{"id":18478,"date":"2018-03-09T11:03:54","date_gmt":"2018-03-09T11:03:54","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/ozcobp.com\/?p=18478"},"modified":"2021-10-21T17:50:09","modified_gmt":"2021-10-21T17:50:09","slug":"privacy-railing-decks-creates-cozy-place-relax","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/ozcobp.com\/dev\/privacy-railing-decks-creates-cozy-place-relax\/","title":{"rendered":"Privacy Railing for Decks Creates a Cozy Place to Relax"},"content":{"rendered":"

[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]When I was nine years old, I was really eager to hang out at my friend Kevin\u2019s house. The main reason was that he had a Super Nintendo. The second reason was that his 16-year-old neighbor was in the habit of sunbathing out on her parents\u2019 backyard deck next door. This made Kevin the most popular boy in the neighborhood that summer, and we\u2019d all think of excuses to go into the backyard. I\u2019d gotten a football for my birthday that year, and this was the only time it got used regularly.<\/span><\/p>\n

One day, I was disappointed to go over to Kevin\u2019s house and find a new wooden privacy fence along that side of the backyard. In retrospect, I can\u2019t blame the neighbors for wanting that extra bit of privacy. But the fence seemed like expensive overkill. Replacing sections of the railing along one edge with privacy railing panels would have sufficed. Privacy railing for decks is far cheaper than extra-tall privacy fencing. Of course, with a teenage daughter, a little protective overkill is understandable.<\/span><\/p>\n

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What Are Privacy Railings?<\/b><\/h3>\n

A privacy railing is just a replacement for a regular railing that helps block the view. Adding one can be as simple as stretching a specially-made cloth across the balusters. It can also take the form of a material like a trellis, wood boards, or even sheet metal attached to existing railings. Privacy railings for decks can even be taller, more like a privacy screen. The difference is that a privacy railing is permanently anchored to the deck\u2019s substructure, whereas a privacy screen is generally resting on the deck. However, many custom <\/span>DIY outdoor privacy screens<\/span><\/a> are permanent.<\/span><\/p>\n

Privacy railing can replace a typical railing around the entirety of the deck, or it can replace a single section of railing. If you\u2019re worried privacy from a single direction\u2014say a bunch of eight- to eleven-year-olds keep looking into your yard\u2014a small section of privacy screen can block prying eyes and let you enjoy the rest of the view from your deck. Alternatively, if you have a small backyard with neighboring houses near the property line, a corner or other odd lot, or just an unusual layout where outdoor privacy is hard to get then privacy railings that completely surround your deck might be the best choice. Privacy railing of this sort also works on ground-level decks and even concrete patios. If your deck is surrounded by second-story homes that can look down on your deck then it may help to <\/span>add a pergola to the deck<\/span><\/a> along with privacy railings to keep nosy neighbors from looking in.<\/span><\/p>\n

Advantages and Disadvantages of Privacy Railings<\/b><\/h3>\n

The biggest advantage of privacy railings is their cost. The square footage of a deck is usually much smaller than the square footage of yard, meaning it costs less to enclose a deck with a privacy railing than it does to enclose a yard with a privacy fence. Another advantage follows closely on the heels of the price. Due to this smaller size, it\u2019s easier and more cost-effective to create privacy railings that are customized to look nice with your deck and your home.<\/span><\/p>\n

The main disadvantage is that permanent, outdoor privacy railings for decks aren\u2019t typically available off the shelf. Temporary screens are available, but ones that actually anchor to the deck and form a permanent part of the structure are rare. A homeowner who wants a permanent privacy solution on their deck is most likely going to have to build it themselves. The good news is that this is not a difficult project, and is easily handled by an entry-level DIYer.<\/span><\/p>\n

Building Privacy Railing for Decks<\/b><\/h3>\n

The first thing to consider before building privacy railings for your deck is what sort of privacy you need. If your deck is a second level deck that stands above the surrounding homes, then all you\u2019ll really need to provide for your privacy is a railing of typical height with a view-obstructing infill. A popular method is to simply nail evenly-spaced two-by-sixes horizontally across two railing posts. This is incredibly simple to do. The only caveat is that two-by-sixes are rather expensive, and you can use quite of few of them making this sort of privacy screen. Here are the basic steps for making this type of privacy screen:<\/span><\/p>\n