Louvered Fence
In a hectic world, a little privacy can add a lot of quality to your life. Whether you’re considering topping off a pre-existing fence with a low louvered wall that makes it harder for prying eyes to peek in or adding a privacy fence panel that wraps around a deck to create a more secluded sanctuary for unwinding or entertaining, FLEXfence’s Louver System hardware kits make it easy to add style and security to any outdoor space.
Let the Sun Shine in and Fresh Air Flow with Louvered Privacy Fence Panels
With the addition of a privacy wall, your outdoor environment feels more under control. You can hide an unsightly view or put a better boundary between your house and your neighbour’s. The ability to adjust a privacy wall for outdoor airflow and shade puts climate control in your hands as well and helps your designs retain a feeling of openness.
Keep Little Ones and Pets Safe
Backyards built with a privacy fence panel that runs along all sides of the property give pets a bit of running room and a chance to laze around and soak up some Vitamin D and allow kids to play in a sandbox or on a trampoline in the comfort of their own yard. A privacy fence panel paired with kid-proof latches or -locks can also keep curious toddlers from wandering away during the one second you turn your back to flip a burger on the BBQ. You can even use our FLEXfence Louver System hardware kits to construct a wooden doghouse or playhouse with a privacy wall or a roof that mirrors the big-kid style you use for your patio or porch.
Choosing Materials for Your Privacy Fence Panel Project
Cedar or Redwood? Which will it be?
The wood you choose for your louvered fence project will depend on a variety of factors, including:
- The materials already in place
If you’re adding a privacy wall on an outdoor fence that’s already there, you’ll want to select the same type of wood as what’s in the existing structure for the sake of colour and grain continuity. But if you’re unable to match wood types or colours, sealing and then painting the entire structure might be your only choice.If you’re adding a louvered privacy fence panel above a rock or brick retaining wall, choosing wood that creates a pleasing contrast should be a relatively easy task.
- The level of durability you want and the price you’re willing to pay for it
Both Redwood and Cedar softwoods are popular options for outdoor building projects like a privacy fence panel. While Redwood’s density makes for a more durable type of timber, the extra cost compared to Cedar could be a dealbreaker for your budget. Both kinds of wood tend not to warp and are naturally rot- and insect-resistant; ultimately, the choice is up to you.- If using pressure-treated lumber ensure the wood is completely dried, or it could warp. It can take anywhere from a few weeks to several months for the wood to dry and stabilize.
- What’s available at your local lumber yard
Because it’s grown in the United States, Redwood may not be as available as Cedar at the supply stores serving the Canadian region where you live. Ask your contractor or an experienced sales consultant at your local hardware or lumber supply center for information about material availability before you plan your project.
Deciding Between DIY or a Contractor-Installed Privacy Fence Panel
If you’re confident about your construction skills, you can use our FLEXfence Louver System hardware kits to create a louvered fence customized for your home. In the DIY section of our site, you’ll find helpful video tutorials and downloadable plans for a fully louvered fence and two types of board fences that feature a louver wall on top.
If you’d rather leave the design and construction to a professional, you can direct your architect and contractor to the Dimension Guide and Calculator tools on our website, so they can better design and estimate the materials you’ll need and price out your work accordingly. They can also view our FLEXfence line of recommended accessories for post brackets and braces.
Where to Buy
Ready to buy your FLEXfence Louver System hardware kits and build your new privacy fence panel? You’ll find a selection of retailers and regional outlets that stock our FLEXfence Louver System hardware kits in Canada (by province) and the USA (by state) on our Where to Buy page, but you can also view a list of nearby suppliers by simply entering your city and country in our location tool.
FAQs About Louvered Fences and Privacy Fence Panels
Does constructing a louvered fence require a building permit?
Permitting processes vary by municipality across both Canada and the USA.
To find out if your project will require a permit, it’s best to visit the Building Permit Department of your local City Hall or research the process on their website WELL IN ADVANCE of your anticipated project start date.
If you require a permit, you may need to do a property survey, collect and submit architectural plans, provide a tree inventory or more, plus pay the necessary fees. Once submitted, your permit application could take four to six weeks to be reviewed and approved.
If you decide to skip getting a required permit, you risk:
- A fine that’s often double the original permit fee
- Stoppage of all work while your new permit application is processed
- The possibility of having to disassemble and remove all work that was done prior to obtaining the new permit as part of the penalty for non-compliance.
If you didn’t construct the deck, porch, balcony or pergola you want to add a louvered wall or fence to, don’t assume the previous structure has a permit – or even if it did – that it’s up to date with current municipal zoning, bylaw and building code requirements.
Lastly, even if a permit isn’t required for your privacy fence panels, ensure you or your contractor comply with all municipal zoning, bylaws and building codes.
Can a louvered fence reduce my homeowner's insurance?
Because privacy fence panels can keep thieves from monitoring a homeowner’s comings and goings or seeing into backyards, balconies and patios, they add security that can reduce the risk of break-ins and the financial losses that come with them. As a result, some insurance companies offer policyholders discounted rates for fencing that meets their height and material requirements and that’s outfitted with their required gate latching.
When constructing my privacy fence panel, what is the recommended max span for the slats?
We recommend shorter spans to help prevent sagging. Spans greater than 4′ are NOT recommended. The wood species also affects the wood span. Pressure-treated (PT) lumber has a tendency to warp and/or twist when wet, whereas Cedar and Redwood are more stable. PT spans greater than 4′ are NOT recommended.
What if I need horizontal spans longer than 4' or 5' to fence in a large backyard?
If it’s not possible to shorten the spans, then you can substitute the 1″ x 6″ with 5/4″ deck boards. The 5/4″ boards will be stronger and should be more stable. There may still be some sagging, depending on the length of the horizontal span.
What is the max vertical span for the slats?
We recommend 6′ as the maximum span for vertical slats.
When mounting FLEXfence onto a post, does it matter whether we use 4" or 6" fence posts?
With 4″ x 4″ fence posts, you can center our rails onto the posts, and you will have access to attach the operating bar (the last step in assembly – Step #6 in the instructions). Whereas, when using 6″ x 6″ posts, our rails must be offset to one edge of the post to provide access for attaching the operating bar.
Can FLEXfence Louver System hardware kits be used with composite boards?
Composite boards should only run vertically because of the load, otherwise they will sag over time. If the boards run horizontally, the spans should be kept short because of the weight. Composite boards are NOT recommended for overhang applications.
Can I paint various parts of the FLEXfence Louver System?
YES! But you’ll need to use plastic-compatible paint.
Has the FLEXfence Louver System been performance tested?
YES! FLEXfence has been independently tested for quality control. We post product test results for snow loads and wind on our website, and if you scroll down to just below these results, you’ll find information about our manufacturer’s warranty as well.
We select only the highest-grade materials and adhere to manufacturing best practices to ensure our FLEXfence Louver System hardware kits are strong and durable.
