MANY people cleverly erect privacy fences so that their outdoor areas are not visible to curious neighbors – but this doesn't always go over well.
A woman has expressed her anger that her neighbor built a “terrible” DIY fence between her gardens and charged her half the cost.
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She shared a photo of the fence with slightly uneven wooden slats on Reddit.
She wrote: “My neighbor's DIY fence looks terrible to me. How do I confront him?”
“My neighbor recently spoke to me about the need to replace the old fence.
“He said he would be able to fit it and he would just charge me half and not worry.
“He basically told me what he was going to do instead of asking, he’s such a neighbor.
“I agreed to the fence because to be honest, I'll be redesigning my garden sometime next summer anyway when I have more time. So if he wants to replace the fence, I can contribute. ”
However, she was upset from the moment her neighbor started the project.
The woman continued: “The first few panels he made I didn't think were very nice to me but I could just about bear them so after getting a payment notice through my door I paid him £38 to to pay him.”
“But he has just put up two more panels which look absolutely terrible to me and charged another £30.
“I don't want him to carry on, they look terrible and I've found normal looking panels for just £25 each which each of us have a good side to.
“The fence looks terrible to me and I don't know how to confront it? I could have paid a similar amount for both of us to have a normal fence.”
She added that she's “honestly a little afraid to confront him” as she thinks he'll be “pissed off” about the work he's done so far.
The woman added: “I don't really like talking to him because I find him overwhelming, like he's come into my front yard several times and cut things without my permission… things that didn't need to be cut and didn't.” on his property because he has no sense of boundaries.
“I did find polite words afterwards, but he’s still that type of person.”
How to create privacy in your garden
Creating privacy in your garden can be achieved in a variety of ways depending on your budget and the size of your space. Here are some effective ways to improve privacy in your garden:
1. Fencing
- Install a tall, solid wood or vinyl fence. This is one of the easiest ways to gain instant privacy. Or use lattice panels, trellises or picket fences to add a decorative touch while providing privacy.
2. Hedges and plants
- Fast-growing evergreen shrubs or trees such as leylandii, thuja or bamboo along the border of your garden can provide more privacy. Grow a dense hedge with plants such as boxwood, privet or laurel. It may take some time to grow, but it provides a natural and green privacy screen. Use climbing plants like ivy, clematis or wisteria on fences or trellises to create a lush, green privacy barrier.
3. Outdoor curtains
- Hang outdoor curtains around pergolas, gazebos or patios for an easy-to-customize privacy solution.
4. Soundproof walls
- A fountain or small waterfall can help drown out the noise and increase the feeling of privacy. Or install a fence to reduce noise if privacy from noise is also an issue.
After she shared her dilemma on Reddit, people were quick to voice their opinions.
One said, “Build your own fence behind it.”
Another agreed: “Conflicts with neighbors lead to misery.”
A third commented: “Or plant a nice hedge. Much nicer to look at and the birds and other wildlife will thank you.”