Pergola privacy screen

[Bankzee]

Pre-made screen panels were used to create privacy for a backyard entertaining area with pergola.

• The project
• Tools and materials
• Steps
• Lessons learned
• How to build timber screening
• More inspiration for your screening project

The project

I wanted a bit of privacy after getting the new pergola installed and was struggling with how to fill the four-metre gaps between the steel posts.

I saw that Bunnings Workshop community member funksoulbro1 used steel studs and track in their Alfresco extension so I decided to also use steel as a framing solution.

This is my first D.I.Y. project and I absolutely loved it. I have no trade experience, just handy with a table saw, drop saw and drill. The result didn't turn out too bad.

Tools and materials

Tools and materials used:

• Steel studs and track
       
• Merbau decking boards
  
  
• Lattice Makers Falling Leaves screen panel
  
  
• Marine plywood for backing behind screen panel
  
  
• Exterior paint for Marine Plywood backing
  
  
• Decking oil for screens and Merbau
  
  
• Zenith 8G x 12mm metal screws for fastening studs to track
  
  
• Zenith 8G x 30 white button head screws for fastening Merbau and screen panels to studs
  
  
• Colorbond corrugated steel for weather protection on the external-facing side of wall.

Steps

The old privacy screen was a quick solution to give both sides of the fence some privacy when the pergola first went up. It was a simple solution using Screen Up joiner posts and Merbau that would later be recycled in the final permanent screen.

I put the first steel track in place on the horizontal rafter. As I was doing this by myself, I found the G Clamp worked well as a second set of hands to hold things in place. Here is the temporary screen.

I decided to use white button head screws as they contrast better against the Merbau and tie in rather well with the white pergola frame. The blue painted ply backing for the screen panel is also a good contrast.

We were tossing up between green, yellow or blue and as you can see blue won in the end. Here, I have yet to oil the Merbau, but the screens have been oiled.

The corrugated steel and polycarbonate roofing was from the old pergola and recycled here to provide some weather protection on the external wall.

Lessons learned

Lessons learned:

• Measure twice - cut once
  
  
• Always wear gloves when building with steel - it's sharp
  
  
• Studs are easy to cut with a pair of straight cut aviation snips
  
  
• Table saw with metal cutting blade is handy for cutting corrugated steel but not all table saws are designed to cut steel
  
  
• Make sure the frame is straight and level.

Thanks for reading and I hope this gives some of you inspiration, just like funksoulbro1's Alfresco extension did for me.

How to build timber screening

Experienced Workshop community member Adam has produced a detailed article on How to build timber screening, which includes a video tutorial and a comprehensive list of tools and materials.

More inspiration for your screening project

Community member Rufaro decided on using Merbau decking to help create his Feature wall fence with Matrix screen panels. 

Workshop member Andrew enhanced backyard privacy by making Outdoor screening using pallet timber.

Find more inspiration for your home by checking out the Top 10 most popular screening projects and 10 screening ideas for outdoor areas.

[Bankzee]

 

And for those interested here is a finished pic of the screens and pergola area. 

[EricL]

Hi @Bankzee

Thank you for sharing that photo of your Pergola finally setup. It looks awesome, it's the perfect place to relax and wind down after a long day.

Eric

[plantsANDpets]

@Bankzee the screen looks great! Can I ask what plants you've got growing along the fence and how they're doing in the shade?

[Bankzee]

@plantsANDpets Hi there, thanks for the question. The plants in the shade along the fence between the privacy panels are a mix of Summer Wisteria, Fuchsia  and some bulbs for the spring. The Summer Wisteria loves the shade, but loses its leaves in Winter, so it is in the centre of each pot with Fuchsia, also shade loving, planted either side of each Summer Wisteria and some bulbs (tulips and daffodils) for a lovely spring surprise. ( I live in Canberra so a cold climate which is good for bulbs) The Summer Wisteria is not an actual Wisteria, but has Wisteria like pink flowers on it (no scent) and is not invasive like normal Wisteria. The Fuchsia fills in the pot nicely when the Summer Wisteria loses its leaves over the cooler months and has grown to about 40 cms since this photo was taken. Fuchsia and Summer Wisteria need a haircut in the cooler months and in the warmer months they both flower profusely with a mix of pink and purple flowers. What really made it all pop was that I painted the fence a Charcoal colour and the pink flowers against the Charcoal look great. The plastic pots are 80cms long and 30cms high and 30cms deep from Bunnings. The pots needed to be big to give the root systems enough space so both plants were not competing with each other. 

More info than you needed but hope it all helps. 

Happy to answer any other questions you have about the plants in the photos and once again, thanks for showing an interest in our little haven.