Home Repair and Paint Guide

Privacy fences are a good way to keep areas of your property shielded from the prying eyes of neighbors. They also offer a degree of safety around swimming pools, hot tubs, and other items that could be a problem where small children are involved. The old cliche of  “out of sight, out of mind” applies. Older children (and some “adults”) won’t be as inclined to use your pool or hot tub when you are away. With the addition of a security system, you can keep everyone honest.

Privacy fences are made from a variety of materials, with vinyl and wood being the most often used. Vinyl offers easy cleanup and will not rot, but some types have a problem of warping in areas of high temperature. Treated wood will last many years and has a classic look, but must be stained or painted to prevent deterioration.

Most fences are 6 feet tall. Some go as high as 8 feet. Before starting your project, check local building codes and HOA rules if you live in a PUD or other controlled community. You need to know things like maximum height and setback from property lines.

You may be able to construct a privacy fence around your entire yard, but most people build them around the back of their homes and leave the front open. Remember that people living in two story houses can still see over the fence. If you are after privacy around something like a patio, the fence should be build along the patio edges. This provides a high degree of privacy.

There are good substitutes for fences that get around a lot of zoning codes and “busy-body” associations - evergreen bushes and trees. Your zoning code may not allow a fence over 6 feet tall. But you can purchase bushes or trees that will grow to over 20 feet high. Plant the bushes close to each other and pick a variety that is dense.

Building a privacy fence is within the abilities of the average handyman. The pieces are not very heavy and construction techniques are pretty basic. Be careful of wind. Strong gusts will not only make construction difficult, but will also blow sections of the fence down if they are not installed to handle the force. If you live in an area that normally experiences high wind gusts, talk with the fence supplier for the correct type of installation procedure. This usually involves placing the main fence posts at least 2 feet deep and using concrete or post-setter as an anchor.

If you use wood, select a type that has been chemically treated to resist rot and damage from insects. You should stain or paint your wood fence prior to construction. This allows the surfaces that will be attached to and hidden by the posts to be coated and preserved. If the wood is wet or green, allow the fence to air dry for a week or two before coating. Most people use a clear water seal to provide protection while allowing the natural wood to show. But you can also paint the fence if you wish.

There is not much to do after construction except routine maintenance. Wood fences will require periodic application of stain or water seal unless painted. Paint will eventually fade or peel and have to be sanded, just like a painted house. This is the reason most people use stain or sealer. It won’t peel and is easy to re-coat when needed. Just be sure to protect plants and grass around the fence during application because sealer kills them very quickly.