Before you build, however, pause for a moment and consider whether a planted screen would do the trick for you. Screening plants have a generally softer appearance than a fence or wall.
Tall screens can also block undesirable views with lush greenery.
They can add a measure of security by controlling passageways and limiting access to an area. In cold climates, they can reduce drafts by acting as a windbreak. They block sound from traffic better than a fence ever could. And they can serve as a backdrop for other plantings. For one thing, the privacy they offer is immediate no waiting for plants and hedges to mature.