Finished back lattice wall in process of staining. You can barely see the roof and chimney behind it from this angle. In my imagination I saw a secluded garden surrounded by greenery so that one might forget the houses all around; but it was fantasy. Reality is I'm in the midst of a subdivision with neighbors on all sides. I quickly realized it would be near impossible to block them from view, especially since the houses around me have high pitched roofs. The one across the b

The pergola's 2x2 slatted top didn't provide much shade, and all three sides, east, south, and west were open. Trees had not yet filled in, so it was incredibly hot. I designed an open lattice "wall" with a doorway on the east side where morning sun poured in (great in winter, unbearable in summer. I hired someone to build it even though I wondered how they were going to handle the curved edge of my round patio. Bo, the guy I hired called in a friend to help him with the chal