How to Make Porch Privacy Panels

Our 'How to Make Porch Privacy Panels' guide will show you how easy it is to make panels to not only enhance the look of your porch but also give you privacy or to hide unattractive views.

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back porch showing lattice privacy panels

With a little ingenuity and vinyl lattice panels, we created additional ambiance and privacy on our back porch.
And a year or so after writing this page, we added yet another panel. See our update and video below.


back porch before installing privacy panelsBefore: Stepping back, here's how our porch looked before the privacy panels
back porch after installing privacy panelsAfter: Back porch with decorative vinyl lattice privacy panels

The privacy panels provide a visual filter and we gain a sense of privacy without giving up our overall view. Instead of using typical treated lattice or thin vinyl lattice from home supply stores, we opted for custom vinyl lattice from Acurio Latticeworks.

At 1/4 thick, the lattice comes in a variety of styles and can usually be custom made to your specifications and design. It is also super easy to cut. We opted for a square pattern to match our porch skirting underneath the porch.

We ordered these panels through Home Depot; however, you can also purchase larger sized panels directly from Acurio Latticeworks (contact information below).

Here's a general guide as to how I made the panel for our back porch which you can use to make your own. Your project will probably have different dimension requirements so you will have to modify our guide to fit your specific needs.


How to Make Porch Privacy Panels -
Materials and Tools

Vinyl Lattice Panels

lattice panels and framing materials for privacy panelsCedar and vinyl lattice for privacy panel

Lattice panel materials

  •    Two panels (32" x 48" each).
  •    Cedar (can substitute treated lumber). I purchased two 8 foot x 6 inch x 1 1/4 inch cedar boards for this project.
  •     Table saw
  •     Chop saw
  •     Measuring tape
  •     Pencil
  •     Exterior wood glue
  •     Clamps

How to Porch Privacy Panels - Construction

Cut List

  •     Cut two vinyl lattice panels to 45 7/8 x 17 3/16's each
  •     Rip cedar boards to 1 1/2 x 1 3/4 inches
  •     Cut cedar into two rails and three stiles Two at 94 1/16 inches;Two at 19 7/8 inches One at 16 13/16 inches (center stile)


Cut Dados and Rabbets

cedar frames for privacy panelsDadoes and rabbet cuts on boards
frame with rabbet joint cut
  •     Cut a 1/4" wide by 3/8 inches deep dado on each rail and end stiles
  •     Cut two 1/4" wide by 3/8 inches deep dado on center stile
  •     Note: You can center the dado or offset depending on your preference. rabbet joint on wood
  •     Cut 1 5/8 x 1 inch rabbet on each end of the end stiles.
  •     Cut a 1 5/8 x 5/8 inch dado centered on both top and bottom rails (for center stile)


Porch Privacy Panel Assembly

After all parts have been cut dry fit the panel and make any necessary adjustments.

Glue and clamp the panel together. I pre-drilled pilot holes and inserted one deck screw into each frame joint.

I stained the panel using natural stain.

Position on porch and secure with deck screws.


black lattice privacy panel installed on back porchPrivacy panel attached to top rail - note the matching skirting
privacy panel on side of back porchThe privacy panel adds ambiance to our back porch

We Needed a Slanted Panel for the Stairs

Because we wanted a bit more privacy on the back side of our porch, we needed to add an additional panel going partially down the stairs. We made it the same way but cut the vinyl panel at an angle since it needed the match the line of the stair railing.

To do so, we placed the panel in position against the top rail so we could mark the angle to make a perfect fit.


marking the position for privacy panel on stairsMarking vinyl lattice to fit angle of railing
finding angle for privacy panelVinyl lattice cut to fit angle

We cut and assembled the parts in the same manner as above.



parts for privacy panel on stairsPrivacy panel parts

This porch privacy panel provides just the right amount of privacy we were wanting.


privacy panel installed on stairs on back porchAesthetically pleasing privacy panel
privacy panels installed on side of back porchBoth privacy panels in place

Update: Adding an Additional Privacy Panel

On one section of our back porch, we used a curtain for privacy. But over time, we decided it wasn't the best solution for us.

The curtain blew in the wind a lot and got tangled up and we were constantly fussing with it. So we decided to create another privacy panel to match the others.

Video: How to Make Porch Privacy Panels

Watch as Dave provides details of making the frames for the lattice panels

lattice panel on back porchClose-up of our finished lattice privacy panel
privacy panel with table on back porchAnother view of our new porch privacy panel
before and after pics of privacy panels on back porchBefore and after of replacing the curtain with a lattice privacy panel

We Enjoy Working with Custom Vinyl Lattice

Mary and I really like using vinyl lattice from Acurio Latticeworks. We've used it as porch and deck skirting, privacy panels, and other projects as well.

red lattice panel on back porchAcurio Latticeworks privacy panel with palm tree design
house with white privacy panelWe have more porch privacy ideas.

We hope that you enjoyed learning how to make porch privacy panels. They dress up our porch as much as they offer filtered privacy. We like ours.


Look at These Porch Trellis Ideas for Privacy

white trellis as porch privacy panelIf you want to learn how to make porch privacy panels, we hope you get inspiration from these porch trellis pictures.

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