Spending time on your deck is great, but what if your deck is very close to the street?
Deck privacy is a big thing for many of our customers here in Omaha, NE, and many of them ask us for ideas on making their outdoor space more private.
The first thing we recommend is fences, but these are larger projects that take time and money. Luckily, there are a few options available to make your deck feel more private and keep people from staring.
Let’s begin.
Trellis With Climbers
The purpose of the trellis is to support climbing plants that can’t stand straight, like a tree or houseplant. With the aid of the trellis, the climbing plant wraps around the trellis and adds decoration to a garden. Sometimes trellis is used as a metaphor for other kinds of support.
This is one of the most affordable things you can do to create more privacy in your backyard, but this has a few downsides.
1
The climbing plants will need time to grow and create the barrier you need.
2
3
Plants will be the perfect environment for insects to live in, so be aware of some annoying visitors.
When it comes to the plants you can get, there are many options. Some produce flowers, and some not. Although we’re not gardeners, we see some plants homeowners love getting for the trellis on their deck.
- Clematis
- Honeysuckle
- Wisteria Vines
- Yellow Bells
- Climbing Hydrangea
- Climbing Roses
- Red Trumpet Vine
- Pink Coral Vines
Lattice Fence On Deck
A lattice fence is a fence designed for deck privacy and air circulation. The design is also great for growing climbing vines, but they’re not truly necessary.
The “fence” can be installed instead of a deck railing, or it can be installed beside it and taken apart whenever you don’t need it. It’s great for a raised deck and a ground-level deck as well.
Although this upgrade will be a bit more expensive, it’s an upscale method of providing your outdoor space with the privacy you dream of. Lattice fences come in various materials, from cheap plastic to high-quality vinyl or wood.
- Cheap plastic lattice fence: $1.50 - $3.50 per sq. ft.
- Cheap wood lattice fence: $2.00 - $4.25 per sq. ft.
- Quality wood lattice fence: $8.00 - $20.00 per sq. ft.
- Quality vinyl lattice fence: $12.00 - $24 per sq. ft.
Another cool fact about lattice fences is that you can find them prefabricated, meaning all you need to do is install them. While this might save you some time, you’ll sacrifice a bit from the uniqueness and maybe even the quality of the fence.
Privacy Screens For Decks
A privacy screen (or privacy wall) for decks is exactly what its name suggests. These are panels that you can install anywhere on your deck to create a more intimate space that passers-byes can’t stare in. These architectural screen panels are available in numerous patterns and colors that integrate into any application, be it an outdoor kitchenette, a pergola, a deck, or a patio.
Lots of homeowners choose the Trex Privacy Screens, but there are a lot of people that choose to have them manufactured from natural wood in order to complement the mood of their deck.
Trex Privacy Screens offer:
- Deck & Patio Screens. These 72" x 42" privacy screens offer an attractive way to add or enhance privacy to any deck, patio, or outdoor area. These need to be installed in a specific area and offer different levels of privacy, depending on the style you're going for.
- Freestanding Screens. Freestanding screens are moveable outdoor privacy screens that province a secluded area in any corner of your outdoor space. These can be placed on a deck, patio, pergola, or even on a patch of grass.
- Wall & Utility Screens. These 42" x 42" privacy screens create a divider screen for increased privacy where walls may already exist or across a roofline. These are great for a space with extra privacy, such as near a pool or an outdoor hot tub. They're great to enhance your patio privacy as well.
Building A Fence Around Your Backyard
As we mentioned at the beginning of this article, fences take more time to build, and they cost more. However, these are by far the best way to enhance your backyard’s deck privacy and safety. If you have pets or live in an area that’s not entirely safe, fences are a must!
If the thought of getting a deck has been in your head for a while now, it’s clearly an upgrade that you need and want.
But what kind of fence would be ideal?
- A cedar privacy fence is priced reasonably, and you won't need to break the bank to get it. It'll need more maintenance than other options, but it's a quick and affordable investment.
- A vinyl privacy fence is priced a little higher, but you won't have to take care of it as much as a wood fence. The worst part about vinyl privacy fences is that strong winds might damage them.
- A masonry privacy fence is one of the most expensive types of fences, and it might not be worth it for the entire property. You can combine masonry with metal, but then you lose privacy. All-in-all, this is a luxury fence that focuses less on privacy and more on aesthetics.
Conclusion
If we were to choose from all these, just one, we’d probably go with a privacy screen for our deck privacy project.
They’re the most affordable, quick to install, and they’re also highly efficient. You can move them around and install them wherever you feel like it, or choose from multiple levels of deck privacy.
If they’re not what you like, we can build a lattice fence for your deck space with no problems! We’ve done it before, and our customers loved the idea. If you have tall trees in your backyard, they’ll provide some privacy, but not enough.
If you want to learn more about how to create more privacy on your deck, give us a call at (402) 369-5724 or request a quote on our website and we’ll circle back as soon as possible!