Anybody ever put up a privacy fence ?

[megoat]

Growing up in California, I love this idea of a "privacy fence". In California, they are just fences. Most houses usually have tall 6 foot fences around the back yard area. It wasn't until I lived and traveled to other parts of this country that I realized that tall backyard "privacy" fences were not the norm. Not sure what this has to do with the conversation here, but the term "privacy fence" just sounds funny to me......

[Adam West]

I live in a town that doesn't have HOA's but does have rules as to what you can and can not do. Privacy fences (they define them and I can't remember the exact criteria but basically I think fences are not allowed to be more than 4 feet high and have to be a split rail or picket style). It doesn't offer "privacy" but it's one of their by-laws that is clearly outlined and the attitude is if you don't like it, don't live in the town limits.

Our neighborhood has houses that are on 1/2 an acre so there is quite a bit of space between the houses. I decided against a fence because it would provide no privacy but I did do a few things that are allowed and do give me privacy. The neighbor behind me placed up a 4 foot picket style fence so that took care of that. To the side of me another neighbor also placed up a picket style fence but also has a tree/flower garden (I really don't know what it is but the trees give me privacy). In the other exposed area, I placed a Amish built shed for my riding mower and tools and placed Leyland cypress trees to block the view to the road.

My neighbors on the other side have a house that sits at a different angle than ours since we are on a cul-de-sac so when I walk outside, I see the side of their house but they really can't see my deck and I can't see theirs. They don't spend much time in their yard and they are extremely nice people who are not ones to intrude so I was able to accomplish my privacy by strategic placement of trees, a shed, plus the natural angle of our house without the use of a fence.

[Brue]

Why would you put the finished side out? I understand putting the finished side out on the side that faces the front of your house (or road side if you live on a corner), but if no one is going to easily see the finished side, put it towards the inside.

basically that is true - if no-one else sees it the finished side can face any which way. But unless you don't have adjacdent neighbors - someone sees it.
Since privacy fences are put up (typically) to give privacy from said neighbors you almost always by local code enforcement are required to put the finished side out.

-best to convince your neighbor they need a fence. let them pay for it and put it up and to boot you get the nice side.

edit - oh yeah, in the case that you have a large property and you are only fencing in an interior section - I would think it could go either way.

[thunderbolt]

I planted a Viburnum hedge instead. It looks nicer than staring at the chainlink Punkin containing fence.