Lattice & Screen Fence Installation
Partial privacy that still lets light and air through.
A lattice or screen fence is an open, crosshatched panel that blocks a direct sightline without meaningfully blocking airflow or natural light the way a solid privacy fence does. It's most often used as a topper above a shorter privacy or picket section — adding height and a partial-privacy visual break without the cost or wind-load of building the entire run to full privacy-fence height — or on its own as a patio or deck screen where full enclosure isn't the goal.
As a fence topper vs. a standalone screen
Added above an existing or new privacy/picket fence, lattice adds visual height and a softer transition at the top of the fence line, often used specifically to add a couple feet of extra screening (for a pool area or a second-story sightline) without building the whole fence to that height in solid boards. As a standalone screen — around a patio, deck, or HVAC equipment — it does the job of blocking a direct view while keeping the area from feeling fully enclosed, which matters for a smaller outdoor living space where full solid walls would feel confining.
Panel styles and spacing
Standard diagonal lattice is the most common and economical option; a square or rectangular crosshatch pattern gives a slightly more modern, structured look. Spacing between the crossing strips affects both the amount of privacy and the amount of airflow/light the panel lets through — tighter spacing gives more privacy at some cost to airflow, and vice versa.
Materials
Cedar or pressure-treated pine lattice matches naturally with an adjacent wood fence and is the standard material we build with — cedar for a natural finish, pressure-treated pine for a lower cost under paint or solid stain.
Structural considerations
Lattice panels are lighter than solid boards but still need to be framed properly, especially when added as a topper on an existing fence — the existing posts and top rail need to be sound enough to take the additional height and wind load a lattice topper adds, which is worth confirming before assuming an existing fence can simply have height added to it.
Common applications beyond fence toppers
Beyond adding height to a fence line, lattice and screen panels are a common choice for skirting under a deck or porch (hiding the space underneath while still allowing airflow to prevent moisture buildup), screening HVAC equipment or trash cans from view, and building a partial-privacy divider between two areas of a single yard, such as separating a patio from the rest of the lawn without a solid wall.
Framing a standalone screen
A standalone lattice screen still needs proper posts set in concrete, sized to the screen's height and the wind load a crosshatched panel catches — lattice isn't solid, but it still catches meaningful wind, more than people expect from how open it looks. Skipping proper post depth on a "just a screen" project is a common mistake that leads to a leaning or wind-damaged panel within a season or two.
Matching an existing fence
When lattice is added to an existing privacy or picket fence rather than built as part of a new one, matching the wood species, color, and general finish matters for the result to look intentional rather than mismatched. Cedar lattice added to a pressure-treated pine fence (or vice versa) can be stained to a reasonably close match, but it's worth discussing during a free estimate rather than assuming any lattice will blend seamlessly with any existing fence.
Frequently asked questions
Can lattice be added to the top of an existing fence?
Often yes, if the existing posts and top rail are sound enough to handle the added height and wind load — worth confirming during a free estimate rather than assuming any fence can simply have height added.
Does lattice provide real privacy?
Partial privacy — it blocks a direct sightline but not a complete view the way a solid privacy fence does. It's the right choice when some screening is wanted without fully enclosing an area.
Do you build lattice skirting for a deck or porch, not just a fence topper?
Yes — lattice is a common choice for skirting the open space under a deck or porch, hiding it from view while still letting air circulate underneath. We also install skirting in other materials (vinyl, metal, brick, CMU) and for other structures (houses, mobile homes, sheds) — see our skirting page for the full range.
How much privacy does a lattice topper actually add?
It reduces a direct, straight-on sightline into a yard, particularly from a standing position looking over a shorter fence, without fully blocking light or airflow the way solid boards would at the same added height.
How wide can a standalone lattice screen be built?
Width is mostly limited by post spacing and wind exposure rather than the panel material itself — a longer run may need intermediate posts added purely for wind resistance, even if a solid fence covering the same distance wouldn't need them at the same interval.