How to Build a Wood Privacy Fence

Adding a privacy screening to the top of a fence can add to the overall aesthetic of your backyard as well as help give privacy and security to your property. Adding a faux boxwood topper to an existing fence is simple and easy with the right tools and materials all found at the Home Depot.

Use Rust-Oleum Satin Hunter Club Green spray paint to paint the PVC pipe piece that were cut for the top section of the fence topper, and connector piece. This will help to disguise the pipe structure that will be behind the faux boxwood panels. Let all the pieces fully dry before assembly.

Now that all the painted PVC fence topper structures are built, its time to connect the faux boxwood panels together that will get zip tied to the PVC structure. The faux boxwood panels have small tabs on each end making connecting the panels together easy and they hold together strong.

The faux boxwood panels come with matching colored zip ties for attaching the panels to the PVC structure. Double siding the faux panels to the PVC structure helps add extra privacy and thickness to the panels. It also gives a more visually appealing fence topper on both sides of the fence.

Once all the faux boxwood panels are attached to both sides of the PVC structure, it’s time to add the fence topper to the fence. Glue the piece of PVC that was cut to the fence height to the PVC structure with the panels attached. Connect the structure to the fence using concrete screws and conduit straps to each one of the fence center posts.

Use 2”x 4” Lumber to build a frame around the porch area for the wood privacy fence slats to attach to. Secure the wood frame to the porch using exterior wood screws. Make sure that frame is square and level before screwing it together and attaching it to the porch.

Use a miter saw or hand saw to cut enough 8’ long x 2” wide wood furring strips in half to cover the wood porch frame. The number of slats for the privacy fence is determined by the spacing between each slat. A larger open space between slats will require fewer boards, and a smaller open space between slats will require more boards. After cutting down enough of the furring strips, sand all the sides and edges of each piece of wood.

After all the wood strips are sanded and wiped clean it time to seal the wood to protect it from the outside elements. Seal all the wood slats by giving each side two coats of Olympic water guard clear wood sealer spray, and let it fully dry before assembly. Be sure to do this step outside in a well-ventilated area.

Use one of the extra furring strips on its thin side as a spacer while attaching the furring strips to the porch frame.
Then use a brad nailer or hammer and nails to attach the furring strips to the porch frame.