← Problems we solve
My Backyard Has No Privacy
If you can wave at the neighbor mid-cannonball, the design is wrong. The fix is layered: walls, structures, planting, and lighting working together.
Why this happens in Arizona
- Modern lot lines are tight and second-story windows look right in.
- Block walls alone don't block angled sightlines.
- No vertical landscape or screening between the patio and neighbors.
- Pergolas and ramadas are oriented for shade only, not for privacy.
What homeowners usually try first
- Buying tall outdoor planters.
- Hanging fabric panels.
- Adding a row of pots along the wall.
Why those quick fixes usually fail
- Planters topple in monsoon.
- Fabric fades, tears, and looks temporary within months.
- Pots in a row don't address the angle a second-story window is looking at.
How AE solves it correctly
- Map the actual sightlines from neighboring windows and second stories.
- Use shade structures, raised planters, and privacy walls to break those exact angles.
- Add mature landscape and screening planting where appropriate.
- Where view + privacy collide, use Sonoran Glass & Fence with frosted or selective panels.
- Lighting design so the zones feel intentional and warm at night.
Budget considerations
- Privacy is usually solved with a combination of structures + planting — each layer adds to budget but each addresses a different sightline.
- Mature landscape costs more up front but works immediately.
FAQs
Can I just plant tall hedges?+
Sometimes — but in Arizona the right species + irrigation matter, and hedges alone rarely block second-story sightlines.
Are privacy walls allowed by my HOA?+
Most HOAs allow privacy structures within setback and height limits — we submit for approval as part of design.
Will a pergola actually give privacy?+
A pergola plus screening panels or planting can; a bare pergola will not.
Can glass fencing be made private?+
Yes — frosted, tinted, or selective Sonoran Glass & Fence panels work as privacy screens that still feel open.
Does landscape lighting reduce privacy?+
Only if poorly aimed. Low-glare shielded fixtures keep the yard lit without putting you in a spotlight.