Privacy & the Upper story deck
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Another way of looking at the problem, rather blocking the neighbor's view of you, is blocking your view of the neighbors...ie just enough so you are not so aware of them.
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intersting point Tom. So my daughter can have her friends over, feel a sense of privacy and my neighbour wills still report to me on the pot-smoking.
..................... Just Kidding, my daughter's and ANGEL
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I can't understand why putting some visual screening at the side of your deck would be against any local by-law. I'd suggest taking a print of your drawing down to City Hall and calmly talk over your legal privacy options with a Development Officer. You can get an interpretation direct from the horse's mouth. If you aren't happy with what the horse tells you then go visit the Mayor. If you aren't happy with what the Mayor says then run for Mayor in the next election. Run on a platform of "Privacy for the People". You will likely win and then you can do favors for all your friends. Life will be good.
Regards, Ross
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okay, I'm phoning tomorrow. Will let you know the outcome.
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@sorgesu said:
The picture says it all. There is no privacy either on the deck or on the lawn with these houses. Can you think of something that would work with the usual suburban bylaws and provide privacy for these houses both on the deck and in the back yard?. I know that we are not allowed fences that are taller than 6 feet and that is already what they are. I'm not sure but I don't believe we are permitted to build permanent structures on the side of the decks.Pretend that money is not object, I'm just conjecturing here for the fun of. Would I be allowed to plant fully grown pine trees on either side? I bet there are shadow casting restrictions. The backyards face South, BTW.
I'd be really interested in some really creative ideas. Don't spare the expenseSusan,
I was merely suggesting something that is common practice to my area.
Simply put,Privacy walls(No Glass/other) on ONE Side of each property.
Oh, and I know bylaws are usually such a riveting read, that you just can't put them down...do like I do, and read them in the "library".... wink..wink.
Seriously though, given your apparent setbacks you may already have a privacy wall requirement.....look for this in the bylaws.I wish you the best in your endeavors.
Edit:
Susan....are your bylaws for a private community?...try contacting the ARB...ARC on this matter.C
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I suppose yet another way to go is to fill your backyard with such offensive activities that your neighbors are searching the bylaws...think National Lampoon Vacation(s)!
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you could try putting up a lightweight trellis and then getting a creeper to grow up the side of the house onto the trellis. Quite a long term solution though
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Susan, can you post your model? If you can, I'll drop a few in and then figure out how to post it back for you.
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The model is too big. I tried to simplify as much as possible. Hmm. Maybe with just one house. Let me see. Yup, that works. Here is the one house. Thanks much.
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Susan I think it's time to have a friendly chat with your neighbours and explain to them that every action [peeking at you on the deck] has a reaction [not necessarily equal and opposite]
And I'm sure there will be nothing in your local regulations about having a couple of six pounders on you rear deck.
![upperstory_deck2[2].jpg](/uploads/imported_attachments/OCNR_upperstory_deck22.jpg)
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Darn, been wracking my brain to come up with a nice solution for you Susan, but with
Bylaws like you have, this is tough. (have you checked them yet, no permanent structures?)A pergola/patio cover structure helps some for when people are looking down on you, especially if you do planting, or roll down screens on the sides. I show bamboo roof covering but even fairly open 2x2s or 2x4s latticework give good screening when viewed from an upper angle.
My most recent deck had a similar issue with needing to screen out a street to one side. For shade I did a Patio Cover, and for the screening I made a simple Bamboo Screen and fairly open Privacy Railing for that one side.
http://woodsshop.com/PROJECTS/Mill/Finish/a2.htm You don't really need either to be solid, blocking out the view. Even your typical wood latticework gives you a pretty good sense of privacy.More pics of that project http://woodsshop.com/PROJECTS/Mill/MillDeck.htm
I think you should do what Ross suggested, and go ask some questions. Seems to me that if all three of you neighbors request to be able to add some privacy, the rules could get changed. I've never heard any rule against permanent structures as long as they conform to the Setback Rules. Charlie has the best ideas with screens all on the same sides, but they'd only need to be maybe 5' 4" tall.
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Don't know if this is feasable or even if the products are avaulable to you Susan, but here in Aussie land, a common pratice and shade solution from sticky beaks and the sun is to use shadecloth, semi transparent netting similar to flyscreen doors, although the fabric used is a more complicated and stronger version, and I am sure you and some of our designer peope could place it more aesthetically.this can be installed as a non permanent fixture, the shadecloth being attached to the posts with adjustable turnbuckle connections. anyway just a wee idea from down under
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Susan,
I apologize for taking so long to get back to you. Here's what I was suggesting. You can do the same one both sides of the deck as needed. Hopefully your neighbors will be ameanable to a plan similar to this. You can always plant your trees in a hedge a little closer together if they won't.
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Interesting topic with lots of ideas pouring in. Even so, as I scan down the page, if the preceding post had an image, my thought process would have flowed smoothly into it.
So, I think we should encourage posting of screen shots, so that basic information is visually available in the forum page itself. Downloading and opening attachment would be for getting more detailed insight or saving the file. Think convenience and saved bandwidth.
Sorry to be off topic, but relevant nonetheless, IMHO.
Guite
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