Fencing around A/C units
 

This is NOT about deed restrictions, but after seeing an article in the online news, I'm curious to hear others' opinions solely on the design aesthetics of a small decorative fence or enclosure around outside A/C units.

Do you think they look better than the mechanical units themselves being in plain sight, are they an eyesore, or do you not care one way or the other?

Again, they are not generally permitted and this is not intended to be that discussion.


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To me, they look good.

I think those type of fences look out of place.....no starting or ending lines, just to block a view. If they were incorporated into a design that complimented the landscaping or the house it might be more appealing but putting a fence for the sake of of a fence is annoying.

:popcorn:

I think they look a whole lot better, than just a lone A/C unit...sitting on a slab of concrete. :oops:

I think a small fence looks much better than an air unit. Neighbors behind us have one around their pool equipment, with a flowering vine on it. Looks very nice!

I very much prefer an architecturally and aesthetically pleasing fence or structure screening an A/C from view!

Neighbor put one in, blocks the AC, and all of the plumbing and controls for pool and solar heating, looks GREAT!

Blocked mine from the rear view with landscaping; no windows in neighbors home on their side that faces my a/c unit so no landscaping there in case the unit ever has to be replaced.

I've never given them much thought but there are definitely nicer/more expensive versions vs the cheapie models. A permanent sort of half trellis that matches the color of the house might be nice.

Anyway, most houses here are close enough and the cement pads are set back far enough that you can't really see them unless you're looking straight on.

Once less concern with courtyard villa neighborhoods, I guess!

A fence also protects your ac unit from the grass trimming guy. The trimmer can mess up the coils.

Rollie

Done properly I can't see anything wrong with them.
The one mentioned on other site that was ordered to be taken down did look a bit tatty.
There was also an underlying dispute between neighbors as well, so before you consider getting one, get permision to erect from relevant authority

I think the fences look good, better than just the AC unit. We don’t have one here but in our home up north we have a nice vinyl fence with a gate. The primary reason for doing it there was we are on a corner lot and it needed to be concealed for protection of the unit from public view.

Does it cut down on the noise?

We have a neighbor who put in a pool. Located his filter & heater near his a/c unit. Built a block & stucco wall around it to match the house, leaving room for service or replacement.

It looks great and about 10 people were out walking in the neighborhood one night, we all stopped and were amazed at how it cut down on the noise from everything.

From what I understand, you can put up a simple open fence around your AC unit as long as a) the fence is no higher than the AC unit and b) you get permission in advance. There might be other criteria but that's the minimum I was able to find. I think if it's done correctly, with fencing similar to the fences on the patio villas, it'd look a whole lot better than the AC units themselves. I'm probably going to just add a couple of potted plants or add a short (under 4 feet) row of shrubbery or some of those tall pale decorative grass tufts I see in everyone's garden beds. It won't hide the unit completely but it'll make it look a bit less stark and out of place in the yard.

I'm happy our a/c unit is hidden and protected by huge bushes also providing shade for the unit. I keep them trimmed and clean.