If your neighbor did this...what would you do?

[NY Disney fan]

My new neighbor and I have an adjacent backyard separated by a brick wall. My new neighbor decides to create a deck so high that when he has his parties all the guests can look down into our private yard. I know he can do what he wants and at this point don't care. But how would you feel if this were you?

 

[TheIncredibles!]

Unfortunately this is part of living in close proximity to other people and one of many reasons why I live in the country - lol

Is the brick wall yours or theirs? If it's yours raise the height somehow. Build a planter on top and grow tall grasses or flowers, add some lattice and grow ivy etc. Not much else you can do.

 

[Gumbo4x4]

First time he has a party, I'd have naked day in my yard.

 

[SLP958]

I wouldn't like it but there is nothing you can do.

That is what happens When you live close to other houses.

 

[Subrbnmommy]

My neighbors deck is also quite high so we planted a cedars hedge. We bought 9ft cedars.

 

[anniemae]

Exactly what others have said, I would not like it at all, but nothing you can do. Is it your brick wall, if so can you do something to increase the height? Like a pp said, maybe you could put planters on top or even build it up?

 

[mombrontrent]

We live very close to our neighbours. Our house is up higher then the people behind us. It's on a grade do that our main floor/deck is on second level at back, basement at ground level. They had a couple trees there when we moved in and we couldn't really see into their back yard. A couple years ago we came back from a 2 week vacation and saw the trees gone and a pool there. Now we can see right down into their yard from our kitchen window and from our deck. I think it's worse for them knowing people are staring down at them in their backyard.

 

[The Mystery Machine]

My new neighbor and I have an adjacent backyard separated by a brick wall. My new neighbor decides to create a deck so high that when he has his parties all the guests can look down into our private yard. I know he can do what he wants and at this point don't care. But how would you feel if this were you?

I live in a river valley on a bluff with decks in every yard all and we are NOT ALLOWED privacy fences here.

What I would do would is create some landscaping in my yard to get some privacy. You may not get that privacy 100% or immediately, but long term with the right plant and tree selection you can make it a little better. You could even add arbors, other structures to your immediate area of a patio to create more privacy.

 

[nd5056]

Just plant something that can clime high enough.

.

 

[Tink888]

I live on a hill. Neighbors on one side look down into my yard. I can look down into the yard of the neighbors on the other side. It doesn't bother me.

Your situation wouldn't bother me either. You give up a certain amount of privacy when homes are close to each other. It's just the reality.

 

[FireDancer]

My new neighbor and I have an adjacent backyard separated by a brick wall. My new neighbor decides to create a deck so high that when he has his parties all the guests can look down into our private yard. I know he can do what he wants and at this point don't care. But how would you feel if this were you?

I'd think nothing of it. One of my neighbors has a bi-level home so their deck is quite high. I could not possibly care any less if they can see into my yard. I don't really see a fence as something to keep everyone else from looking into my backyard anyway. Mine is to keep my dogs in and other animals out. On one of the three sides there is a picket fence about 4 feet high so unless you are blind you can see right through or over it.

 

[Wendy31]

I'm not sure there's anything you can do about it.

When you live in a subdivision with houses that are close together, this happens - especially when the houses are built on different elevations.

I'm sure he didn't build his deck specifically so he & his guests could look down into your yard.

We once looked at a house w/ a swimming pool. The house & the pool were kind of down in a little hollow. And there was a nearby house on a hill w/ a deck situated in such a way that, if you were on the deck, you'd be looking straight down into the other house's pool.

The only reason we didn't buy the house was because of the wonky driveway - not because our neighbors would be looking down into our pool.

I still wish we'd bought it. I was fine w/ the driveway because I loved the pool. DH (& my dad when we took my parents to look at the house) hated it.

 

[wiigirl]

First time he has a party, I'd have naked day in my yard.

 

[Colleen27]

I wouldn't think anything of it. We're putting in a balcony when we rebuild our wrap-around porch next year and seeing into the neighbors' yards certainly isn't the first thing on my mind when I think of using that space.

If it really bothers you, plant something tall or trellised along the property line to screen the view. We have grape arbors screening the part of our yard where we keep our trash cans so the neighbors don't have to look at them because their back door is right next to that part of our yard, and we're training apples into a living fence along our side fence, which runs right up against the sidewalk, for a little screening without the closed-off look of a privacy fence.

 

[RadioNate]

Wouldn't really care. Does the guy have parties every day? What is going on in your yard that is so super secret that people can't see it?

I'm fairly certain that during a party the people in attendance are more interested in talking to their friends and socializing at the party than they are in looking into my yard. Maybe my yard is just boring?

My old house had a high deck because that was the height off the back door. I'm pretty sure no one at our party spent a large amount of time peering into our neighbors yard even if they could see it.

 

[mjkacmom]

Wouldn't bother me. If I put a deck off of my back door (currently just a porch), I would be able to look into my neighbors yard, over their tall fence. Heck, I have a 4 foot picket fence around the rest of my yard, so I can easily see (and be seen) by my 2 other neighbors. We are all really friendly, and will even invite each other over if we're having a party!

 

[Tinkermommy]

My yard is not fenced at all so people can see without obstruction.

We aren't doing anything in my yard that is secret though.

Op, what are you up to?

 

[mhfrau]

First time he has a party, I'd have naked day in my yard.

That is the very first thing that came into my mind also

 

[nd5056]

...Does the guy have parties every day?...

This brings up another question:

Do they drink a a lot? There's something else I'd worry more of if they were drinking like crazy above my head...

.

 

[HelenePA]

I get along with my neighbors so it wouldn't be a problem. We are always at each others houses anyway.