What Supplies Are Needed to Build a Lattice Privacy Screen?

End Posts

• The supplies that you need for the end posts of a lattice privacy screen are four 8-foot cedar or treated-wood porch posts. You will cut 12 inches off the bottom of the two porch posts, which become the end posts of the lattice screen.

Top, Bottom and Center Rails

• You'll make the top, bottom and center rails of the lattice screen from one 1 by 4 by 8 and two 1 by 4 by 6 cedar or treated-wood boards. Cut the 1 by 4 by 6 boards in half to create four 3-foot pieces for the top and bottom rails. Cut the 1 by 4 by 8 board in half to create two 4-foot pieces for the center panel rails.

Other Supplies

• To paint the rails and the posts you need one quart of exterior primer and one quart of exterior white paint. You'll need a 50-pound bag of pea gravel to pour into the holes that each of the posts go into. Additional supplies include a box of 1-1/2-inch galvanized screws to attach the center panel top rail to the posts, and a box of 1-inch galvanized screws to attach the lattice panels on the back of rails, posts and frame.

Tools

• The tools you need to build a lattice privacy screen are a circular saw to cut the porch posts and a tape measure to measure each panel opening from the top rail to the bottom rail and from the center of each post. You'll need a paintbrush to apply the exterior primer and exterior paint. Use the carpenter’s level to ensure that the posts are exactly vertical and a shovel to dig the holes. Cut the lattice panels to size using tin snips, and use an electric drill with 1/16-inch bit and screwdriver bit to drill holes on the center panel top rail so you can screw the rail to the posts.