Lattice and Screen Fence Installation

Not every privacy problem needs a solid six-foot wall around the whole yard. Sometimes it is one neighbor's second-story window over the patio, a pool pump and trash cans in plain view, or a fence that is a foot shorter than it needs to be. Lattice and screens solve those problems with less lumber and more light. We build wood lattice toppers on new and existing fences, lattice panels as accents, and freestanding privacy screens around patios, decks, pools and equipment.

Lattice toppers

A lattice topper is a 12- to 24-inch section of diagonal or square lattice set in a frame above the solid boards of a privacy fence. It raises the effective height, softens the top edge, and lets breeze through on a hot afternoon. Because it adds wind load, the posts underneath have to be up to the job. On a new fence we size the posts for the finished height. On an existing fence we check the posts before adding a topper and extend or replace them if needed.

Privacy screens

A screen is a short, targeted run of fence that blocks one line of sight: a neighbor's view onto a deck, the pool equipment, the side of a shed, or the air conditioner by the back door. It can be solid board, lattice, spaced horizontal boards, or a mix. Because a screen is often close to where people sit, the fit and finish matter more than on a property-line fence, and we build it with the same care as a piece of the house. Lakefront owners use screens a lot: they block the neighbor without blocking the water. Lakefront fencing has more on view-friendly options.

Patio and deck screening

Screens can attach to a deck frame or a pergola post, or stand on their own posts set in concrete. Lattice is the traditional choice here because it holds a climbing vine, which turns a screen into a green wall over a couple of seasons. Spaced horizontal boards give a cleaner modern look. Either way the posts go into the ground below the soft topsoil, the same as a fence.

Materials

We build lattice and screens in cedar or treated pine to match the fence they join. Cedar lattice holds up best in the humidity and stains well. We frame every lattice panel in solid wood rather than letting the thin strips carry themselves, which is what keeps a topper from sagging or rattling in a few years.

Adjusting privacy without a solid wall

Lattice, screens, shadowbox and spaced horizontal boards are all ways to dial in how much you see and how much air moves. Adjust your privacy like never before walks through those options side by side.

What affects the price

A lattice topper is priced by the foot on top of the fence it sits on, plus any post work the extra height calls for. A freestanding screen is priced like a short run of fence: posts in concrete, a frame, the panel infill, and the finish. Cedar costs more than treated pine; a framed lattice panel costs more than a plain board panel; a screen attached to a deck or pergola is cheaper than one on its own posts. Most screens are small jobs, and we are glad to fold one into a fence, deck or staining visit.

Frequently asked questions

Can you add a lattice topper to my existing fence?

Often, yes, if the posts are sound and tall enough or can be extended. A topper adds wind load, so we check the posts first. On a fence with short or weak posts we will tell you a topper is not a good idea rather than bolt one on.

Does lattice give real privacy?

Tight lattice blocks a direct view from a distance and softens a sightline, but someone standing close can see through it. For full privacy, use solid boards below and lattice only as a topper or accent.

What is a privacy screen versus a fence?

A screen is a short run of fence built to block one view, such as a neighbor's window toward a patio, an air conditioner, or a trash area. It is built the same way as a fence section but does not enclose anything.