Lattice vs Slat Screening: Which Fence Topper Actually Blocks the View?

The lattice vs slat screening decision for a fence topper comes down to one thing: does it actually stop your neighbour seeing straight into your yard? Skip standard open-hole lattice and use woven lattice, tight timber slats, or a solid steel panel instead. Open 65mm lattice is the cheapest thing in the yard, but its diamond gaps still give a clear sightline through at eye level once you step back a metre or two from the fence.

Woven lattice, close-spaced timber battens and solid steel panels all close that gap completely. They just get there at different prices, with different upkeep, and different amounts of extra height, which matters in Victoria because anything fixed on top of an existing fence counts toward the same height limit the fence itself has to stay under.

In this article

• Why doesn’t standard lattice block the view?
• What’s the difference between woven lattice and open lattice?
• Is timber slat screening more private than lattice?
• What about solid steel privacy panels?
• Lattice vs slat screening vs steel: full comparison
• How much fence topper can you add before you need a permit in Victoria?
• Which fence topper should you choose?
• FAQ

Why doesn’t standard lattice block the view?

Open square-hole lattice, like our 65mm square hole sheets, is built from 35 x 9mm treated pine slats crossed to form a diamond or square pattern with a real gap at every intersection. That gap is the point: it lets light, air and some view through, which is exactly what you want for garden screening, a plant support, or a decorative panel. It is not designed to be a privacy screen.

Step back a metre or two, the normal distance from a deck to a boundary fence, and the gaps line up enough that shapes and movement on the other side are easy to pick out. It is the cheapest topper here and the easiest to install, but if full privacy is the goal, treat it as decorative rather than a screening product.

What’s the difference between woven lattice and open lattice?

Woven lattice is made from the same 35 x 9mm treated pine, but the slats are woven behind and in front of each vertical slat instead of simply crossed, and the weave is alternated so it locks the vertical slat in place. The result has no open holes to see through. It is sold as a cheap way to get a total blockout screen, and it is the option most commonly used as a fence extension.

A 2400 x 600mm sheet costs a little more than open lattice, and comes with no legs, so most people fix it straight onto an existing fence rail rather than standing it as a free panel (a leg kit adds about $16 if you need one). For the small extra cost, you get a screen that actually earns the word “privacy”.

Is timber slat screening more private than lattice?

Slat screening skips the pre-made sheet entirely. You buy dressed timber, such as Merbau Dressed 42 x 19, by the metre and fix individual boards vertically (or horizontally) yourself, which means you choose the gap. Butt the boards hard against each other and you get a solid, zero-gap screen with no sightline at all. Leave a 5 to 10mm reveal between boards and you keep most of the privacy while letting some air and dappled light through, which helps on a fence line that also acts as a windbreak.

Setting your own spacing also means the screen fits exactly between existing posts with no wasted offcuts, unlike a fixed-width lattice sheet. Merbau is a dense hardwood with a straight grain and a smooth, pencil round profile, but it will drop some tannin colour if it gets rained on before it is sealed, the same behaviour we covered when comparing merbau and spotted gum decking. Oil it once installed to preserve the colour and stop cracking. It costs more per metre than a lattice sheet once labour is added, but it gives the most finished, built-for-purpose look of the three.

What about solid steel privacy panels?

The Decorative Art Panel range is a different approach again: a solid 1800 x 900mm steel sheet mounted on a welded steel box frame, available with a painted surface or a deliberate “real rust” weathered finish. Because it is one continuous sheet rather than a woven or slatted screen, it blocks the view completely by default, no spacing decisions required.

It costs more per panel than a similarly sized lattice sheet, but it needs no oiling, staining or resealing, ever, and it can be high-pressure cleaned without damage. It is sold as a multi-purpose product, screening, fencing, or a standalone feature panel, so it suits a striking, maintenance-free section rather than continuous screening down an entire fence line.

Lattice vs slat screening vs steel: full comparison

Here is how the four options stack up against each other on the things that actually decide which one you should buy.

Topper	Privacy level	Price	Maintenance	DIY difficulty
Open lattice (65mm square hole)	Partial, gaps visible from a metre or two back	$38.10 / 3000 x 900mm sheet	Repaint or restain every few years	Easy, screw to top rail
Woven lattice	Near total blockout	$45.85 / 2400 x 600mm sheet	Repaint or restain every few years	Easy, screw to top rail
Timber slat screening (Merbau)	Zero gap possible, fully adjustable	$2.95 / metre, spacing is your choice	Oil yearly to preserve colour	Moderate, each slat fixed individually
Steel decorative panel	Total blockout, solid sheet	$120.00 / 1800 x 900mm panel	None	Easy, bolt to posts or frame

How much fence topper can you add before you need a permit in Victoria?

Side and rear boundary fences in Victoria can generally go up to 2 metres high without a building permit, and anything fixed on top of the fence, lattice, slats, or a steel panel, is included in that overall height measurement rather than treated as a separate structure. If you already have a standard 1.8m paling fence, that generally leaves about 200mm of legal headroom before a topper pushes the total over 2m and triggers a permit, and often an engineering check as well.

Height is measured from natural ground level, which matters if your fence sits on a retaining wall, since the wall’s height counts toward the total (source: A Class Building Materials, Fence Height Regulations in Victoria). Rules vary by council, and corner blocks or fences facing a road can carry stricter limits, so confirm the exact number with your council before you build, whichever side of the lattice vs slat screening choice you land on.

Lattice vs slat screening: which fence topper should you choose?

The lattice vs slat screening choice usually comes down to budget versus finish. Budget and some visibility is fine: open lattice. A traditional lattice look that still blocks the view: woven lattice. The most finished, fully private result, if you don’t mind an annual oil: timber slat screening sized to your own gap. A standalone, zero-maintenance feature that blocks the view completely: a steel decorative panel. Whichever you choose, check your total fence height against the 2m limit above before you order.

Frequently asked questions

Can I add lattice on top of my existing fence without a permit?

In most Victorian councils, yes, as long as the total fence height including the topper stays at or under 2 metres for a side or rear boundary fence. Above that you will generally need council approval, so check with your local council first.

Does woven lattice actually block the view completely?

Close to it. The alternating weave leaves no straight sightline through the sheet, so from a normal standing or seated distance you cannot make out shapes or movement on the other side, though a small amount of light still shows at the edges of the weave.

How far apart should I space timber slats for privacy?

Butt them hard together for a zero gap and full privacy, or leave a 5 to 10mm reveal if you want some airflow through the screen while still blocking a direct line of sight. Anything wider than about 10mm starts to open a usable sightline at close range.

Does steel screening rust?

Painted steel panels are coated to resist rust, and “real rust” finishes like the Outback panel are designed to weather to a stable, deliberate rust patina rather than corrode through. Either finish can be high-pressure cleaned without damage.

Can I fix lattice or slats to an existing paling fence?

Yes. All of these toppers fix onto the top rail of an existing paling, picket or panel fence, as an addition to what is already there rather than a replacement, which is why they are cheaper than rebuilding the fence.