Privacy vs. Semi-Privacy vs. Privacy Plus: Comparing PrimeAlux's Aluminum Fence Panels
What's the difference between PrimeAlux's Privacy, Semi-Privacy, and Privacy Plus fence panels?
All three panels share the same core construction, PU foam-core aluminum, 80 × 80 mm posts, reinforced rails, and the same finish options. The differences that actually matter come down to slat spacing and structural reinforcement, which is what determines whether you want full privacy, airflow, or extra strength for a demanding site.
TL;DR
- Privacy: solid 100 × 20 mm slats, no gaps, full sightline block, the standard residential choice
- Semi-Privacy: 14 slats per panel with a 13 mm spacer between each, partial sightline block with continuous airflow
- Privacy Plus: solid, overlapping-slat privacy plus an H-profile reinforcement rail, built for 8-foot sections, commercial sites, and high-wind locations
- All three share the same posts (80 × 80 mm), panel width (1785 mm), UV-resistant powder coat finish, and slide-lock/slide assembly install
- Privacy Plus is the one with the fullest documentation package available (OBC compliance, fire, acoustic, wind-load, and slat-load test data) for commercial permit applications
Spec-by-spec comparison
| Spec | Privacy | Semi-Privacy | Privacy Plus |
|---|---|---|---|
| Material | PU foam-core aluminum | PU foam-core aluminum | PU foam-core aluminum |
| Slat size | 100 × 20 mm, solid | 100 × 20 mm, spaced | 100 × 20 mm, overlapping design |
| Slats / spacing | No gaps, continuous coverage | 14 slats per panel, 13 mm spacer between each | No gaps, overlapping for full coverage |
| Panel size | 1785 mm width per section | 1785 mm (1.785 m) panel length | 1785 mm width per section, 8-ft sections available |
| Posts | 80 × 80 mm extruded aluminum | 80 × 80 mm extruded aluminum | 80 × 80 mm aluminum |
| Reinforcement | Reinforced top and bottom locking rails | Top and bottom extruded aluminum rails | Reinforced top/bottom rails plus H-profile reinforcement |
| Finish | UV-resistant 3-layer & powder coating | Powder-coated finish | UV-resistant 3-layer & powder coating |
| Foundation | 15 cm concrete base recommended | Min. 15 cm concrete layer under base plate | Concrete base, same as Privacy line |
| Installation | Slide-lock assembly, screw-secured top rails | Base plate bracket, expansion screw anchor bolts | Slide assembly, screw-secured top rails |
| Best fit | Full backyard privacy, pool enclosures, property lines | Front/side yards, areas where airflow or supervision matters | Commercial sites, high-wind/exposed lots, documentation-required projects |
Privacy: full sightline block
The Privacy panel is PrimeAlux's standard solid-slat fence: 100 × 20 mm slats set slat-to-slat with no gaps, so there's no opening size to measure or worry about. It's the default choice for a backyard where the goal is complete seclusion from a neighbour's yard, a street, or a pool area, and it's the panel most other PrimeAlux content assumes when it says "privacy fence" without qualification.
Semi-Privacy: airflow without giving up the boundary
Semi-Privacy uses the same 100 × 20 mm slat as the Privacy panel, but spaces 14 of them per panel with a 13 mm gap between each. That's a deliberate trade: some sightline is visible through the gaps, but air and light move through continuously, which matters along a narrow side yard, a front yard where a fully solid wall would feel too closed off, or anywhere you want to keep an eye on what's happening on the other side, watching a pool from the kitchen window, for instance, without giving up the boundary itself.
Privacy Plus: reinforced for demanding sites
Privacy Plus starts from the same solid-privacy premise as the standard Privacy panel, overlapping slats, no gaps, but adds an H-profile reinforcement rail for extra rigidity, and is built out to 8-foot sections. It's positioned for commercial properties, high-wind or exposed sites, and projects where structural documentation is part of the permit process. PrimeAlux's own product page for Privacy Plus notes that its complete documentation package, OBC compliance, fire rating, acoustic rating, wind-load, and slat-load test data, is required for most commercial permit applications in Ontario, and that the panel's 220 km/h wind-load rating and H-profile reinforcement make it the preferred choice for exposed sites like lakefront or coastal lots.
Which one fits your project?
- Standard residential backyard, pool enclosure, or property line: Privacy is the default, solid slats, no gaps, no complexity.
- Front yard, side yard, or anywhere airflow or visibility matters: Semi-Privacy keeps the boundary while letting air and light through.
- Commercial project, high-wind or exposed site, or a permit application that needs structural documentation: Privacy Plus is the one built for that, with the H-profile reinforcement and the full test-data package behind it.
All three run on the same post system, so a property that mixes use cases, a Privacy Plus run along an exposed lot line and a Semi-Privacy section along a side yard, can still use matching posts and finish throughout.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I mix Privacy and Semi-Privacy panels on the same fence line?
Yes. All three panel types use the same 80 × 80 mm post system and finish options, so they can be combined on the same property, for example Privacy along a rear property line and Semi-Privacy along a front yard.
Is Privacy Plus only for commercial properties?
No, though that's where its documentation package matters most. Any residential site with high wind exposure, a lakefront or coastal lot, for example, can also benefit from the added H-profile reinforcement.
Does Semi-Privacy provide less security than Privacy?
Semi-Privacy still uses the same solid 100 × 20 mm slat and full post system, the difference is spacing between slats, not the structural strength of the fence itself. It provides partial visual privacy, not reduced structural security.
Do all three panel types need the same foundation?
Yes, all three specify a concrete base of at least 15 cm under the base plate, per PrimeAlux's published installation specs for each line.
Sources
- PrimeAlux Privacy Aluminum Fence
- PrimeAlux Semi-Privacy Aluminum Fence
- PrimeAlux Privacy Plus Aluminum Fence
This article is general information, not legal or engineering advice. Bylaws vary by municipality and change over time. Confirm current requirements with your local building department before construction. PrimeAlux is not liable for actions taken based on this content.
