Fencing

Timber posts rot at ground level. It is not a question of if, only when — and when they go, the whole run goes with them, usually in February at three in the morning.

Concrete posts and gravel boards keep every bit of timber clear of wet ground. The panels or boards slot in, so if one ever gets damaged you slide a new one in rather than rebuilding the fence. It costs a little more up front and roughly doubles the life of the job.

Closeboard is built in place — featheredge boards nailed onto arris rails, one at a time. It is stronger, lasts longer, takes any run length or slope, and looks better. It is the right choice for a boundary that matters.

Panels are quicker and cheaper, and perfectly good for dividing up a garden or screening a bin store. On an exposed boundary they take more of a beating in high wind.

A garden fence can generally go to two metres without planning permission, dropping to one metre where it borders a road used by vehicles. There are exceptions for listed buildings and some estates.

We will also tell you which boundaries look like yours to maintain, and it is always worth a word with the neighbour before we start — most fencing disputes we have seen over 65 years came down to nobody having that conversation.

We make and hang side gates and double gates to suit the fence, in matching timber with proper ironmongery. Hung on adjustable hinges so they can be tweaked as the timber settles, and with a decent drop bolt rather than the flimsy latch that comes in the pack.