privacy fences - 6ft vs 8ft

[purbeast0]

my wife and i just got our first fence installed in our house in the backyard. we got one of those privacy fences. it was always odd when we would go hang out in our backyard if the neighbors were hanging out in theirs, because our yard isn't that big and they were just right there across from us.

our backyard is laid out so that the house behind us is up hill from us, and they have a deck out there as well. so on their deck they sit up pretty high. because of this we decided to get an 8ft fence instead of the normal 6ft fence. luckily our sub division is one of the few in our county that allowed it.

they finished it yesterday, and holy crap, it looks HUGE. it is going to take some getting used to. i just can't believe how much larger it looks than a 6ft fence in general. it looks like walls to a fortress in our backyard lol.

so this is more of just a curiosity thread, and i was just wondering if people just prefer to get the highest they can get or if people prefer the lower fences for a reason. i know that some prefer the fences that are just like 3 feet tall too that aren't for privacy, but i was just more curious about the privacy fences what people prefer.

 

[MagnusTheBrewer]

I've always liked to say hello to the neighbors. We used to raise dogs so, I kind of like 'cyclone fencing.'

 

[mizzou]

8ft is quite compound like in appearance, especially the vinyl ones. Staggered 6ft cedar boards with lattice would look a lot more homely.

Hopefully you didn't put a privacy fence around your entire property, to the furthest extent. You need to have some openings, like a path, and good landscaping on the outside.

bad fences make bad neighbors!

Nice ^


Ugly V

 

[mizzou]

Honestly, I wouldn't build a wall of plastic to have privacy. The big issue is that it completely ruins the view within your own yard, there are much more (although labor intensive or plan heavy) options to reduce neighbor voyeurism to you.

Those 8ft fences are to block out views of problems, not block views coming in. Like if you live next to a junkyard or huge ugly apartments. You dont' want to see that.

If you just want some privacy while you are outside, build a gazebo with lattice. Create an elaborate garden with natural vegetation to block views. You really want some private space? create a special area, in a good spot, where it looks like a natural and convenient location to have a private area.

 

[purbeast0]

yeah part of the reason we did the 8ft was to block out the backyard of the neighbors. i do agree that it feels like a compound a little bit lol. it will take some getting used to, but it definitely is nice not seeing the neighbors messy backyard and deck anymore. their deck is nice and all, but as i said, it would be awkward when we were out there with my family and they were hanging out on their side too since the properties aren't far apart or anything.

i snapped a few pics from inside my house earlier.

http://i.imgur.com/pfUrVy8.jpg

http://i.imgur.com/930T2ic.jpg

this was the most recent pic i could find that showed how it was before

http://i.imgur.com/HxJoTGd.jpg?1

they don't even have kids. they just put those toys out there like last july for one day when their grandkids were there and never cleaned it up. they never do yardwork either, so it will be nice to not see it. but as you can see, it's up hill a bit from our patio, and they have a deck a few feet off the ground as well.

and you can see in that one pic how you can barely see the top of their umbrella over the fence.

oh, and on the sides of the house, the fence is 6 feet. as it makes the 90 degree turn towards the back, over the first 7 or 8 ft panel, it transitions from 6 to 8 feet. it doesn't start right at the front of the house either, it starts on the side a bit, with a gate on one side.

i agree too, that one with the lattice looks nice. i was contemplating a 6ft with a 1ft lattice on top too, but i still don't think it would get us quite the privacy that we wanted.

 

[highland145]

I like the 8' for your situation. Yard looks nice. How much is the offset from the property line?

Nice looking family but I don't think the blond kid is yours.

 

[purbeast0]

I like the 8' for your situation. Yard looks nice. How much is the offset from the property line?

Nice looking family but I don't think the blond kid is yours.

lol none of those are my kids, they are my nephews from 2 different siblings. my first kid is due in 15 days though, which is a big reason we were doing this right now while we have some extra cash and can spend time together in our backyard oasis this spring/summer as family.

it's not offset at all from the property line. it's basically right up on it. code wise, it is supposed to be 5ft from property line, but i'm not too concerned about it because i'm friendly with all of my neighbors, and unless someone complained to the county about it, then nothing will be done about it.

i didn't know about that code, but after the fence company told me about it i did a lot of google searching on the issue, and i couldn't even find the info stating it. i found some other info about structures being over 6.6ft had to be 3ft from the property line, but that was a specific type of structure (like a shed), i forget the term for it though. but i think once a fence is over 6.6ft, it technically becomes that type of structure. but all i could find was that in my county you are allowed to have up to 8ft fences.

the fence company did build the fence so that the horizontal support beams are right at 6ft behind the fence, so that in worst case scenario, someone can come and cut it right at 6ft, if someone were to complain. but as mentioned, i'm not too concerned about it.

 

[highland145]

Grats on the kid. Your life will not be your own for a long, long time but there is nothing like it.

Hopefully you won't have a problem with the offset and I'd imagine that if it's up for a few years, complaints won't matter then.

 

[mizzou]

ill 2nd that the fence in your option was a good choice, after seeing the pics. I like you picked a natural wood. A little landscaping will easily blend in the fence into the scenery.

I saw your neighbors deck and was like, damn that is like in your face....no wonder you needed privacy!

Also, super adorable family!!

 

[edro]

Did you talk to the deck neighbors before you did it?
That seems really close to them.

I think the fence looks good and you will feel much more private now.

 

[purbeast0]

Grats on the kid. Your life will not be your own for a long, long time but there is nothing like it.

Hopefully you won't have a problem with the offset and I'd imagine that if it's up for a few years, complaints won't matter then.

thanks. and yeah i've already talked to 2 of my neighbors since it was installed and they gave compliments on it, so they like it.

ill 2nd that the fence in your option was a good choice, after seeing the pics. I like you picked a natural wood. A little landscaping will easily blend in the fence into the scenery.

I saw your neighbors deck and was like, damn that is like in your face....no wonder you needed privacy!

Also, super adorable family!!

yeah i plan on doing some landscaping in general in my backyard now that it is "complete".

and the pic is a little deceiving. their deck isn't quite as close to my property line as it looks. it's a good 15-20 feet back from where the fence is. i told them long ago that i wanted a fence, but i did not tell them recently. i don't see them often when it's cold outside, it was more in the warmer months i'd see them.

and those kids aren't mind, just the woman lol.

 

[richardycc]

isn't the 'nice' side supposed to be facing your neighbors? might wanna check if your county has such ordinance.

 

[Moonbeam]

I like your fence just fine. I would grow a flowering vine(s) on it with other plants against it, trees even.

 

[dbcooper1]

isn't the 'nice' side supposed to be facing your neighbors? might wanna check if your county has such ordinance.

Traditionally, the person paying for the fence gets the 'nice side' unless there are local rules mandating otherwise.

 

[NutBucket]

I like the 8' for your situation. Yard looks nice. How much is the offset from the property line?

LOL. What's that? Must be a rural thing

 

[ArtShapiro]

Agreed that it is an attractive fence. And also agreed that it is somewhat stark and unsettling. It might take a year or two, but appropriate landscaping - a climbing vine or simply some tall bushes against the fence - will give a more-coherent appearance to the yard.

 

[inachu]

8ft is quite compound like in appearance, especially the vinyl ones. Staggered 6ft cedar boards with lattice would look a lot more homely.

Hopefully you didn't put a privacy fence around your entire property, to the furthest extent. You need to have some openings, like a path, and good landscaping on the outside.

bad fences make bad neighbors!

Nice ^


Ugly V

I like both of those! But I myself would not get white because the dirt stains that would show up at the bottom.

 

[mizzou]

I like both of those! But I myself would not get white because the dirt stains that would show up at the bottom.

I've seen very long runs of tall PVC/plastic fence fail to keep that rigid shape. It sort of elasticizes and bends after a while from the weather. I don't think it's a good material to have at lengths over 4-5ft.

Wooden picket fence, it's pretty easy to fix. PVC? Nobody keeps spare 4x8 solid runs.

 

[tsiunltdus]

I think your decision looks nice. I would have wanted the privacy also from the neighbors being so close. Enjoy.

 

[highland145]

LOL. What's that? Must be a rural thing

Nope. Pretty normal here.

 

[NutBucket]

It was a joke. In LA we build on the property line.

 

[highland145]

It was a joke. In LA we build on the property line.

I have no idea why there's a setback here. Might ask around.