Privacy fence vs. open lattice, 14 months later

When we moved into our place off Highway 9 last spring, I had to pick between a solid cedar privacy fence and a cheaper lattice option for the north side of the yard. I went with the lattice because it was about $800 less and I liked the airy look. Fast forward to now, my neighbor's new dog barks at every squirrel and I can see it clearly through the gaps, plus the lattice bows out in a few spots after one heavy snow in January. The cedar would have held up better and given me real quiet, but I saved money upfront. Has anyone else gone cheap on a fence and regretted it, or did you find a middle ground that actually worked?

2 comments

2 Comments

rose_reed1mo ago

My neighbor two doors down did the half-and-half thing, lattice on top of a solid base, and honestly that's the sweet spot if you're not ready to drop full cedar money. The bottom stays private and solid for the dog eye level, the top gives you that light feel, and we both watched their panels survive the same January storm without a single bow.

rowan9691mo agoMost Upvoted

The half-and-half is smart, but make sure the lattice is actually attached to the frame and not just stapled on. Seen too many of those peel off in a good gust. If you go that route, spring for the vinyl lattice even if the posts are cedar, it outlasts the wood by years.