By GLENN GARNETT
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“Good fences make good neighbours” is a saying that goes back a century or two. But even with the best fences - and neighbours - privacy can still be an issue.
“Privacy fences” are the rage right now, not just to keep your neighbours from realizing they haven’t been invited to your backyard soiree, but to artfully conceal stuff like A/C units, hottubs, garbage bins or your tanning deck.
Woodworker Ian MacDonald of Oakville is riding the wave of the privacy fence boom.
“It's an up and coming thing, people are really going for them." Macdonald says. "Last year it took off - this year it's going to be nuts."
While some cottagers are blessed with natural space and solitude to conduct their business and pleasure in solitude, the truth is you’re more likely to be within view of your neighbours. Building a little private space can be good for the soul - and for your sanity.
"There's nothing like building a deck, you got the barbecue going and your neighbours are looking in, asking 'How are the steaks doing?'" MacDonald says.
In MacDonald’s view, a privacy fence can be more than a pedestrian barrier - his philosophy is that it can improve the aesthetic charm of your property.
"It doesn’t have to be the old suburban slap-together two-by-four dreary fence,” he says. "If they’re architecturally creative, with open lattice and other features, they can be very striking in appearance."
Another advantage of privacy fences, particularly if they’re adorned with greenery, is they can serve as a noise barrier - both ways. Not to mentioned their benefits as a windbreak.
"Maybe you want to create a nook on your lawn, with two sections at right angles so you can have a private spot to put a chair or two away from prying eyes," MacDonald suggests.
A common feature of Ian's privacy fences is the lattice work along the top made from inch-and-a-half cedar strips.
"You can stain it or leave it be,” he says. “You can have a decorative top, add in circles and ovals and hang plants in them. You can also use those opaque glass blocks which allow the light to come in - which is a good idea if you'd like to use your deck to suntan naked!"
While MacDonald believes in creativity in property landscape and design, he’s fairly inflexible when it comes to the materials he’ll use to build fences - for good reason.
"Cedar is all I do," he insists. "It's rot resistant, it has a lovely colour from orangish amber to a silvery colour if you let it go and with a little bit of maintenance, it'll be around for thirty years or more. You're only paying about 20% more for cedar but it lasts.
"You'll see some decks built with wolmanized or green wood, but I won't use it," he adds. "Put that stuff under the sun for two or three years, it blisters and splits. They treat it with copper nitrate so you can't burn it - it's toxic wood. It winds up going into landfills."
Privacy fences with lattice work can add to the lustre of your garden serving as a base for your climbing roses, heavy vines or clematis.
"They can be incorporated into arbours and become impressive entryways to your garden," MacDonald says. "You can let your imagination run wild. Whatever you can dream up, I can create for you."
You can reach Ian at Harbour House Wood craft by calling (905) 847-0120. Check out his website at www.harbourhousewoodworks.com.
