Last Updated on January, 2025
If you want to add privacy to your existing fence, fence slats are the perfect solution.
While ornamental and chain link fences are popular for being secure and cost-effective, they make your property visible from the outside. Privacy slats can accommodate various picket sizes to hide your property and provide a barrier against the wind.
This article will explore the different fence slat types, their pros and cons, and how to install them for your ornamental or chain link fence. Let’s begin!
Quick Summary
- Fence slats, available in various materials like PVC, wood, HDPE, and metal, can be added to ornamental or chain link fences to enhance privacy, reduce wind exposure, and improve aesthetic appeal.
- Different types of fence slats, including PVC, wood, HDPE, and metal, offer unique advantages such as durability, UV resistance, and minimal maintenance, though they may be more costly than windscreens.
- Installing privacy slats is typically an easy, DIY-friendly process, where slats are snapped onto fence pickets, with additional features like louvres for adjustable privacy.
What are Fence Slats?
Fence slats (privacy slats) are horizontal or vertical panels that fill gaps between pickets. They can also be added to a chain link fence for increased privacy and security.
Ornamental fence privacy slats can be installed for indoor and outdoor applications. In some installations, the panels can also function as louvres. These can be adjusted 90° to open your privacy fence.
While the standard picket sizes are 1”, ¾,” and ⅝,” these products can be installed for ornamental pickets of any length or height.
They also come in various styles, allowing you to customise your new privacy fence or enhance the look of an existing one.
Types of Fence Slats
Let’s look at the different fence slat types. These can be installed for chain link or ornamental steel fences.
PVC Fence Privacy Slats: For homeowners looking for a cost-effective way to convert an ornamental or chain link fence, PVC slats are the ideal option.
These panels are constructed with polyvinyl chloride, a synthetic thermoplastic with lightweight and flexible properties.
They are easy to install and clean and have embedded UV-resistant materials to protect them from sunlight.
Wooden Privacy Slats: Materials like redwood, cedar, and Douglas fir are excellent for ornamental privacy fence slats. Like PVC, wood is cost-effective while providing a more natural and rustic aesthetic.
With proper treatment to protect against moisture and insects, these privacy slats can last 20 to 40 years, depending on the type of wood.
HDPE Fence Privacy Slats: HDPE (high-density polyethylene) slats are popular due to their versatility and high-quality construction.
Like PVC, they are constructed with embedded UV-resistant materials to prevent damage from sun exposure.
They are also resistant to dust and salt, which makes them excellent for coastal or urban properties.
Metal Ornamental Privacy Slats: If you have an ornamental steel fence, you may prefer to use aluminium or galvanised steel louvres to maintain a uniform look.
Metal ornamental privacy slats are durable and resistant to adverse weather. This means they require minimal maintenance and will retain their aesthetic appeal for many years.
Pros and Cons of Installing Ornamental Fence Privacy Slats
Here are the pros and cons of adding privacy slats to your ornamental or chain link fence.
Pros
Ease of installation: Ornamental fence privacy slats are easy to install, as you only need to snap the panels onto the outside pickets.
Low maintenance: With proper installation, ornamental fence slats are virtually maintenance-free. This is especially true for slats manufactured from PVC or aluminium.
Easy to replace: Along with easy installation, ornamental fence privacy slats can be easily removed. Instead of removing the whole fence, you can remove and replace the affected slat.
Can function as louvres: Privacy slats can be rotated at a 90° angle to create openings in pickets. Many homeowners prefer this installation, as it allows wind and sunlight to enter the property.
Cons
While fence slats offer many benefits, they also have some drawbacks.
More expensive than windscreens: Windscreens are a cheaper alternative to fence slats, especially if you have a chain link fence.
Less customisation: Privacy slats are not as customisable as windscreens.
How to Install Ornamental Fence Privacy Slats?
Fence slat installation is easy and can be done as a DIY project. In most cases, it requires no special tools or prior experience.
It’s essential to consider your fence’s height and the number of pickets before purchase.
After purchase, simply snap the louvres over the pickets of your ornamental fence. Add lock strips to the back of the panels to prevent them from opening.
If you have a chain link fence, insert the slats vertically through the fence. Use extension clips to close gaps between the slats and line posts.
Next, install lock strips to connect each slat and complete the process. Installation time will vary based on the height of the chain link fence.
We recommend two extension clips per fence section for indoor or outdoor applications. Slide each clip down the panel and drill holes to attach them.
Useful guides:
- What Are the Benefits of Adding Trellis to the Top of Fences?
- How Long Does it Take to Install a Fence?
Conclusion
Fence slats are a great addition to a chain link or ornamental fence. They ensure complete privacy while giving your fence an attractive appearance.
Specifications will vary depending on your fence and budget, but even cheaper options like PVC are long-lasting and available in various sizes.
