Retaining Wall or Fencing: Which Structure Works Best for Privacy in a Powell, OH, Backyard?
Privacy, or the lack of privacy, can significantly alter your backyard experience. Nobody likes the neighbors’ prying eyes on them, and adding a privacy barrier is an important part of creating a backyard sanctuary. There is no one size fits all solution when it comes to privacy. In this article we’ll explore retaining wall or fencing: which structure works best for privacy in a Powell, OH, backyard?
Related: INCORPORATING FUNCTIONAL FENCING INTO A NATURALISTIC LANDSCAPE DESIGN IN POWELL OH
COST
Depending on the materials used, retaining walls, 6’ high vinyl privacy fencing, and 6’ high wooden fencing could be closely matched or wildly different. The biggest cost comes in labor; but here, too, materials make a difference (concrete blocks designed to fit together, for example, will lower labor costs while adding a wooden or vinyl fence to a property that presents installation challenges will raise labor costs.
SLOPE
One of the main considerations in choosing the best type of privacy barrier is whether your backyard is flat, sloped, or rolling.
Retaining walls allow you to carve out additional living space on a sloped property. Because the new living space is built into a slope, this automatically provides some privacy.
Another benefit to a retaining wall is that you can incorporate an outdoor fireplace and built-in seating into it for an incredibly cozy - and private - hang out space.
With fencing, you will get the best results if your property is level or only very slightly sloped or rolling. Installing a privacy fence on uneven land can be a challenge: either the top of the fence will be consistently level which could create gaps at the bottom; or it will step up and down to follow the contours of the land, which could look awkward.
OBSTACLES
Obstacles such as rock outcrops can be worked around using privacy fencing, but be prepared for the labor costs to go up.
A retaining wall is a good option for a landscape with varied terrain, or a property that features rock outcrops - they can be incorporated right into the wall for a one-of-a-kind look.
A LITTLE OF BOTH: A MIXED-MATERIAL MASTERPIECE
One way to get the best of both worlds is to build a retaining wall , and install a wood or vinyl privacy fence on top of it. This solution lets you make the most of a sloped or uneven property, because it essentially creates a level surface for the fence to sit on. The top of the fence will then be perfectly level or will be stepped in more even (and therefore more attractive) increments. There will not be any gaps at the bottom of the fence that pets could squeeze through.
Mixing materials is also an opportunity to create an artistic privacy wall with much more visual interest than using just one material: a focal point that is also functional. It gives the fence a “foundation” and by using materials that complement the outdoor living space, you can tie the privacy fence in with your design theme. Both wood and vinyl privacy fencing can be attached to a retaining wall.
To add a fence to the top of a retaining wall, the fence can be installed so that fence posts are attached directly to the retaining wall using either visible anchors, or hidden anchors that offer no hint of how the fence is connected. Or, the wall could feature masonry columns to which fence panels are attached.