TAKING PRIVACY TO THE NEXT LEVEL

Outdoor

PRIVACY screens and walls have become more than a functional addition to outdoor living spaces to hide unattractive views—they have evolved into eye-catching, one-of-a-kind additions that builders are customizing to fit a space’s overall aesthetic.

Dan Pettit, owner of Northern Outdoor Living, Hastings, MN., says the industry is redefining what the customer thinks of privacy walls. “The privacy wall is a great pallet to get creative on, mixing with stone, metal and lighting and making live walls, where you can have different materials and different consistencies.”

“Don’t let the ideas stop before they come out of your mouth because you don’t think they can happen,” adds Pettit, who hired Tom Davis, an experienced metal worker, in 2021 to help produce his company’s one-ofa-kind, powder-coated, steel and aluminum privacy panels. “We will get into deep brainstorming. It’s a way to think outside of the box—taking our strengths and putting them towards the new fresh idea. There is no idea too kooky.”

By Sara Graves

Photos by Hideaway

ABOVE: Hideaway screens with a larger-hole pattern are a good option if privacy isn’t a priority.

BOTTOM RIGHT: Some customers prefer very thin slats for their privacy walls to obscure the view from the other side of the wall.

Pettit has used privacy screens on top of pony walls, more like wall art. For instance, on one project, he explains, “We created a wall with lattice you could see right through it, but it was more like a quasi-room feel. The panels went from the top of a pony wall to the top of a pergola, creating a kind of faux wall, dining room, living room and Jacuzzi. It felt like you were in something, but still outside.”

He adds that their customers have very specific holes or spaces to fill, and no two walls are the same because “the custom client likes to have something that no one else has.”

“Some people are very interested in very wispy or transparent walls, even if it’s an implied wall—not really being a hard physical structure, a plant wall— going from something (like that) to a total solid wall, with no transparency at all, or anywhere in between,” says Pettit.

“It’s more expensive to do it custom,” he adds. “It is more important to fully understand both aspects— the aesthetics and the functionality. If the panels are premade, you get what you get. You might like the design, but maybe it doesn’t give you the privacy that you desire. But when offering that customization, we try to hit both (aesthetics and functionality) because they are paying for it. We create a one-of-a-kind design they can call their own.”

To build their company’s unique designs, Pettit relies on hundreds of templates that can be modified in the CAD program that Davis uses. One client, for example, wanted privacy screens for their underdeck skirting, but didn’t want to obscure the windows that were below. “We created a thoughtful pattern that was not too tight, so light could get through, but not too open to make it obvious that there might be items stored down there,” Pettit says.

CUSTOMERS are looking for patterned screens to complement the design of their outdoor living spaces.

On another project, they cut out aluminum decorative skirting for a 1-ft.-high deck that needed ventilation for a hot tub. “It was a nice alternative to closing off the under deck with a solid-deck-board-claddingapproach because the deck was so low to the ground. We didn’t want to create a trap for moisture from the ground or from spillage from the hot tub. We were able to combine functionality and aesthetics.”

Conversely, many builders, including Deck Specialist columnist Mike Mitchell, turn to laser cut, powder-coated aluminum Hideaway screens for their privacy walls. “They have many stock options that are creative and look awesome,” Mitchell adds. “You can also do customized panels to fit your project or adjust the amount of ‘privacy.’ You can take it a step further and make your own design or add your logo to the panels.”

Moreover, according to Richard Van Wieren, president/CEO of Canada-based Hideaway, their screens offer a variety of customization options to builders, ensuring that they can seamlessly integrate into any project. “This level of customization is a game changer because it provides builders with a versatile solution that can be tailored to the unique needs and preferences of each client.”

These options include different patterns, colors, and sizes, as well as custom-made designs and patterns to match specific themes or aesthetics. The flexibility in design allows builders to control the level of privacy by adjusting the size of the cutouts, the spacing between the panels, or by layering screens. In addition, builders can add Hideaway pergolas, rails, custom gates, and planters to their projects.

“Our builders are using Hideaway screens in various ways to enhance outdoor living spaces,” says Van Wieren, adding that the most common applications include creating privacy walls around decks, patios, and pools; dividing outdoor spaces into separate functional areas; providing shade and wind protection; and adding visual interest to landscapes.

Van Wieren says that for areas prone to high-wind, flooding, or heavy snow, there are fabrication and installation considerations to keep in mind when using their screens. “We recommend using thickergauge aluminum for added durability, and securing the screens with heavy-duty fasteners and brackets. In flood-prone areas, it’s essential to install screens above the base flood elevation level and ensure proper drainage. In regions with heavy snow, it’s crucial to consider the potential snow load on the screens and design accordingly.”

For Pettit, creating his unique, outdoor screen designs with eclectic, custom lighting means more than just trying to create one-of-a-kind designs—he wants to impact the outdoor living industry for the better. “My whole thought was I wanted to create a company where if we disappeared one day, the market would notice.”

Thankfully, if you ask Deck Specialist columnist Bobby Parks, privacy screens aren’t going away anytime soon. And although the use of more modern, upper-end privacy screen options is still limited, partly because of price and because builders are unfamiliar with ordering and using them, Parks feels “the market will grow for this kind of accessory.” DS

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