I have been building a deck for a few weekends. I have it all finished but for the facing and privacy screens. I live in a semi-detached house in an urban environment (Toronto, so whatever I install has to survive winters). I need to build privacy screens on the deck, but I don’t want the usual vertical boards with latice on top – I don’t want it to look like a fence. I have attached pictures of the deck from different angles.
The posts are rough sawn hemlock and I am planning to use a stain to colour them matte black. The decking is cedar, and I intend to stain it so as to keep it looking as natural as possible. There will be no front railing, there is full width stair. There will be no further pergola tops on the beams – I am looking for low voltage small pot type lights to put in the beams near the edges.
This is my first time posting to this forum – so I apologize if design questions are not part of what is intended to be on the site.
Replies
Have you considered installing flat 1x4 material at a slight angle, to create a louvre effect? The "louvres" or slats could be installed vertically or horizontally, with a slight overlap, and you could orient their angle to block the direction you want the privacy from.
The advantage is that they still allow air movement and light to the area, but from the outside they would appear as a solid surface...
Sorry, hard to describe without a sketch!
you mean something like this? Good idea.
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Edited 6/11/2009 12:23 pm ET by john7g
Yeah, but that's even more elaborate than I had in mind.
You could also run the slats vertically, which would help shed snow and survive your winters (I'm in Vancouver - I'm more concerned about water sitting in the joints all winter...)
Depends on where you want your privacy from (neighbors from above, I'm guessing)
That is a great idea - thank you.
Re. privacy - more important from the side. The neighbours deck is RIGHT beside ours - including their hot tub (which you can see perfectly from our kitchen.) We want privacy from the side so that you can have a meal or read a book somewhat in private - and also not see their hot tub.
This wall/fence/privacy screen is done with pressure treated pine. The beaded-paneling look was done on a router table, as was the tongue and groove, and the crown molding.If you might be doing something like this, I have more advice/information for you.Politics is the antithesis of problem solving.
take a look at post #3 of your thread here. Maybe??
Edited 6/11/2009 12:26 pm ET by john7g
Stainless cabling + vines?
Also a really good idea and could look great - but our climate would mean no privacy in spring and fall. Also it is very shady (i.e. not much light!)
Hello! and welcome to the Breaktime forum where we tackle questions of construction, tools, design, as well as a slew of subjects not even close to being building related.
First let me say that you have done a nice job so far on your deck. I especially like the woven joint of the deck boards and the post notching up top. I'm not sure what "pot" lights are but I could maybe see some "puck" lights inserted in the underside of the beams. Puck lights are usually used under upper cabinets and are roughly the same size and shape as a hockey puck. Being so, they would be easy to mill a hole and insert them flush.
Now let me be a little critical... I don't think your deck looks "finished" even after you get a screen I see a few design aspects that just look off to me. You should think about installing skirt boards or at the very least risers to cover the pressure treated framing. Why go to all the work and expense putting on cedar if you are still showing a bunch of pressure treated?
I know you said there would be no crossing beams going up but you should do something to make it look like that was the design intent, otherwise the beams are worthless (design wise). The use of beams denotes you are going to support something else. What you put there is based on your creativity but something must be supported. Some options may be wood, sticks, bamboo, sheet metal, fabric, metal tubing, etc.
The side of the deck looks high enough that it may be required to have a railing. Nevertheless, I think it may look nice to have something there railing-like; also as a finishing design detail. You could put in a railing with decorative slat work or spindles, a glass railing, a stainless steel cable railing, rope, fabric, metal panels, even a couple of long planters full of sunflowers. Be creative. I also got to say that seeing under a deck is a pet peeve of mine, not to mention it's very inviting to animals (skunks, raccoons, stray dogs and cats). Maybe think about tacking up some lattice or metal fencing.
Now back to the privacy screen. I don't much like seeing the use of vertical wood blinds on a deck. It just looks too fence like and unless you totally hate seeing your neighbors or you are into nude hot tubbing on your deck, building a wooden wall is often a little too private. For summer privacy you may want to think about growing a vine up a trellis or lattice work. Doesn't even have to be wood; could be steel cable or copper pipe maybe. Another option may be to hang some fabric from some chain or pipe. I am thinking of something like a black or tan mesh fabric similar to what is used by landscapers to cover trees during transport. Then you could roll it up to converse with the neighbor and take it down seasonally to prolong it's lifespan.View ImageView Image You could even run some horizontal purlins from post to post and weave the mesh.View Image If mesh isn't your thing how about rattan screens...View Imageor a roll up bamboo screen? View ImageView Image![]()
The sky is the limit. Don't let tradition or a bunch of old carpenter's opinions hold you back from doing something unique. Once you figure out what you want, come on back and let us guide you through doing it. good luck and have funDC
One more idea to add...
How about making a wood frame and using some sanded or sandblasted plexiglass.
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DC
Wow - thanks for all those pictures!! It is just so easy to fall into the trap of doing what everyone else is doing - the pics definitely gave me some ideas. Fabric could be really interesting! Glass would be great and good in our environment - but maybe pricey. I'll be doing some research!
I thought the beams from a design perspective would tie in the 2 walls otherwise it could look like a tunnel because there will be no railing on the front. The other thing was the lighting at the edges to shine down from them.
Re. the sides - yes, I will be doing some skirting on the sides, and something to block access underneath. We have a real racoon problem in Toronto - I don't want to make a nice home for one!! I am thinking of ripping strips from cedar 2x4s and running them horizontally.
Re. the lights. That is what I have in mind - puck lights. I just have to find some that will give enough light and can fit into a 3" beam.
Thank you everyone for your great responses!
a friend of mine used the rattan screens in his garden. they looked great, but didn't winter very well. maybe you could spray the with varathane?i like the louver idea in general, but i don't think it would work on your deck. too busy. home depot sells an outdoor louver system that is operable, if you're interested.i think the vertical bamboo infill would be appropriate, but pricey.i also like the canvas idea. you could even get it printed.maybe mix it up?
Great selection of photos. Some really interesting ideas there!
Really can't add to the great responses above but just would like to say "geat job" so far on the deck. I can tell just from what I can see, like the herringbone joinery pattern in the deck boards, that you're paying attention to the design details.
On a side issue, I would say go get some real french doors that have only about a 4" wood surround. With such a nice deck, seek to minimize the indoor/outdoor transition. Those doors you have now a really look like a wood door with a glass insert. What you want is a glass door with a 4" wood frame.
Big difference.
Runnerguy
Your standard sized exterior vinyl or aluminum sliding glass doors are priced within reason. They can take to any type of weather. Privacy can be added by painting the glass with texture, patterns or stripes. With a razor blade, you can change your mind.