Browse Forums Building A New House 1 Aug 23, 2009 2:35 pm My husband and I went out to our block yesterday and noticed our neighbour's slab was formed up, due to the cut and fill on both blocks we realised that after erecting a 1.8 standard fence they will be able to look straight into our home and our outdoor dining area from their outdoor dining area. (Fence would probably come to waist height) We researched the best way to design our house to achieve the best solar orientation and thought we made the right choice but now feel gutted as we feel we have little privacy. We expected purchasing in a new estate we would limit our privacy but wondered if anyone else has come across this and any suggestions you could provide. We are at frame stage so wont be fencing for some months to come, we will speak to our neighbour but would appreciate other opinions before hand. Re: Privacy due to Fence height 2Aug 23, 2009 3:41 pm I dont think there's much you can do other than ask the nieghbrous whether they would be happy to make the fence higher. Im sure that if it's bothering you, it's probably bothering them too! Custom European Cabinets - Melbourne Kitchen Specialist PM for business details as website currently being updated! Our Crazy Owner Builder Journey! Re: Privacy due to Fence height 3Aug 23, 2009 3:49 pm RedAshed We researched the best way to design our house to achieve the best solar orientation and thought we made the right choice but now feel gutted as we feel we have little privacy. I really sympathise, that's a bit like what happened to our Solar Passive Dream Home Mark 1. Do you think you could post the elevation so we can see how exactly the ground goes and how much space you have between the house and fence? Re: Privacy due to Fence height 4Aug 23, 2009 5:16 pm Thanks Bam, We did have this train of thought. I know I would feel uncomfortable coming out to my yard and seeing straight into anothers home. Re elevations I will see if hubby will help me out later but to give you an idea our house is about 3 meters from boundary with about 1 meter fall on the block, our street slopes down and we are on the low side. We have a retaining wall about 500 high on fence boundary then and our neighbour's outdoor entertaining area is raised another 500. On the upside their living areas seem to be on the other side of the house. I am trying to keep positive, so far we have had a good build experience, I hope it dosen't go pear shaped due to neighbour conflict Re: Privacy due to Fence height 5Aug 23, 2009 5:48 pm I am in exactly the same position. My neighbours look straight into my lounge room. The current fence is 1.5m heigh. There house is 1m above ground level (old fibro house). I have decided at my own cost to build a privacy screen. In my council I can build 2.1m, but to cover their window I need a 2.3m fence. My council does not ask the neighbours opinion under 2.3m so hopefully it gets approved speedily. My neighbours think it is cow manure that I need privacy!!!! This is my neighbours kitchen window, it is amazing how often they do their dishes! http://i779.photobucket.com/albums/yy74/xrayspice/fence.jpg Re: Privacy due to Fence height 7Aug 23, 2009 8:17 pm Some people are strange. I'd do anything (except part with large amounts of money) to help my neighbours feel comfortable in their home and I'd hate to be constantly looking into my neighbours' house as well! My house is .5 of a meter lower than the neighbours but the estate just put the 1.8 meter fence on top of the retaining wall (2.3m in total) so unless the neigbours are over 190cms tall they won't be able to just look over... unless they REALLY try... but I'm pretty boring at home so I doubt there will be a problem. hamra - you just have to not lead such exciting lives so your neighbour can resist the dishes! lol. Goodluck with the fence! *Built with Gemmill Homes in WA* Slab - 1st June 2009 Plate Height - 17th June 2009 Lock Up - 18th August 2009 PCI - 5th October 2009 Hand Over - 15th Oct 2009 https://forum.homeone.com.au/viewtopic.php?f=31&t=20844 Re: Privacy due to Fence height 8Aug 23, 2009 8:50 pm Thanks for the ideas and opinions. Hubby took another drive out today (he is a major block stalker he he) and bumped in to some locals, they have relatives that live in the same estate with a similar situation and took him to see the 8ft fence they had erected. I think this may be our solution, we are feeling a little better about it. Fingers crossed it works out. Hamra, hope all goes well with your privacy screen, I am with you. Its important to feel comfortable in your home. Re: Privacy due to Fence height 9Aug 23, 2009 11:23 pm Quote: hamra - you just have to not lead such exciting lives so your neighbour can resist the dishes! lol. Goodluck with the fence! my problem is my neighbours have lived there for 50 years with an empty block next door, and they could see everyone driving down the road from their kitchen and i think they liked that, and this has turned them into busy bodies, soon they will only see my roof. my second plan was to invite all my male friends over and make them walk naked past this window until my neighbours beg me for a fence. once my screen is done i will post it for you. might be a little while as my builder has banned me from doing any external work. Re: Privacy due to Fence height 10Aug 24, 2009 12:10 am We had the problem of a 2story home looking down on us at our previous home, we just dug a big trench to loosen the dirt mixed it with garden soil and planted them out with different palms & lily pillys. It took about 2 seasons to get established but our yard became very private and after 4years you could not see there house. Cheers Lou http://take2-customdesigndownslope.blogspot.com 07-10-09 omg they have cut the block 14-05-10 we finally have the keys Re: Privacy due to Fence height 11Aug 24, 2009 12:30 am hey that's a good natural alternative ! i wouldnt like to have potential permanent stalker, so probably privacy screen or natural screen just like take2 shared to us take2 We had the problem of a 2story home looking down on us at our previous home, we just dug a big trench to loosen the dirt mixed it with garden soil and planted them out with different palms & lily pillys. It took about 2 seasons to get established but our yard became very private and after 4years you could not see there house. Cheers Lou Final stage Re: Privacy due to Fence height 12Aug 24, 2009 1:12 pm Quote: We had the problem of a 2story home looking down on us at our previous home, we just dug a big trench to loosen the dirt mixed it with garden soil and planted them out with different palms & lily pillys. It took about 2 seasons to get established but our yard became very private and after 4years you could not see there house to wait 4 years is not really a suitable option for many people including me, to wait for privacy Re: Privacy due to Fence height 13Aug 24, 2009 1:38 pm does anyone really think most people will spend hours of a day looking into your lives? ’’Quondo Omni Flunkus Mortati ’’ If the women don't find you handsome, they should at least find you handy. Stila BK1 Build Thread The best place to talk about sport Re: Privacy due to Fence height 15Aug 24, 2009 4:34 pm We will be using Silver Stirling Pittosporums. If you buy these as a 3ft plant in 12 months they should be 7ft. My gradparents have a wall of these that are just over 12ft (noones looking over that). They also keep them trim so only loose about 600mm from the fence line. Like ⋅ Add a comment ⋅ Pin to Ideaboard ⋅ Cheers Cozmo ______________________________ Building a PD Heywood 29 http://fromevetoeternity.blogspot.com/ Re: Privacy due to Fence height 16Aug 24, 2009 11:33 pm Quote: does anyone really think most people will spend hours of a day looking into your lives? my neighbours actually do, every time i go to my house they are outside and come and complain to me about something. my neighbours do dishes every time i am at my house too, when they are not measuring the distance from my house to the fence or complaining about the colour of my house, or the airconditioner placement, they at at their kitchen window. my ss has also commented to me that they are always there looking in and sometimes even hiding behind curtains having a look. My dad asked them whether they had gone in an had a look yet, and they said no. dad went on to explain that i am building a 3 bedroom house, the wife pipes up no its four. why lie? oops off topic Re: Privacy due to Fence height 17Aug 25, 2009 12:05 am buildingwithhamra Quote: does anyone really think most people will spend hours of a day looking into your lives? my neighbours actually do, every time i go to my house they are outside and come and complain to me about something. my neighbours do dishes every time i am at my house too, when they are not measuring the distance from my house to the fence or complaining about the colour of my house, or the airconditioner placement, they at at their kitchen window. my ss has also commented to me that they are always there looking in and sometimes even hiding behind curtains having a look. My dad asked them whether they had gone in an had a look yet, and they said no. dad went on to explain that i am building a 3 bedroom house, the wife pipes up no its four. why lie? oops off topic The good point about having neighbours like that - if you befriend them, they will watch your house like a hawk - no worries about anyone breaking in while you're away. Re: Privacy due to Fence height 18Aug 25, 2009 12:14 am Quote: The good point about having neighbours like that - if you befriend them, they will watch your house like a hawk - no worries about anyone breaking in while you're away. Thats what I thought to, but no, have already been broken in. The neigbours nosiness didnt help me then. Re: Privacy due to Fence height 19Aug 25, 2009 9:47 pm most neighbours aren't like that tho. a couple of wanders around the house starkers will ensure they keep their eyes out of your kitchen ’’Quondo Omni Flunkus Mortati ’’ If the women don't find you handsome, they should at least find you handy. Stila BK1 Build Thread The best place to talk about sport Hi guys We have just removed a very large grape vine which was mounted to a structure along this wall. This is a shared wall with our neighbour, and after removal, we… 0 3172 Unless the room is for storage then it's non compliant BCA V2 2019 S3 P3.8 You have 2 options 1. The builder deconstructs the section and rebuilds as per plan /… 7 7311 ok thanks - yes was wondering if that should have been listed as Option Three! 2 6199 |