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klcharleston

Advice for hiding neighbor's solar electrical components

9 days ago
last modified: 4 days ago

We love our solar; have had it for 6 years now. Our electrical components are on the back corner of our house. Our neighbors just had their solar installed. Our yards are pretty small and our houses close together. I would appreciate advice regarding how to hide the view of their battery storage system, etc.

We had already decided to redo the landscaping around the front window of our house before their white boxes went up. (Zone 6a here in Illinois.)

Thanks in advance for the ideas.

***I should add, we've been told by HOA that we can't extend the fence beyond the front of our house :/ ***




Red maple


Comments (27)

  • 9 days ago

    Fence down the lot line

    K Charleston thanked WestCoast Hopeful
  • PRO
    9 days ago

    wow. I thought my view was bad w/my neighbor. at least it's behind his fence.

    I can't believe the solar company put this so far out in front!

    are you friendly w/them? you can search how to hide panels online,

    and maybe assist them w/building something



    at the very least, they can paint them to match the house color


    K Charleston thanked Beth H. :
  • PRO
    9 days ago

    A nice tall fence down the property line or some tall hedge plants .

    K Charleston thanked Patricia Colwell Consulting
  • PRO
    9 days ago
    last modified: 9 days ago

    Is the black fence yours? If so, add on to it at 90* angle a slat privacy fence like this one with the black trim. Plant a few things to make it look custom design.



    Suggestion: before you put the house on the market take off the shutters permanently, or replace them with the correct size. You want the shutter, to be the same size as the window. Go authentic, if it is in your budget, white to match the trim. The window is the most important design of the front of the house.



    K Charleston thanked oncape
  • 9 days ago

    If a fence isn’t an option i would do landscaping and add something like yews all along the property line

    K Charleston thanked WestCoast Hopeful
  • 9 days ago
    last modified: 9 days ago

    Thank you all very much. That is our fence, but HOA has said fences can't extend past the front of the house into the front yard :/ . They have shown that they likely won't be receptive to painting or doing anything to cover it themselves unfortunately. I really like the ideas you have shown though.

    Love the slatted wooden screen, and thanks for the advice re: the shutters. The original contractor installed these... what you are saying of course makes sense.

    If using landscaping, I wasn't sure what tall hedge plants to use given the width of the red maple and how close our houses are together.

    Thanks!

  • PRO
    9 days ago
    last modified: 9 days ago

    Did you notice that the screen was on castors? It is not permanent and you can take it with you when you move. So, it is not a fence, legally, right? Let's call it a movable trellis.

  • 9 days ago

    I definitely think the screen could work! I'm no designer.... if I just used one or two of these slatted wooden screens, should I put landscaping in front of them, or some outdoor chairs or a bench or ... ? thank you

  • PRO
    9 days ago

    Yes, you have got the idea. Here is a non permanent planter/trellis.


    Put a couple of black chairs in front of it with a little table. After all, it is only seasonal. You just want to enjoy sitting in your front yard under the beautiful tree..


    When you move, don't go to an HOA development. Grrrrrrrrr.

    K Charleston thanked oncape
  • 9 days ago

    Do nothing.

    On a scale of 1 to 10, this ranks considerably below living next door to a yappy miniature poodle. If you erect the Great Wall, people will wonder what sort of barbarians you are living next to.


    K Charleston thanked mad_gallica (z5 Eastern NY)
  • 9 days ago

    If they are redoing landscaping anyway no harm in adding bushes. But to be honest I am not even sure landscaping is needed if moving

    K Charleston thanked WestCoast Hopeful
  • 9 days ago

    Landscaping, something simple just to draw your eyes away, it doesn’t need to be humongous. Since I have no idea where your home is I have no suggestion re plants/shrubs. Looks like your landscaping needs some work anyway, how about extending & wrapping a planter from the corner of your home, just enough to draw the eyes away. it is an eyesore, I’m surprised your neighbors aren’t embarrassed by it & more surprised that your HOA would allow it. I don’t live in an HOA , but our city won’t even allow us to have trash receptacles visible from the street.

  • 9 days ago

    Agree... we were already going to redo the landscaping in the front... it definitely does need work :/ Zone 6a here in Illinois. Thank you all again.


  • 9 days ago
    last modified: 9 days ago

    I do not understand the issue. If it were my house, I would not be staring at this setup on my neighbors’ house. Plus, if I were selling the house in 6 months, I would let the next owner do something- or not do something- about it.

  • 9 days ago

    The market here is competitive, so improving curb appeal is something we are considering. We're redoing the landscaping in the front of the house because it needs it anyway. Appreciate all of the input.

  • 9 days ago

    Perhaps they would be willing to paint them the same color as the siding. And, at the same time, do the garage doors.

    K Charleston thanked Anne Duke
  • PRO
    9 days ago
    last modified: 9 days ago

    Strange that a HOA doesn't allow to place a fence to hide the boxes and yet allows an owner to place them where they are so much in view. I guess that leaves a trio of shrubs as an option to be placed strategically on your property to hide the boxes from view.


    K Charleston thanked lisedv
  • 9 days ago

    Building on @lisedv's suggestion. Since you're planning on re-doing the front landscaping, consider a bed with a curved shape that incorporates the tree.


    K Charleston thanked partim
  • PRO
    9 days ago

    WOW I cannot tell you how much I hate HOAs they allowed this mess and not do not allow you to hide how does that make sense .I see trees sticking out past garages in your pics so plant some trees ar a small hedge.

    K Charleston thanked Patricia Colwell Consulting
  • 9 days ago

    Federal law does not allow HOAs to control where solar equipment gets installed ... does not include landscaping and fences!

    My HOA, specially the people who were running it a few years ago, would of had an issue with our solar panels, mostly the south facing ones that our neighbor has to see every time they drive up to their house. Luckily state and federal laws allow us to maximize our solar system design, specially in a sunny climate.

  • 9 days ago

    It's an attractive house that could use a bit of sprucing up before it goes up for sale.


    The foundation shrubs already look good, not too large, not too small. Add blooming flowers the week before it goes up for sale (in my area, real estate agents call them "escrow flowers".) Add lawn fertilizer in spring when appropriate for your area.


    Check with the HOA on allowed paint colors for the trim, shutters and lamp post.


    Pressure washing the sidewalks and driveway would freshen it up. The pros can use a "soft wash" for the brick to clean it off before you touch up the paint on the trim and shutters.


    Ignore the neighbors' solar equipment. The new owners can decide what to do. Putting fresh landscaping in front of it would only draw more attention to it.

    K Charleston thanked apple_pie_order
  • PRO
    8 days ago

    Where I live we have tons of solar powered homes all of which have these boxes hidden from street view so I guess that depends on the installers

    K Charleston thanked Patricia Colwell Consulting
  • 8 days ago

    A berm will accomplish two things…create a visual diversion/barrier and increase curb appeal. Suggest taking a picture of your home in relation to the electrical and head to a garden centre for suggestions and be sure to tie into your garden across the front, to create a seamless flow.


    K Charleston thanked Maureen
  • 8 days ago
    last modified: 8 days ago

    In one house I lived, I made the front lawn a flowing free-form shape with planter beds along the sidewalk, driveway and the neighbors lawn.

    Then you can plant some taller bushes on the neighbors side. Lower flowers and ground cover plants and mulch in front.

    The effect made the yard quite cozy looking and enclosed and defined our property from the others on the street.

    K Charleston thanked tracefloyd
  • 8 days ago

    Thank you all. I find the comments very helpful!

  • 8 days ago

    Its silly to do anything if you are moving in 6 months. enjoy your new home.

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