A homeowner was amazed at the upgrades his neighbor made to the fence between his properties.
He expressed his confusion over the “ugly” upgrade and revealed why it may become even more problematic in the future.
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In a viral post, the Reddit user shared a photo of his updated privacy fence.
The poster said his family had just moved to the property a year ago and had had no problems with the neighbors.
He added that they “don't seem like bad people” and even said that he planned to talk to them about impromptu DIY.
The Reddit user shared an image of this upgrade, showing how mismatched mesh replaces the top portion of his privacy fence at the bottom of his yard.
Read more about privacy fences
“So I came home from work today and this is what the fence looks like,” he explained.
“[My] The neighbor had a building built at the end of the garden and a window on the building directly on the other side of the fence.
“I understand it's to let light shine through the window, but it looks crappy. Why should my privacy be invaded for their benefit?”
The poster suggested that the new building was an annex and the window was intended to allow natural light into the room.
However, he pointed out that his neighbors did not even do him the favor of “painting the fence or cutting it level with the rest of the fence.”
While he called it “a little strange” to put a window on this site, the Reddit user revealed the main problem he had with the DIY.
He explained that he was “pissed off that they didn’t ask permission” to enter his yard.
The homeowner went on to say that he hasn't even met his neighbors yet, but would have been happy to come to a “neutral solution” if they had spoken to him first.
Instead, he came home from work to find three workers in his yard.
“I'm not the type of person who wants to spend years fighting with a neighbor over something that probably wasn't maliciously intended,” he said.
However, he added that “they just overlooked how we would feel.”
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.
The homeowner also revealed that he had planned to build a shed in this corner of his yard because it receives the least amount of sunlight.
He suggested to his fellow Redditors that they might add foliage to the trellis to cover up the “bad look.”
But if the “fair approach” fails, he said: “The gloves off, I'll just have a whole new fence built from my house to the end of the garden to avoid further arguments.”
Reddit users shared their thoughts on the situation in the comments section.
“This is certainly one of the most idiotic things I’ve ever seen,” agreed one reader.
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“You basically just built a window into your garden. Not cool,” another commenter wrote.
“They should have at least had a conversation about their intentions beforehand.”
“Yes, that’s a given. The fact that they didn't even ask is even worse. I would put up a shed there to cover it up,” a third person commented.
“Better yet, put an outhouse there. What are you supposed to do, complain that you did exactly the same thing as them?”