Build a privacy screen/trellis — step by step
An attractive trellis that brings calm to the deck — without shutting the garden in.
This is a complete guide to build a privacy screen yourself — step by step, with a material list, tools, a timeline and what it costs. It's written for anyone building at home without professional experience: count on 1 weekend and a material cost of around 3,000–7,000 kr.
Showing method: Classic vertical trellis
The price is an estimate based on typical material prices and can vary depending on size, material choice, location and store.
Which method suits you best?
Best for: Privacy screening from a neighbour or as a wall by the patio.
Please note: Material quantities, prices and building methods are guidelines. Always check current prices, local regulations and product instructions before starting a project.
How a privacy screen comes together
A trellis is the simplest way to create privacy without building a solid fence. With a frame in pressure-treated timber and evenly spaced slats you get an airy screen that lets light and wind through but blocks the view. Perfect between a deck and a neighbour, or as a wall on a patio.
Materials for a privacy screen — full list
Check items off while you shop — the list stays with you on the page.
Build a privacy screen step by step
- 01
Mark out and set the posts
Decide where the trellis should stand and mark post positions 1.8 m apart. Dig 70 cm deep holes, stand the posts plumb and set them in fast-setting concrete.
Tip: Brace the posts with diagonal struts until the concrete has cured — at least 12 hours. - 02
Fit the frame
Screw a top and bottom rail between the posts using a spirit level. This forms the frame that the slats will later be fixed to.
- 03
Screw on the slats
Use a spacer (~25 mm) between each slat so the gaps are exactly even. Pre-drill near the ends so the pine doesn't split.
Tip: Lay out all the slats on the ground first and check the lengths are right before you start screwing. - 04
Cut the top straight
Stretch a string at the desired height and saw off the tops with a circular saw or jigsaw. This gives a knife-sharp line across the whole trellis.
- 05
Oil or stain
Wait until the wood is dry and apply two coats of oil or stain to protect against moisture and preserve the colour.
Help specific to build a privacy screen/trellis
How the time breaks down
A trellis of about 5 metres is built in a weekend. Most of the time goes into the posts and the concrete's curing time.
- Measuring & marking out1 hour
- Digging holes & setting posts3–4 hours
- Concrete curing time12–24 hours
- Fitting the frame1–2 hours
- Screwing on the slats3–4 hours
- Cutting the top + oiling2 hours
How to save time
- Build the sections lying flat on the ground if you have room — easier to get the slats even.
- Work two people at the slat stage — one holds, one screws.
- Hire an auger if you have several posts to set — saves a lot of time and effort.
Questions and answers about build a privacy screen/trellis
How do you build a privacy screen?
A trellis is the simplest way to create privacy without building a solid fence. With a frame in pressure-treated timber and evenly spaced slats you get an airy screen that lets light and wind through but blocks the view. Perfect between a deck and a neighbour, or as a wall on a patio. The guide breaks the work into 5 steps — you start with mark out and set the posts, fit the frame and screw on the slats and work your way forward at your own pace.
How much does it cost to build a privacy screen?
Material cost is typically 3,000–7,000 kr. Total cost 3,000–7,000 kr for about 5 metres of trellis in pressure-treated pine. The biggest items are posts 70×70 mm (~4 pcs) 400–800 kr, frame timber 45×70 mm (~20 m) 400–800 kr and trellis slats 22×45 mm (~60 pcs) 900–2,000 kr. The price varies with size, material choice, location and store.
What materials do you need for a privacy screen?
You'll need things like posts 70 × 70 mm pressure-treated, frame timber 45 × 70 mm pressure-treated, trellis slats 22 × 45 mm, post shoes and fast-setting concrete — the full material list with quantities is in the guide and can be checked off while you shop. Tools you'll need at home: drill & batteries, circular saw or mitre saw, spirit level and tape measure & pencil.
How long does it take and how hard is it?
Count on 1 weekend for a privacy screen. A trellis of about 5 metres is built in a weekend. Most of the time goes into the posts and the concrete's curing time. The difficulty level is easy, so you can manage it without professional experience if you follow the steps in order.
Which method should I choose for a privacy screen?
There are 3 common ways to build it: classic vertical trellis, trellis with a built-in planter and cross-pattern trellis. Choose a method at the top of the page — the guide, material list and cost then adapt to that solution.
What's the most common mistake?
The mistakes we see most often: not setting the posts plumb — the trellis leans visibly even with small errors, skipping the spacer jig — uneven gaps between the slats show from metres away and forgetting to pre-drill — pine slats split easily near the ends. Read through the whole guide once before you start — that way you'll avoid most of them.
And that's it, done.
Take a step back, pour a cup of coffee and enjoy. You built it yourself.
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