Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:
I am always polite to my neighbors even when I can't stand them.

However, a real privacy fence does create a feeling of confinement and indicates poor social skills because it's not neighborly to block the view completely.

There are many fence options to choose from, including ones with alternate slats, or ones with minimal spaces between slats so that some light peeks through. There is no reason that children and pets should have you completely shut-in, because the important thing is having a high-enough fence that the dogs can't jump over it, and that the children can't fit themselves through the slats.

A sealed privacy fence basically means: "I hate my neighbors". Seems like your neighbor got the message loud and clear.

I totally agree, PP. I really hate the look of the shut-in, tall privacy fences. It makes me feel confined, like I'm in prison. No one in our neighborhood (of half acre back yards) has fences at all and it would definitely be interpreted as an f-you to neighbors if someone moved in and immediately put up a big unsightly privacy fence. We do have an open view into each other's yards, though we all have various degrees of shrubbery and other natural screens to define our spaces.

Personally, with a toddler and hoping to get a dog, I'd consider one of the really pretty, open types of fencing that could confine a kid and a dog but not completely block views. I'm not running a meth lab back or porn shoot back in my yard. I don't care if someone glances at me kicking a soccer ball with my kid. It's nice to wave at neighbors and see that they're outside and occasionally have a chat. A privacy fence is like a big hand in your face right as you're trying to smile and say hello. And they're just ugly.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I built a fence fully within my land and with all required permits. Now my neighbor despises me. It is a very nice fence, very classy wooden fence that cost a lot of money and is complemented by all who see it. Neighbor got severely, extremely insulted that I blocked his "open views". Now neighbor won't even nod at me. (I have a dog and kids and wanted privacy rather than an unfenced backyard where any stranger can look into what we are doing.). Anyone deal with this kind of problem?

You may have some friends who compliment (with an i) the fence, but many of us find privacy fences extremely unattractive. They ruin the feel of a backyard and I have never seen a "classy" one in my life. In fact, they symbolize lack of class to me. I don't blame your neighbor one bit. If you are seriously concerned about being neighborly, you're going to need to make a major effort to show your neighbor that your fence is not a declaration that you disregard your neighbor's concerns and opinions. Your fence completely changed the look of his backyard, and it's understandable that he's annoyed by it. You had every right to build it, and he has every right to dislike you for it.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I built a fence fully within my land and with all required permits. Now my neighbor despises me. It is a very nice fence, very classy wooden fence that cost a lot of money and is complemented by all who see it. Neighbor got severely, extremely insulted that I blocked his "open views". Now neighbor won't even nod at me. (I have a dog and kids and wanted privacy rather than an unfenced backyard where any stranger can look into what we are doing.). Anyone deal with this kind of problem?

You may have some friends who compliment (with an i) the fence, but many of us find privacy fences extremely unattractive. They ruin the feel of a backyard and I have never seen a "classy" one in my life. In fact, they symbolize lack of class to me. I don't blame your neighbor one bit. If you are seriously concerned about being neighborly, you're going to need to make a major effort to show your neighbor that your fence is not a declaration that you disregard your neighbor's concerns and opinions. Your fence completely changed the look of his backyard, and it's understandable that he's annoyed by it. You had every right to build it, and he has every right to dislike you for it.

NP here. I echo an earlier PP's dafuq? This is beyond stupid to care about. What if the neighbor is putting in pool? Not the hill I'd die on, or the fence-post I'd impale myself on over neighborliness. Oh yeah - I'm still wondering why the color of my skin is not "neighborly" enough to get me next-door neighbor to acknowledge my "good mornings", etc. She doesn't have a problem hearing DH who is white.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I built a fence fully within my land and with all required permits. Now my neighbor despises me. It is a very nice fence, very classy wooden fence that cost a lot of money and is complemented by all who see it. Neighbor got severely, extremely insulted that I blocked his "open views". Now neighbor won't even nod at me. (I have a dog and kids and wanted privacy rather than an unfenced backyard where any stranger can look into what we are doing.). Anyone deal with this kind of problem?

You may have some friends who compliment (with an i) the fence, but many of us find privacy fences extremely unattractive. They ruin the feel of a backyard and I have never seen a "classy" one in my life. In fact, they symbolize lack of class to me. I don't blame your neighbor one bit. If you are seriously concerned about being neighborly, you're going to need to make a major effort to show your neighbor that your fence is not a declaration that you disregard your neighbor's concerns and opinions. Your fence completely changed the look of his backyard, and it's understandable that he's annoyed by it. You had every right to build it, and he has every right to dislike you for it.

Anonymous wrote:I built a fence fully within my land and with all required permits. Now my neighbor despises me. It is a very nice fence, very classy wooden fence that cost a lot of money and is complemented by all who see it. Neighbor got severely, extremely insulted that I blocked his "open views". Now neighbor won't even nod at me. (I have a dog and kids and wanted privacy rather than an unfenced backyard where any stranger can look into what we are doing.). Anyone deal with this kind of problem?

Anonymous wrote:
I am always polite to my neighbors even when I can't stand them.

However, a real privacy fence does create a feeling of confinement and indicates poor social skills because it's not neighborly to block the view completely.

There are many fence options to choose from, including ones with alternate slats, or ones with minimal spaces between slats so that some light peeks through. There is no reason that children and pets should have you completely shut-in, because the important thing is having a high-enough fence that the dogs can't jump over it, and that the children can't fit themselves through the slats.

A sealed privacy fence basically means: "I hate my neighbors". Seems like your neighbor got the message loud and clear.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:
I am always polite to my neighbors even when I can't stand them.

However, a real privacy fence does create a feeling of confinement and indicates poor social skills because it's not neighborly to block the view completely.

There are many fence options to choose from, including ones with alternate slats, or ones with minimal spaces between slats so that some light peeks through. There is no reason that children and pets should have you completely shut-in, because the important thing is having a high-enough fence that the dogs can't jump over it, and that the children can't fit themselves through the slats.

A sealed privacy fence basically means: "I hate my neighbors". Seems like your neighbor got the message loud and clear.

Well, France and England must have the worst social skills on the planet, according to you. Most gardens have walls!!

I love a good fence, and a wall, what's with the "view"? It's the suburbs, not the Amalfi Coast.

Anonymous wrote:
I am always polite to my neighbors even when I can't stand them.

However, a real privacy fence does create a feeling of confinement and indicates poor social skills because it's not neighborly to block the view completely.

There are many fence options to choose from, including ones with alternate slats, or ones with minimal spaces between slats so that some light peeks through. There is no reason that children and pets should have you completely shut-in, because the important thing is having a high-enough fence that the dogs can't jump over it, and that the children can't fit themselves through the slats.

A sealed privacy fence basically means: "I hate my neighbors". Seems like your neighbor got the message loud and clear.

Anonymous wrote:
I am always polite to my neighbors even when I can't stand them.

However, a real privacy fence does create a feeling of confinement and indicates poor social skills because it's not neighborly to block the view completely.

There are many fence options to choose from, including ones with alternate slats, or ones with minimal spaces between slats so that some light peeks through. There is no reason that children and pets should have you completely shut-in, because the important thing is having a high-enough fence that the dogs can't jump over it, and that the children can't fit themselves through the slats.

A sealed privacy fence basically means: "I hate my neighbors". Seems like your neighbor got the message loud and clear.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Is it common courtesy to speak to the neighbors before putting up a fence, by the way? I've heard that in NOVA, the fence companies will only build a few inches in from the property line, but I've also heard others say that they had their NOVA fence installed ON the property line and that a neighbor or both chipped in.

Neighbors frequently get mad about other neighbors fences. Asking them beforehand when you have already decided to do it is not a good plan because it sets up the idea that you need their approval. So then if you say no, they feel like well they told you they did not want it, but you did it anyway. Sound childish? That is the mindset of people who object to others fences.

Anonymous wrote:Is it common courtesy to speak to the neighbors before putting up a fence, by the way? I've heard that in NOVA, the fence companies will only build a few inches in from the property line, but I've also heard others say that they had their NOVA fence installed ON the property line and that a neighbor or both chipped in.

Anonymous wrote:
I am always polite to my neighbors even when I can't stand them.

However, a real privacy fence does create a feeling of confinement and indicates poor social skills because it's not neighborly to block the view completely.

There are many fence options to choose from, including ones with alternate slats, or ones with minimal spaces between slats so that some light peeks through. There is no reason that children and pets should have you completely shut-in, because the important thing is having a high-enough fence that the dogs can't jump over it, and that the children can't fit themselves through the slats.

A sealed privacy fence basically means: "I hate my neighbors". Seems like your neighbor got the message loud and clear.

Anonymous wrote:
I am always polite to my neighbors even when I can't stand them.

However, a real privacy fence does create a feeling of confinement and indicates poor social skills because it's not neighborly to block the view completely.

There are many fence options to choose from, including ones with alternate slats, or ones with minimal spaces between slats so that some light peeks through. There is no reason that children and pets should have you completely shut-in, because the important thing is having a high-enough fence that the dogs can't jump over it, and that the children can't fit themselves through the slats.

A sealed privacy fence basically means: "I hate my neighbors". Seems like your neighbor got the message loud and clear.