Fence alternatives that offer some privacy but won’t damage a car?

blizeH

Hi, the fence on our driveway it’s on its last legs and needs replacing. My problem is that the driveway is already very narrow for two decent sized cars and the fence is taking away a few inches which could be useful.

There’s a small brick retaining wall just to the left of the fence (can probably just see it in the first photo) so it’d be ideal to put something there if possible.

Feel like I’m asking the impossible here, but is there something we can consider as a fence alternative? Thinking a hedge would be too wide unless you can get super slim ones 😅

Thanks

FreeBear

Hedges grow both up and outwards. What might start out as 5mm wide will quickly spread to 300mm or even 600mm.

You could try some metal posts with wires strung between them. Plant some climbers, and you get the green without the spread. Put in something like a grape, and you'll get fruit too.

TELLIT01

You certainly won't find a hedge which is slimmer than the 3x3 posts of a fence.  Use concrete posts when you replace the fence, and there will be no movement from the fence and the posts won't rot.

MikeJXE

1. Stout post and 4 taut wires between post and garage plus green screen

https://www.temu.com/uk/1pc-privacy-fence-screen-garden-windscreen-mesh-shade-sail-net-barrier-balcony-fence-covering-privacy-screen-mesh-shade-cover-for-garden-wall-yard-backyard-indoor-outdoor-g-601099526061430.html?top_gallery_url=https%3A%2F%2Fimg.kwcdn.com%2Fproduct%2FFancyalgo%2FVirtualModelMatting%2F0fde90ea41d718557c3a7dba2c4499d2.jpg&spec_gallery_id=4031381733&refer_page_el_sn=209279&refer_page_name=bgn_verification&refer_page_id=10017_1708528959880_ckp91qjgke&refer_page_sn=10017&_x_vst_scene=adg&_x_ads_sub_channel=shopping&_x_ns_prz_type=-1&_x_ns_sku_id=17592254949474&_x_ads_channel=google&_x_gmc_account=710731536&_x_login_type=Google&_x_ads_account=6950480996&_x_ads_set=20180138327&_x_ads_id=155116350691&_x_ads_creative_id=659467317828&_x_ns_source=g&_x_ns_gclid=CjwKCAiA29auBhBxEiwAnKcSqmkb6te5ffa9KE-t7Rk_cm0aq-5KPAPwYKCgadbP5eLUvFGnfN0sghoCLkcQAvD_BwE&_x_ns_placement=&_x_ns_match_type=&_x_ns_ad_position=&_x_ns_product_id=710731536-17592254949474&_x_ns_target=&_x_ns_devicemodel=&_x_ns_wbraid=Cj8KCQiAuNGuBhCZARIuAEh-cTHrKoAEY7BPWOfmYSnxE12l-qdPind6Rma6FBH2-WE-QUg1wn3es9IAoxoCFcc&_x_ns_gbraid=0AAAAAo4mICH1msFFQqyWCOZV16hgVV8x1&_x_ns_targetid=pla-2087123518973&_x_sessn_id=xsvkvkivu3

Eldi_Dos

If privacy from a fence is not that important, a low brick wall topped off with coping stones, keep it low enough that a car door would open over it.

Swasterix

If privacy isn’t an issue and you’re just interested in preserving a boundary you could bury some block paving in a line where the fence line was. No more obstruction. 

Money_Grabber13579

Eldi_Dos said:

If privacy from a fence is not that important, a low brick wall topped off with coping stones, keep it low enough that a car door would open over it.

I think privacy is important to the OP given they mention it in the title. If it hadn’t have been, I’d have suggested some smart metal railings as they could be made thinner than a fence but suspect a solid metal panel fence would look odd. So for privacy, suspect a replacement wooden fence is about as good as you’ll get.

moneysaver1978

How about a wire fence and then put in a climbing plant like ivy or rose?

Albermarle

Eldi_Dos said:

If privacy from a fence is not that important, a low brick wall topped off with coping stones, keep it low enough that a car door would open over it.

If you drive a saloon/estate/hatchback rather than a higher up SUV type, the wall will have to be pretty low not to catch the car door opening. We have a metal ramp on our driveway, and it is only around 35 cms high at the point where the front car door opens. We have it covered in foam as it still catches the door, especially when you open it from the inside, as the weight of the occupant(s) has an effect. 

Grenage

A trellis with ivy or the like would be pretty low maintenance. The post with wire suggestion would probably last longer.

Eldi_Dos

Albermarle said:

Eldi_Dos said:

If privacy from a fence is not that important, a low brick wall topped off with coping stones, keep it low enough that a car door would open over it.

If you drive a saloon/estate/hatchback rather than a higher up SUV type, the wall will have to be pretty low not to catch the car door opening. We have a metal ramp on our driveway, and it is only around 35 cms high at the point where the front car door opens. We have it covered in foam as it still catches the door, especially when you open it from the inside, as the weight of the occupant(s) has an effect. 

You could always get other passengers to exit the vehicle before putting it into parking position, might give a few mm for clearance.