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How to cover fence gaps for privacy?

My old neighbour has moved away, and we have a gate between our properties so we could easily visit and hang out. Now that I have new neighbours and won’t be using the gate anymore, I don’t want to replace it—but there are visible gaps on either side.
Do you have any suggestions for how I could cover or close those gaps (see highlighted in red)?

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Comments

EricL

Hello @kelbie

If the gate will no longer be used for the foreseeable future, I propose covering the gaps with 90 x 19mm Merbau SpecRite Pre-Oiled Decking - Random Lengths cut to the proper length with a handsaw. The next step will be to anchor the Merbau panel to the door or fence frame using Zenith 10G x 50mm Galvanised Countersunk Head Metal Screw - 50 Pack. My best advice is to drill pilot holes into the wood to prevent it from splitting.

Let me call on our experienced members @Dave-1 and @AlanM52 for their recommendations.

If you need further assistance, please let us know.

Eric

Dave-1

https://www.workshop.bunnings.com.au/discussion/comment/58459#Comment_58459

Good Afternoon @kelbie

I was thinking of timber strips as well, I think they would look tidy and at the same time pay homage to your friendship with the old neighbour. You may need some spacers to fasten the gate as it looks like its inset a little from the posts width. Depending how much of a difference there is you could use one or some of these "spacers window"

I would also predrill a pilot hole through everything first. As @EricL mentions the merabau can split sometimes.

Dave

AlanM52

Hi @kelbie,

You could use Colorbond Angle.

https://www.bunnings.com.au/search/products?page=1&q=colourbond+angle&sort=BoostOrder

Cheers

kelbie

https://www.workshop.bunnings.com.au/discussion/comment/91590#Comment_91590

Thank you so much for all your suggestions—I really appreciated them!
In the end, I went with a simple solution because I already had a padlock bolt on the gate. I bought some black plumber’s pipe insulation and squeezed it between the gaps. It worked well and was the easiest option for me.
While screwing in angles and brackets is a great idea, I just found it a bit too tricky to manage on my own. This way felt much more doable.

MitchellMc

https://www.workshop.bunnings.com.au/discussion/comment/111854#Comment_111854

Wonderful solution @kelbie.

Many thanks for the update.

Mitchell

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