How do I make my deck railing private?

Many homeowners with backyard decks want to increase their privacy from neighbors or passersby. Installing a private deck railing is an effective way to create a secluded relaxation and entertaining area. There are several options for making deck railings more private, depending on your needs and budget. The optimal solution will block views and reduce noise coming from outside your property. This article will provide useful information to help you choose the best private deck railing solution.

Assess Your Needs

Start by thinking about your specific privacy concerns. Consider the following factors:

• How much of your deck is visible from other properties or public areas? Focus privacy efforts on the most exposed sections.
• What angles of view allow others to see your deck? You may need more coverage on certain sides.
• How close are neighbors or pedestrians? More distant public viewpoints may need less screening.
• Do you want to completely block ground-level views or partially obscure the deck? Full privacy options can feel closed-in.
• Is noise transmission an issue? Some materials also provide sound buffering.

Also measure the linear footage of deck railing requiring increased privacy. This will help determine costs and material needs. Carefully think through how private you want the space to feel so the final product meets your expectations.

Install Taller Railing

Simply increasing deck railing height can make a big impact. Standard height is usually 36 inches. Going up to 42 or 48 inches will hide more of the deck from outside viewers. Be sure to check local building codes for maximum railing height allowed without a permit.

Consider combining taller railing with decorative post caps on top for an attractive look. Additional post caps along the railing can further block sight lines. Taller railing may be sufficient if you just need a little more privacy from certain angles. The view-blocking effect can be enhanced by using railing infill materials explained in the next sections.

Add Balusters or Infill

Filling in the space between deck railing balusters is one of the most effective ways to increase privacy. You have a choice of permanent infill materials or removable panels. Consider the following infill options:

Wood:boards, lattice, louvers, or trellis panels. Provides a classic look. Needs occasional maintenance and painting/staining.

PVC/Composite: plastic or wood/plastic boards, sheets, or lattice panels. Very low maintenance. Won’t rot or splinter like wood.

Bamboo: woven panels or fencing backed with a lattice frame. Durable and naturally privacy-blocking. Requires sealing to prevent moisture damage.

Metal: perforated sheets, glass panels, or decorative infill panels. Very sturdy and long-lasting. Can feel imposing if fully enclosed.

Cable rail: Horizontal cables spaced very close together. Transparent view with flexible wire. Needs frequent tightening.

Fabric: Privacy mesh, curtains, or overlapping sheer panels. Lightweight and removable. Less sturdy and prone to wind/UV damage.

Here is a comparison of common railing infill materials:

Material	Durability	Privacy	Maintenance	Cost
Wood boards	Good	Excellent	Medium	Medium
PVC/Composite	Excellent	Excellent	Very Low	Medium-High
Bamboo	Good	Excellent	Medium	Medium
Metal	Excellent	Excellent	Low	High
Cable rail	Fair	Good	Medium	Medium
Fabric	Poor	Good	Medium	Low

Consider the amount of visibility and airflow you want to maintain. Opaque materials like wood provide the most privacy. Translucent options like fabric let some light through. a good balance of visibility and privacy.

Install Lattice Skirting

For decks close to the ground, adding lattice around the perimeter creates a visual screen. The lattice is often framed out between the deck joists and flooring to box in the entire underside of the deck.

Wood and PVC are common skirting lattice options. Bamboo or metal lattice is possible too. Make sure to allow for adequate airflow to prevent mold and mildew issues. You can offset or stagger the lattice pieces slightly to have small air gaps.

Consider attaching the lattice skirt panels with hinges to make areas accessible for storage or utilities. Lattice skirting works best for low or sloped decks. It may be less feasible for very high decks with limited ground clearance.

Install Privacy Panels

Privacy panels are large framed sections that mount on top of the deck railing. They effectively increase the height of the railing and can fully block views.

Wood, composite, metal, and vinyl materials are commonly used for privacy panels. They often have decorative tops like arched curves or lattice designs. Some panel systems have adjustable angles or removable sections to control privacy and airflow as desired.

Benefits of privacy panels include:

• Can be installed without removing or modifying railings.
• Provide full adjustable privacy screening.
• Available in long spans for fewer seams.
• Offer decorative styles to match deck aesthetics.

Measure the full linear railing length and layout to determine how many panels you need. Price out privacy panel options from decking manufacturers or fence companies. Pro installation is recommended for proper fitting, mounting, and maximum stability.

Grow Vining Privacy Plants

For a living screen that provides privacy, plant fast-growing climbing vines along your deck perimeter. Some good vine options include:

• Jasmine – Dense evergreen grower with fragrant white flowers.
• Trumpet Honeysuckle – Vigorous twining vines with red trumpet-shaped blooms.
• Climbing Hydrangea – Clings via aerial rootlets with lush green foliage.
• Clematis – Beautiful open-faced flowers in a variety of colors.
• Grape Ivy – Tough dense leaves on a rapidly spreading vine.
• Virginia Creeper – Lovely red fall color and decorative blue berries.

Provide sturdy trellises or fencing for the vines to climb on. Plant at regular intervals along the deck perimeter for an intertwining living privacy screen Once established, pruning and training will help the vines grow thickly. Combining vines with other railing privacy solutions creates multiple overlapping layers of foliage.

Add Planting Beds or Shrubs

Planting privacy shrubs around the deck perimeter helps isolate the space both visually and acoustically. Evergreen shrubs with dense foliage work best for year-round screening. Some good privacy shrub options include:

• Arborvitae
• Laurels
• Yews
• Boxwood
• Hollies
• Privet

Space shrubs close together, just a few feet apart, for a tight screen. Allow enough distance from the deck edge so plants won’t overhang as they grow. A double staggered row of shrubs boosts the privacy effect.

Combining shrubs and vines together creates an impenetrable living wall of greenery surrounding your deck. This is an attractive natural option that also helps filter noise. Annual maintenance like pruning and trimming helps keep plantings in check.

Install Exterior Roller Shades

For flexible above-deck privacy, consider mounting retractable shade screens along the railing. These exterior roller shades provide adjustable privacy and UV protection.

Roller shade materials like vinyl, acrylic, and solar fabric block views while allowing air circulation. Control the amount of privacy screening by lowering shades incrementally. Use a gear drive motor system for easy automatic operation.

Benefits of exterior roller shades include:

• Adjustable light and privacy control.
• Protection from sun, rain, and wind.
• Reduced interior temperature and glare.
• Manual or motorized operation.

Measure the deck structure to determine shade sizes and layout. Have a professional installer mount the motorized hardware securely. Prices range from $300 – $500 per roller shade depending on material and size. Operable shades are a great way to regulate outside visibility.

Install Overhead Beam Covers

For decks with exposed overhead beams, beam covers present an opportunity to increase privacy from above. Solid beam covers block views looking down from higher vantage points like second-story windows.

PVC and aluminum are common materials for covering beams. Wood can be used as well but will require more maintenance to prevent water damage. Match the beam cover colors to your decking for a cohesive look.

Benefits of beam covers include:

• Prevent visual oversight from above.
• Protect beams from weathering.
• Aesthetic upgrade for exposed beams.
• Affordable and easy DIY installation.

Measure the beam lengths and spacing to calculate the total linear footage. Beam covers typically come in interlocking planks 4 ft. to 8 ft. long. Use finishing end caps for a clean installed appearance.

Umbrellas, Sails, and Canopies

For temporary overhead privacy on a deck, umbrellas, shade sails, and canopy systems are good options. These shading structures can cover all or part of the deck when needed. Take them down easily when not in use.

Umbrellas mounted through the deck provide portable shade coverage. Rotate or tilt umbrellas to adjust sun blocking. Use push-button tilting bases for easy repositioning. Waterproof fabric like Olefin is best for durability.

Triangle sails stretch overhead between deck posts to create angled shade. Relax the corners to lower sail height as desired. The fabric slopes rain and water off while reducing sun exposure.

Canopy systems utilize retractable fabric mounted on tracks or cables. Manual or motorized systems make canopies easy to extend and retract. Enable full or partial coverage. Canopies can recess into cassettes when not deployed.

Here is a comparison of temporary deck shading options:

Type	Coverage	Control	Durability	Cost
Umbrellas	Limited	Good	Fair	Low
Sails	Moderate	Limited	Good	Low-Medium
Canopies	Maximum	Excellent	Excellent	High

These structures provide versatile temporary privacy solutions. Permanent mounted versions are available too. Get professional help with structural modifications to properly support attachments.

Outdoor Curtains and Blinds

For quick DIY privacy, hang outdoor curtains directly on deck railings. Choose fabrics like canvas, acrylic, polyester, and Olefin. Waterproof coatings and UV inhibitors help curtains hold up outside. Grommets across the tops slide easily onto hooks or rails.

Outdoor blinds also mount directly to railings or ceiling beams. Adjust their angles to control privacy and shade. Blinds come in materials like bamboo, vinyl, and aluminum. For full coverage, mount curtains and blinds in overlapping sections. Use overlapping seams and weighted bottoms to keep fabrics in place.

Benefits of curtains and blinds:

• Inexpensive way to increase privacy.
• Lightweight and removable.
• Many style and color options.
• Provides shade and UV protection.
• Easy DIY installation.

Curtains do need occasional re-treatment to maintain water resistance and durability. But they can be a quick and decorative way to boost deck privacy as needed.

Conclusion

Transforming your deck into a more secluded relaxation space is possible with the right privacy solutions. Assess your deck layout, problem areas, and budget to select the best options. Filling railing gaps, increasing height, adding living screens, mounting shades, and hanging curtains present varied ways to obstruct outside views. Balancing visibility, airflow, and aesthetics allows you to customize the perfect private deck retreat. With some creative solutions, you can eliminate deck visibility issues and enjoy a peaceful concealed oasis.