If you’re thinking of erecting a new fence for your home, you may be wondering what a privacy fence is and whether it should factor into your considerations. In this article, we explore the definition and purpose of privacy fences, some common materials used for them, the typical heights of privacy fences, and whether they are likely to increase the value of your home.

What is a privacy fence?

A privacy fence is a fence that uses a solid material such as aluminium, timber, bamboo, or plants to prevent people from seeing inside a property or make it harder to do so.

Some fence designs provide more privacy than others. For example, bamboo fences tend to be tightly connected without any gaps. But aluminium and timber fences may have small gaps in between (depending on its construction), which will allow neighbours to see inside your property if they get close to the fence itself. The same goes for some plant privacy fences, depending on the density of the leaves, and its stage of growth.

An aluminium privacy fence installed by FenceCorp

Other materials for privacy fences include brick, PVC, and vinyl, each of which vary in the amount of privacy they offer. Brick fences tend to be solid and highly private, while PVC and vinyl fences tend to use slats with gaps, which are a little more revealing.

Privacy fences are usually desirable for areas that you want to remain secluded, like a garden or swimming pool. They also work as a deterrent for burglars, and an effective way to secure leaping dogs.

A brick and aluminium combination privacy fence

Usually, a privacy fence is between 1.25 metres to 1.75 metres tall, depending on how much privacy you’d like.

What is considered a privacy fence in Australia?

There’s no set guidelines on the structure or height of a privacy fence in Australia, but you’d usually expect the fence to be at least 1.5 metres tall to offer genuine privacy. However, there are strict regulations for general fencing, which varies depending on your state. In Queensland for example, dividing property fences must be between 0.5 to 1.8 metres high.

A wooden privacy fence with large gaps, providing a little extra privacy for a patio area

What is the legal height of a privacy fence?

As mentioned above, there’s no actual legal height of a privacy fence in Australia. If you’re erecting a dividing fence with your neighbour, you’ll just need to make sure that you follow your state’s rules.

Does a privacy fence increase the value of your home?

This is a tricky one to answer because house value is a subjective number based on what buyers are willing to pay. There’s no concrete evidence that a privacy fence increases the value of your house, but most people want privacy when they’re relaxing in their homes, so if you have a privacy fence for yours, there’s a chance that it may fetch a better price if you decide to sell.

Summary

A privacy fence is any type of fence that creates privacy for a property. They can be aluminium, timber, plants, or another solid material that can block people’s line of sight, and are typically at least 1.5 metres tall to offer true privacy.

If you’d like a quote for an affordable, quality aluminium privacy fence for your home, get in touch with us today.