I got a quote for £140 to repair my gate fence – a £20 DIY purchase instantly improved my privacy
THERE’S nothing more annoying than nosy neighbors peering over your fence or through a crack.
A homeowner’s yard was particularly neglected and she found an inexpensive solution to create more privacy in her outdoor space.
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The homeowner went to the Facebook group, Gardening on a Budget Official to share her trick.
In her post she wrote: “When I moved here at the end of October my garden was in absolute perfect condition.
“After I made it livable and somewhat decent, I wanted to give the alley outside the garden a bit more privacy.
“I calculated the price of the wood for the holes in the fence and it would cost around £140
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“I couldn’t justify it… So I came up with a solution… A time-consuming one.
“All I had to do was cut it [garden privacy screen PVC] in strips [and attach it].
“[I] “There are different ways to do it but I’m happy with the result and for £20 I saved a fortune!”
The product used was VidaXL Garden Screen Privacy PVC 35m Matt Dark Gray Fencing Strip Roll Home.
The price was £19.99, including free shipping on eBay.
The homeowner measured the material and cut it into long strips, which she then attached to the fence.
Someone in the comments asked her, “Wow, this sure helped my nosy neighbor problem. How did you attach it? Is it thick? Good job.”
The homeowner replied, “It’s not thick…kind of like a seat belt in thickness. I stapled it to the fence.”
It wasn’t a quick job for the homeowner who remarked, “But I officially hate staplers now!”
Someone suggested that she should have bought a £10 electric stapler as it would have made the job “a lot easier”.
The original poster replied: “I didn’t even know they existed… I didn’t even know staples came in different sizes until last week.
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“My stapler broke… I ordered a new one, but the staples didn’t fit… I had to take a chance on the right size to be able to order.
“Then the staples got stuck in the stapler…
“You get what you pay for and that, but it’s almost done now! Eight panels left next to the trash can!”
But the end result was stunning and many people were impressed.
Someone said: “It does what it’s supposed to do and it doesn’t look ugly. I think it looks fantastic, well done.”
A second said: “I wish I had thought of that when I still lived at home, haha.”
“100% improvement,” read another comment, while one Facebook user wrote, “I think this is a great idea.”
Meanwhile, a British couple moved to France and bought a run-down village which they converted into a luxury B&B.
Another homeowner transformed her garden in an instant with a £12.99 purchase from Aldi.
And a gardening expert exclusively told Fabulous how to get rid of ants if they’re crawling around your garden or by your back door.
Garden elements that add the most value to a home
A well-maintained garden can add 5-20% to the value of a home.
Sellhousefast.uk conducted a survey and consulted 36 estate agents, garden designers and property professionals from the UK.
And the experts concluded that the garden feature that adds the most value to a home is a shed.
- Barn – 82%
- Terrace or paving – 76%
- Secure fencing, walls or gates – 72%
- Outdoor lighting – 66%
- Sturdy decking – 62%
- Water features, such as a fountain or pond – 58%
- Modern garden furniture – 54%
- Artificial grass – 40%
