Gaps between wooden fence panels.

[luv2diy]

We moved into a house and the existing fence backs up to main street, so we have a lot of traffic (pedestrians). Even when we take that same path into town we can clearly see into our backyard. Its a 6 ft wooden privacy fence... well, not so private..

Here are a few ideas and some research I did online.
-If the panels were fastened by screws, I would shift and add panels as needed.
-Fence slats
- Nylon webbing roll (not sure how it would hold up to weather) http://www.vargooutdoors.com/NYLON-WEBBING-ROLLS


I estimated ~ 238 gaps , 1/2" x 4' stripes would work.

Any feedback on ideas or what worked for you would be greatly appreciated.

 

[niget2002]

Are these gaps between slats? If so, just go get more slaps and overlap where the gaps are.

 

[scottydosnntkno]

are they offset panels? ie picket inside picket outside picket inside picket outside?

if so I would say a filler strip of some sort maybe just buy some premade slats and rip them down to 1" wide to fill the gap

 

[danieldd]

Forget the web tape.

I would remove the boards and re-fit them to close up the gap and buy new ones to take up the slack. Get your wife to help you and it will go much quicker. You can probably do the whole thing in a day, easily.

Problem you're having is when the fence was constructed, the wood was wet and has now dried out, thus creating the gaps. Happens to all the fences I've seen and worked on myself.

You can cut strips and use them to cover up the gaps, but it would be unsightly looking when looking at it from your backyard.

 

[luv2diy]

Here's a pic.

Getting my wife to pick up a hammer...

 

[IONH]

I would get some 5 3/8" dog eared pickets and put them up on the inside.

I made ~80 feet of fence using those dog eared pressure treated pickets and they shrank so I now have a gap. I'm considering doing just this on my side.

I installed the pickets with screws using galvanized but that neighbor hasn't talked to me since (purpose of the fence achieved?) so I don't feel like spending a day over there when I can just put pickets up on my side.

 

[danieldd]

Yup, looks just like mine. Every couple of years I have to replace either a rotted post or the stringers. When I have to buy new slats, I **** them up against one another and it looks really nice for a couple of weeks, until the moisture in the wood starts to dry out (I'm talking specifically about pressure treated wood) and then the gaps start forming.

 

[luv2diy]

I would get some 5 3/8" dog eared pickets and put them up on the inside.

I made ~80 feet of fence using those dog eared pressure treated pickets and they shrank so I now have a gap. I'm considering doing just this on my side.

I installed the pickets with screws using galvanized but that neighbor hasn't talked to me since (purpose of the fence achieved?) so I don't feel like spending a day over there when I can just put pickets up on my side.

The wife has me on fence duty for the pooches. I just semi-completed a 53ft long 6ft privacy fence on the south side of my house. Next, just want to add some trim pieces for looks.

On the north side of my house a neighbor has a 3ft high picket fence and we agreed on me footing the materials/labor to put a nice privacy fence. So, the other day I mentioned what were his plans on the old pickets. He stated, I'm not moving them.
I think it would look odd to have two fences butted together.
Now I have a delay in my project.

Sorry, to get off topic.

 

[IONH]

The wife has me on fence duty for the pooches. I just semi-completed a 53ft long 6ft privacy fence on the south side of my house. Next, just want to had some trim pieces for looks.

On the north side of my house a neighbor has a 3ft high picket fence and we agreed on me footing the materials/labor to put a nice privacy fence. So, the other day I mentioned what were his plans on the old pickets. He stated, I'm not moving them.
I think it would look odd to have two fences butted together.
Now I have a delay in my project.

Sorry, to get off topic.

I believe the law (in my area at least) is that you need to place the fence on your lot with enough space on your land to reasonably work on either side. That's like basically giving your neighbor a foot or more of your property.

I put mine about 6" onto my land and have not been on the other side since I put it up 2-3 years ago.

The wife next door egged her kid on to throw balls at it. So I will now never pressure wash or stain their side. I may do mine at some point, but theirs will rot the way it sits. When it gets to be bad enough, I will put pickets on my side for sure and let the other side continue rotting.

 

[SGKent]

they shrink when they dry. When they are wet they will expand. They probably were touching when new. Plant shrubs that handle your climate and that will grow 10 feet tall and 5 - 8 feet wide. That will give you privacy and it will cost you less than replacing the fence. Even boards on the inside may line up occasionally so one can see thru the fence.

Or build a block wall.

 

[luv2diy]

they shrink when they dry. When they are wet they will expand. They probably were touching when new. Plant shrubs that handle your climate and that will grow 10 feet tall and 5 - 8 feet wide. That will give you privacy and it will cost you less than replacing the fence. Even boards on the inside may line up occasionally so one can see thru the fence.

Or build a block wall.

Good one! I'll goooogle a quick search on "shrubs for privacy".

 

[dandan111]

The fence don't look bad to me. I would land scape like SG says. Maybe use some fill at the base of the fence also.

 

[luv2diy]

Maybe use some fill at the base of the fence also.

Good point.
Did't know if you can see in the pic, but the fence is on a hill and that is my detached garage in the pic. I would like to do a retaining wall in the future.

After, a little bit of reseaching looks like Leyland Cypress is a fast growing shrub.

 

[TAMPAGT07]

I installed the pickets with screws using galvanized but that neighbor hasn't talked to me since (purpose of the fence achieved?) so I don't feel like spending a day over there when I can just put pickets up on my side.

LOL....Yupp, I just finished my fence a few weeks ago and my neighbors are still pissed......Oh well..

 

[1320stang]

I'm agreeing with the thought of putting more rails and pickets on the inside that have the gaps offset to the outside pickets.

 

[SGKent]

Thuja North Pole will work in zone 3. I looked up Linn County - you are zone 2 if Cascades and zone 4 if Willamette Valley. Just drive around and see what privacy screens are growing.

 

[GirlnAgarage]

luv2diy I can relate to that fence. Ours in the back is also raised with a retaining wall beneath. In the mornings when the sun is on that side of the house, I can see every person and car that drives by. What I have noticed is that pretty much everyone walking by on the sidewalk is not even aware a house/yard is on the other side. At night though is a different story. I think people can easily see into the house (with lights on) or us on the deck.

On the suggestion of shrubs, I'd say yes and no. Yes if they are tall enough. But no because they'll need maintenance and add to the task of working on the fence wen the time comes. Be aware you'll have critters going in and out underneath. Least that is what happens on ours.

As for moving all the slats closer together and adding in new ones. Sounds fine, but consider the amount of work it'll be and the current condition of the fence. If it has to be replaced in the next year or two I'd say leave the fence alone until then.

Adding slats to the inside to block the gaps, that seems a pretty thorough solution. If your horizontal supports are all in good shape I don't see why adding the would not fix the issue. It does increase the cost of course. And adds weight to the structure itself. Make certain your posts are set proper and are in good shape too. No need to help it fall over if they are starting to rot.

 

[NHBandit]

Here's a pic of my neighbors... They're always watching me but they don't much care what I do.

 

[kursplat]

Bougainvilleas, big a@@ thorns for added security

 

[IONH]

Thuja North Pole will work in zone 3. I looked up Linn County - you are zone 2 if Cascades and zone 4 if Willamette Valley. Just drive around and see what privacy screens are growing.

I had considered some junipers for a more aesthetic solution prior to my fence. However, the big problem I had was neighbor's kids plus the kids they attract leaving their scooters and bicycles in MY driveway. Talked to the neighbor and they fixed it for about 3 days. The second time I talked to them, they said "kids will be kids". Fence went up a couple months later as I figured the kids would probably cut through the young bushes and end up with a permanent gap between them.

 

[kbs2244]

A nice thing about going with shrubs usually is not any height limit.
So if you are looking to cut sight lines you can let them grow.
A way to get height fast is to plant them is a raised bed.

 

[luv2diy]

Thank you guys for all your feedback!

Here is my plan:
I will definitely do some shrubs, but I will need a quick fix while they grow to keep the criminal eyes from creating their 5 finger discount Christmas list from the tools in my garage.

I know installing fence slats will look like , but at the end of the day I will feel better knowing I'm not advertising my tools to the public.

Finally, when the shrubs fill out, I will yank the slats off.

Thanks again to everyone that replied to my thread!!

 

[Tucko]

Here's a pic.

Getting my wife to pick up a hammer...

I don't see any gaps.

 

[csp]

Here's a pic.

Am I missing something? I can't see through that fence.

 

[works4me]

I know exactly what you're talking about. The small gaps between the pickets pick up any light shining through at night, and if you go by fast enough you can literally see the whole yard clearly via a "strobe" effect.

In my case it was especially bad because I had oncoming traffic shining lights into my yard. I solved it by coming up with a design that used overlapping pickets. It works perfectly; no light shines through at all:

You could do something similar by adding pickets on the inside with the gaps positioned in the middle of the outside pickets.

 

[luv2diy]

Am I missing something? I can't see through that fence.

I don't see any gaps.

There is a sidewalk < 5ft on the other side of the fence. I can ensure you it's visible and even more so at night when my lights are on.

I know exactly what you're talking about. The small gaps between the pickets pick up any light shining through at night, and if you go by fast enough you can literally see the whole yard clearly via a "strobe" effect.

In my case it was especially bad because I had oncoming traffic shining lights into my yard. I solved it by coming up with a design that used overlapping pickets. It works perfectly; no light shines through at all:

You could do something similar by adding pickets on the inside with the gaps positioned in the middle of the outside pickets.

Wow! That fence looks beautiful.

I wish I had the funds to go that route.