Any ideas on how to cover a council fence?

dscpdx

We have been trying to think of ideas on how to cover the metal council fence that is higher than our existing fence and concrete posts. We have found metal extenders that go in our concrete posts so we can add extra high to our fence and insert trellis toppers but it's very expensive. We have also thought about putting a bamboo roll over the council metal fence but unsure whether we would get in trouble for that. If anyone has any thoughts or ideas on how to that would be amazing! 👍

Davesnave

It's not for you to attach anything to the council fence, or for them to warn you if they decide to remove it, so I wouldn't go down that route. It seems you gain considerably from the security provided by the fence, but I agree it isn't beautiful, so continuing to grow plants above your own would seem the most logical way forward. You have a great backdrop of woodland there to use as a borrowed landscape, and even the fence isn't half as obtrusive as a row of houses behind would be.

Like certain background noises, it's easy to become sensitised to something like this and for the thing that annoys you to be magnified out of proportion!

TELLIT01

I think the solution you suggested yourself, although expensive, is probably the only practical one.

As a matter of interest, what is beyond the council fence that needs that level of protection?

Niv

TELLIT01 said:

I think the solution you suggested yourself, although expensive, is probably the only practical one.

As a matter of interest, what is beyond the council fence that needs that level of protection?

Maybe its the council keeping the OP in? ;P

Paula_Smith

Encourage that ivy in the first photo.

Paula_Smith

Could you lift the fence panels in the concrete post grooves by 6 inches then put a 6 inch barge board on top of the concrete ones?

ouraggie

Thanks, Paula. You have just solved an eyesore on our patio (we have a panel which is up  against next door's extension. Their pebble dash was really badly finished where it meets top of our fence and the breeze blocks are visible, but if I raise the panel by 6 " you won't see it!
👌

Mutton_Geoff

I'd fix some 2x1 battens onto the fence panels (adjacent to the posts and fixed through to the arris rails for strength). Extend those battens 30cm or 60cm above the fence and fix trellis to them. You can buy some fairly dense "privacy trellis". Use the same colour as you have on your fence to treat them, then let plants climb into them (imho clematis is much nicer than ivy).

shaun_from_Africa

Paula_Smith said:

Could you lift the fence panels in the concrete post grooves by 6 inches then put a 6 inch barge board on top of the concrete ones?

One possible problem with that.
If the fence panels are 6 footers and are already on top of concrete base panels, adding 6" barge boards may well take the total height about the 2 metres which would mean that planning permission is required.

Jack_Cork

In my opinion the plants in the pots hanging from the fence, photo 3, almost completely obscure the metal fence

TELLIT01

Niv said:

TELLIT01 said:

I think the solution you suggested yourself, although expensive, is probably the only practical one.

As a matter of interest, what is beyond the council fence that needs that level of protection?

Maybe its the council keeping the OP in? ;P

I didn't like to suggest that