Asked on Jul 06, 2015

Please help with this carport

Char
by Char
I have a double carport with 2 dryer vents on them. They put out a crazy amount of lint. The one to the right of the chair is mine, the one in the right corner is my neighbors. I wanted to create an outdoor living area on the right, but find the heat and lint intrusive.
Is there some kind of cheap/DIY/cute barrier I can put there? Also, the short brick wall on the left that separates my carport from my other neighbor and her many small children....are there any suggestions for privacy? It's an apartment, so I can't deface anything. I've been racking my brains but can't come up with a solution to either issue. I know someone out there has just the perfect fix. Thanks!!
  9 answers
  • Kathryn Kathryn on Jul 06, 2015
    What about a temporary partition with the wall on supports or folding wall or a pole with a curtain. Maybe the landlord would allow two screws in the roof to hold wire down to a pipe with a curtain on it.
  • Katrina Warren Katrina Warren on Jul 06, 2015
    @Char It looks as if your dryer vent does not have a cover over it. It shouldn't be closed off, but at least a regular dryer vent cover would direct the heat downward. If it's ok with the complex to put a few hooks in the ceiling I would hang match stick or bamboo blinds from the ceiling down to the brick wall.
  • Darla Brown Darla Brown on Jul 07, 2015
    add Velcro around the outside of the vent cover....cut the legs from an old pair of nylons double them up by putting them together one inside the other...attach to the Velcro it will catch the lint...be sure and change them when it's gets full....as far as a cover see if you can find an old shutter cut it down to where the top of the shutter cover the top of the vent....attach them together like a room divider..decorate since they are slotted it will still allow ventilation..but cover the vents....hope this helps..let me know how it works....don't forget to check the nylon bags every so often you don't want a fire
  • Pgl Pgl on Jul 07, 2015
    Been there so .......find thrift stores [ many organizations and communities have them ] Look for bi-fold doors or cloths trees ,3 of these and some material or old drapes make a triangle in front of your vent with either the doors or clothes trees and material. hot air naturally goes up and the lint is blocked. This also creates a bit of storage. Now instead of trying to block off the whole area for privacy create ares.At thrift store you often find fake potted trees ferns ect , group these to create privacy areas for seating make sure you find some little side tables even an old coffee table paint them what ever suits you.. This keeps kids away they can see enough to know they are not interested. Oh and some cookies or such for when they really behave when you ask then too works well.
  • Funnygirl Funnygirl on Jul 07, 2015
    Simple solution to the vent.Put a flower pot underneath, fill it halfway with gravel and then put a low light plant in front of the vent or some fake flowers to obscure the vent.To separate the two spaces,set up a low long table using 2 5 gal.buckets(dressed up with mini table clothes of fabric over each one),put a long shelf across the two buckets using lumber or any old shelf.Then you can fill the table with large items that will fill in that space including large low lightplants (peace lilies are a great choice)that you can easy move.You can then extend it as long as you want.Books are always also a good way to build additional shelves or more privacy without making it look to obvious that you are looking for more privacy.tell your neighbors you are converting your carport into your new library!
  • Funnygirl Funnygirl on Jul 07, 2015
    Another post had a great idea.How about old doors turned sideways?Not quite sure how to secure it to your little wall but I'm sure someone can figure out a way.If you bought a bifold door and turn that sideways, you could screw eye screws to the top and attach it to the ceiling.You can buy bifold doors cheap at a garage sale or craigslist or thrift store.
    • Lynn Hood Knowles Lynn Hood Knowles on Jul 07, 2015
      @Funnygirl has a great idea with the doors & shutters. Also lattice comes in plastic too. Make some brackets for them to slide on. Then you can decorate it too.
  • Char Char on Jul 07, 2015
    Thanks everyone. All great ideas. Will post when I've implemented some of them! :)
  • Debbie Miller Debbie Miller on Jul 09, 2015
    I would buy tall potted plants heavy enough that the kids couldn't accidently knock then over and sit along wall. . Even artificial plants with rocks in the bottom to make them stable. Like Darla and Gwennie's idea for the vent!
  • Gwennie Gwennie on Jul 09, 2015
    Place a nylon stocking i.e. pantyhose over the end of the dryer vent that will collect the lint. You will have to change it out some times but probably not over once a week. Depending on how often the dryer is used. The air will just have to be dealt with but make sure each vent has a cover that distributes it in different directions.