You want to relax on your terrace in the sun. You pull out your lounge chair and as you settle in, you see your neighbor, curious, who is constantly looking in your direction. How in this case protect you from his prying eyes? Because a separation could not only protect you from prying eyes but also from the sun, wind, rain, and even noise. In this way, you would feel safer, calmer and safer. What would be the most suitable material to create a cocoon in which to spend pleasant moments of relaxation? There are so many! Plants, wood, plastic, glass, fabric, metal, stone…and these are just a few examples.
Vis-à-vis composed of plants
For a plant vis-à-vis, install large planters at the edge of your terrace and place bamboo, reeds or climbing plants. If you opt for the latter choice, remember to give direction to your plants, help them to develop in the right direction: a nylon thread or a thin steel wire will do the trick. You can also use stainless steel rods, or even a grid or mesh. Plants such as clematis, wisteria or climbing roses are ideal varieties for blocking the view from your neighbors.
If you can afford to wait a bit, choose to plant a hedge or some bushes. While annual vines are cheap and grow quickly, you have to be a little more patient with hedges. Boxwood and yew are considerably more expensive and grow very slowly, but evenly and densely. Unlike a wall or other fence, with their 60 to 80 centimeters, they are also much wider. The advantage of the hedge is that it is green all year round. Shrubs can also be an airy solution for protection, but they need large areas to grow sufficiently dense foliage.
Vis-à-vis plastic
You can also opt for “fake” plastic bamboo. These dress up the railings very well. They must be well maintained otherwise the wind and bad weather may destroy them over time. You can choose a plastic screen, some perfectly imitate natural materials and have the advantage of not needing to be maintained. In addition, the high-quality synthetic fibers are absolutely UV and weather resistant. Some screens mix natural fibers and plastic. These mixed materials combine the natural look and feel of wood with the weather resistance of plastics. They have the advantage of existing in many shapes and colors.
Vis-a-vis in wood
Another option for creating a privacy zone is to install a wooden privacy fence. These are available in different shapes and colours, either painted wood or left natural. You must ensure that the wood never comes into permanent contact with the ground. If you want a varied solution, you can combine planters and screens. You can attach these directly to the planters if they have a significant weight. In wood, there are attractive privacy screens with contemporary cut-outs, openwork privacy screens that hide the view from your neighbors and prevent any vis-à-vis. The wood has a natural look that creates a warm atmosphere. Painted in the latest fashionable colours, wooden privacy screens are also a solution for you if you have a very modern terrace. But this implies that your wooden screen is maintained. Refreshing its color or repeatedly applying varnish is essential to ensure that the wood remains weather resistant.
vis a vis fabric
Nothing could be simpler than installing a curtain that can be pulled if necessary to protect against vis-à-vis. An awning or canvas is also suitable if you want something more opaque. If you like what is airy, prefer a light cotton fabric. To protect yourself from the sun and neighbors, install a curtain rod or an equivalent system with rails. If you are a tenant, be sure to ask your landlord for permission because if you change the design of the facade, this has an impact. And making it completely opaque is not allowed. You also have the solution of investing in one or more parasols which can give you some privacy on your terrace.
Vis-à-vis in stone
If you prefer something more robust, you can also build a wall around your terrace. And in this case, the materials to consider are numerous, you can build a brick or exposed concrete wall or stone. A wall protects against noise and can later be used as a support wall for a pergola. Planters or large containers with bamboo can be particularly beautiful in this context. If the wall you are considering must be on the property line, local regulations must be followed. In most cases, the wall should be between 1.20 meters and 1.80 meters high. You should familiarize yourself with applicable local and national building regulations and ideally you should discuss your project with your immediate neighbour.