, it is also environmentally friendly. Unlike trees, which must be cut down to produce wood for fencing, bamboo is harvested without killing the bamboo plants. This is the definitive choice if you are concerned about protecting the environment.

Bamboo is also very durable, and can last for decades. Left untreated, it will turn a light silver or gray over time. Bamboo can be stained and treated with a sealant to extend its life, but these should not be applied until the bamboo has had some time to weather naturally. As it weathers, the hard, outer cellulose fibers will lose some of their density, allowing chemicals to penetrate and protect the material.

A bamboo privacy fence is a beautiful and environmentally-friendly fence choice. You will find a wide variety of designs and styles to choose from.

Vinyl Privacy Fence

Admin — Mon, 09 Feb 2009 03:19:22 +0000

A vinyl privacy fence provides the ultimate in fence longevity. Many brands are treated to protect them from UV (sunlight) damage, keeping them looking like new for a lifetime. Although slightly higher in cost that other fence materials, including wood, the longevity and maintenance-free qualities of vinyl make is a very low-cost option over the long term.

If you are looking for a privacy fence that you can install and forget about, this is going to be your best option. Pay attention to how the manufacturer treats their vinyl products. They should be using UV protection to prevent discoloration, and impact inhibitors to prevent cracking or breaking as the vinyl ages. Your best bet: select a vinyl privacy fence with a lifetime warranty.

Also, be mindful of the colors that you select. A white vinyl privacy fence will provide a clean backdrop to other landscaping options. It will also reflect sunlight, and might help to brighten otherwise darker areas of your yard. Darker colors, such as deep greens or dark browns will absorb rather than reflect sunlight. So if you get a lot of sun or have a lot of fencing to install, this could be a better options. Keep in mind that vinyl privacy fence colors, if not treated with UV protection, will fade over time.

Wood Privacy Fence

Admin — Mon, 09 Feb 2009 02:32:28 +0000

There is nothing more classic or beautiful that a wooden privacy fence. You have several options from the style you select to the type of wood the fence is made from.

Styles

The style of a privacy fence will affect not just the look, but possibly also the performance of the fence (as far as noise, wind and visibility is concerned). Keep this in mind when selecting a wooden privacy fence.

Stockade – A stockade privacy fence has vertical slats with no spaces in between. They provide a high-level of privacy, especially if purchased in six-foot heights or taller.

Shadowbox – Also known as a board-on-board fence, the shadowbox style looks good from both sides, making it a neighbor-friendly choice. Think of a stockade style (with no spaces between the slats) but the slats of the shadowbox fence alternate, where one slat is on your side, the next slat is on your neighbors side, the next is on your side, etc.

Dog Ear – In a dog ear style, the top of the fence slats have corners cut at an angle, giving the impression of a dog's ear.

Scalloped or Concave – The tops of these fences are curved downward in a bowl shape between the the posts. This gives a simple, yet pleasing decorative look to the fence.

Halfmoon or Convex – This is another way to add a decorative look to a fence. A upward curve between the posts of this fence style gives an inverted bowl shape.

Woods

The type of wood that you select can have a significant impact on the longevity and durability of your wooden privacy fence. It can also affect how the wood will age over time.

Cedar – Cedar is naturally insect and decay resistant, making it an excellent choice for fence material. Allowed to weather naturally, it will take on a pleasing silver or grey appearance. Cedar can also be painted or stained if desired.

Whitewood – Like cedar, whitewoods will weather to a gray color, but they can also be stained. Typically, whitewoods are used for the fence support structure, though they can also be used for the slats as well.

Treated – These woods have been treated with chemicals in order to resist decay and insects. They are long-lasting and can be painted or stained as desired.

Always bear in mind how much noise and wind reduction you want when selecting a style for your wood privacy fence. As to looks, nothing looks quite as good as wood, but proper selection will ensure a long-lasting solution for your installation.