Thinking Outside The Box – Privacy Screens
You once had a wonderfully private property. Until…
- Trees were cut down
- Your neighbours renovated or built a new home
- A new development just popped up
- You don’t really get along with your neighbours and would prefer to not see them…
Most people think that adding a privacy screen would increase the height of the existing fence for a quick fix but the problem is twofold…
- The screen would need to be so large that it would require major construction to withstand wind.
- Council regulations restrict heights and widths.
State legislation and local planning laws
You should always check with your local council before making changes to your property but the below rules are generally enforced throughout Australia
- A front fence has restrictions in height as do boundary fences. As a guide, boundary fences usually have a restriction of 1.8m. In NSW for example, boundary fences are covered by the Dividing Fences Act of 1991. You can read more from NSW Government, Planning & Environment here
- Privacy screens can often only be 2.5m in height from ground level and be set to a minimum of 900mm from your boundary fence. They must also be a maximum length of 5 metres wide and between 1.7m – 2.2m in height if attached to a balcony, deck, patio terrace or verandah.
Case Study
A client came to us wanting screening to hide the building next door and also be pool boundary fence compliant for the new pool they built.
Site Challenges: The size of the building next door meant the privacy screen needed to be at least 3.2m in height. The site was extremely difficult to work with because of the difficult access and narrow space, plus obstructive piping meant there was not much room for footings.
Solution: Cottesloe bamboo timber screens were redesigned to meet pool compliance for boundary fencing yet keep the louvred aesthetic that client liked. New posts were erected to cater for 3.2m height and the modular screening was attached to the posts. Privacy was achieved from the large block of flats that looked into the property and pool compliance was achieved. The slatted design meant air flow could still circulate assisting with the wind load creating a lovely backdrop to the pool.
The textured finish and teak oil finish of the slatted screen also works as a stylish background for the barbecue area that perfectly compliments the modern look of the space.
Click here to find out more about our wide range of fencing and screening options or here if you need pool certification fast and get in touch with our Design Consultants to discuss your project.