How to add privacy screen to outdoor area?

[Layla]

 

I’ve just moved in to a ground floor unit and would like to add a privacy screen along the low wall in the courtyard for two reasons: 

It’s so low that my dog has managed to jump up twice already. Secondly there are building works happening at the unit block (apparent in the photo) which means construction workers are constantly able to look in my unit during the day and the building material left on top of the wall doesn’t look very appealing either. 

The issue is that there are no posts or any other structures where I could attach something to. 

ideally I would have loved to use bamboo screening to transform the courtyard into a nice lush green area. 

anyone got any ideas what I could use in this case? 

[JacobZ]

Hi @Layla,

A warm welcome to the Bunnings Workshop community and thank you for your question.

Is this your unit and are you able to make changes and additions? Is your unit part of a Body Corporate? How permanent are you hoping for this privacy screen to be? Is a fence going to be built as part of the construction next door?

Knowing the strictness of rules in Body Corporate, it is worth checking with your Body Corporate Manager before we make any significant changes to the area.

If you can have the construction materials moved, you might be able to drive some long star pickets into the soil behind the retaining wall and then attach bamboo screening across them using panel fixing clips.

Alternatively, you could bolt posts to the front or top of the retaining wall and then run your bamboo screening between them.

It all depends on how permanent your screen needs to be and what ability you have to make changes to the courtyard.

Allow me to tag @Jewelleryrescue, @Noyade and @Dave-1 to see what ideas they can come up with.

Let me know what you think.

Jacob

[Layla]

Hi Jacob, 

thanks for your quick reply. 

No, unfortunately it is not my own unit. I am just renting. Therefore I’d like the privacy screen to be semi permanent only (basically so I can remove it when I move out). 
They are only renovating the planter box area behind the retaining wall, no fence will be built there. 

I like the idea with the pickets behind the retaining wall as this would be easy to remove once I move out.

 
Layla 

[JacobZ]

Hi @Layla,

I think the star pickets might be the way to go.

This will give you a nice sturdy structure to hang your screening that can be easily removed later on.

Let me know if you have any further questions and don't forget to share some photos once you're done.

It would be fantastic to see how you go.

Jacob

[Dave-1]

Good Evening @Layla 

My mind keeps flipping between heights of that retaining wall. So a few questions

How high is the wall?

Does it extend further either way along your property?

Another one, Does your doggo "just" make it jumping up there or is it an easy jump?

How far is the retaining wall to the concrete wall of the neighbours place? And will that area be accesible once they finish their landscaping to the neighbours?

A couple of things that come to mind that are non permanant and could work.

A row of Bessa blocks sitting on the top of the existing wall. either flat or standing on end. You could place pot plants on top of these to add another step in height. pot plant pots will show a range of styles and heights.

As to privacy from the builders fro now, MNaybe another umbrella stand that you can tilt to block while they are working. They will be gone soon I hope and then that area looks like it could be resonably private. That way you gain an umbrella and also secure your area for your doggo.

If you ecpect their area to be accesable let us know and I am sure we can come up with some more ideas. I do like @JacobZ 's starposts support for screening in this case.

Dave