The west patio that cooks at five
Who can see me, and what would stop them?
Privacy is a geometry problem with a view cost. The useful answer is the smallest thing that interrupts the specific line that bothers you.
The line
Neighbour's upstairs window has a clear line from 43 feet away, 15 degrees above the seat. Halfway along that line a barrier would have to reach about 9.8 feet. A 6.3 ft screen 7.7 ft out is the smallest thing that closes every line that matters. It leaves the view essentially intact.
| Who | Line | Distance | Above the seat | Bearing | Barrier halfway | Interrupted by |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Neighbour's upstairs window | Wide open | 42.7 ft | 15° | 162° | 9.8 ft | nothing |
The smallest thing that closes it
A 6.3 ft screen 7.7 ft out
6.3 feet high and about 8.8 feet wide, standing 7.7 feet from the seat, across the line from Neighbour's upstairs window. That is roughly 55 sq ft of material.
Sized against every marked observer. Nobody of any weight is left with a view in.
Every position tested
Close to the seat means short and wide. Close to them means tall and narrow, and usually not your land.| What | Height | Width | Material | Privacy after | View kept | Still sees in | Whose land |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
A 6.3 ft screen 7.7 ft out 6.3 feet high and about 8.8 feet wide, standing 7.7 feet from the seat, across the line from Neighbour's upstairs window. That is roughly 55 sq ft of material. Being close to the seat means it has to be wide to cover the angle, and it sits right where you are. | 6.3 ft | 8.8 ft | 55 sq ft | 8 | 68 | nobody | your land |
A 7.6 ft screen 12.8 ft out 7.6 feet high and about 7.5 feet wide, standing 12.8 feet from the seat, across the line from Neighbour's upstairs window. That is roughly 57 sq ft of material. Neither short nor narrow. | 7.6 ft | 7.5 ft | 57 sq ft | 8 | 68 | nobody | your land |
A 9.3 ft screen 19.2 ft out 9.3 feet high and about 5.9 feet wide, standing 19.2 feet from the seat, across the line from Neighbour's upstairs window. That is roughly 55 sq ft of material. Neither short nor narrow. | 9.3 ft | 5.9 ft | 55 sq ft | 8 | 68 | nobody | your land |
A 11.5 ft screen 28 ft out 11.5 feet high and about 3.9 feet wide, standing 28 feet from the seat, across the line from Neighbour's upstairs window. That is roughly 45 sq ft of material. Being near the far end means real height, and it is the position most likely to be on somebody else's land. | 11.5 ft | 3.9 ft | 45 sq ft | 8 | 68 | nobody | your land |
Other questions about this place