Design and Build a Privacy Fence

By Travis Larson

Tips for planning, designing and constructing a wood privacy fence.

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From The Family Handyman

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Make sure a privacy fence actually delivers privacy
You may build a 6-ft. high privacy fence only to find that the next-door neighbors can easily see over when they're lounging on their deck. Or you may find that your 6-ft. tall privacy fence only needed to be 4 ft. tall because surrounding areas slope away from your yard. Either way, you're wasting materials, money and time building a fence that doesn't suit your yard.

To determine how high a privacy fence needs to be, have a helper walk around the perimeter with a cardboard screen cut to the height of your proposed fence. Sitting and standing, follow the view above the cardboard as it's moved to determine the amount of privacy your fence will actually provide.

You can quickly decide how high your fence needs to be or whether it's impractical to build a fence high enough to screen your yard. Then consider alternatives such as fastgrowing dense trees or bushes that aren't subject to the same height restrictions as fences. Or, if you have a patio or spa you'd like to seclude, build a privacy screen just around that area.

Design and Build a Privacy Fence

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