When installing a fence for privacy, there are a few general considerations that can be used to make the process easier and more effective. One of the most important aspects of this type of fence is the height, since this can greatly affect how well the fence ensures privacy. The materials the fence is made from can also impact the privacy it affords, and solid materials such as brick are typically more effective than wooden fencing or chain link. Someone installing a fence for privacy should also consider the impact of other features around the fence, such as bright lights and raised areas.
Installing a fence for privacy is typically done when someone wishes to ensure a sense of privacy and security in his or her home or business. This type of fence may be intended to help keep other people off of the property or simply to dissuade others from looking at different areas of a house. Anyone installing a fence for privacy should consider several different aspects of the fence to ensure it is as effective as possible.
The height is typically quite important when it comes to installing a fence for privacy, since this will directly impact how easily others can see over the fence. A tall fence will usually provide sufficient visual privacy and deter others from attempting to climb it. A fence of about 8 feet (about 2.4 meters) in height may be sufficient for casual observers, though 10 feet or more (over 3 meters) may be preferable to prevent more persistent onlookers.
Someone installing a fence for privacy should also consider the materials used to construct the fence. Brick walls are typically the best type of fencing with regard to privacy, since the solid bricks prevent casual and determined observers from looking through the fence. Wooden slats can provide decent privacy, but anyone determined to look through such a fence can typically see between them, though this view may be skewed somewhat. Chain link fencing is almost useless for visual privacy, though it may keep people out physically.
Other features near a fence may also impact its effectiveness. Bright lights, for example, may provide illumination at night that makes seeing through the fence easier. Raised areas near the fence may also allow people to more easily see over the fence. When installing a fence for privacy, these types of features should be considered and efforts made to work around them. The fence should be higher near a raised area, for example, and bright lights can be aimed toward the fence so that anyone attempting to look through at night may be unable to see clearly.