Vinyl Lattice Panels for
Porch Privacy and Wind Protection

by Jane
(Norfolk, Virginia)

QUESTION:This is a big wrap around porch on a 100 year old house in the city. The side that wraps around (my favorite place to read and relax) gets wind from the north and east. The house is on a corner and lots of neighbors walk by. I would like to enclose the North and East side with a trellis with small openings for privacy and to block the wind. One side is open to the rest of the porch across the front which I would leave open. The other side is the wall of the house.

ANSWER: Jane, thanks for visiting our site. Sounds like a wonderful porch! You have several neat options depending on how much privacy and wind protection you'd like.

The best option for both privacy and wind protection are custom vinyl lattice panels. You can either choose from a wide variety of designs/colors or create you won design. You can also determine the size of the openings. Obviously, the smaller the openings the more privacy and wind protection you'll have. The advantage of these is that you don't have to enclose the entire opening. You could choose to enclose just enough to provide the privacy/wind protection you need. You can also use them as a trellis in case you want to grow a climbing plant to provide additional protection.

Another good option are porch curtains, shades, or blinds. Each has their advantages and all can be fastened at the bottom to help block the wind and stabilize the fixtures. Most offer UV protection as well and create some really nice curb appeal.

Still another option are planters that extend high enough to provide privacy and can also block the wind. Although you can use them for larger areas, I think they'd work best for creating a privacy nook. Climbing vines are used to in the planters to provide additional privacy.