Putting up fence advice

modelreject

Hi,

I will be erecting a fence around our small back garden this summer and was hoping I could get some advice from people here who have gone through the same process, just to make things a little less painless and to prepare me. It's going to be a good quality wooden fence with no slats, for best privacy.

Some advice could include:
1. What are the regulations with regards to height?
2. What height do you recommend for best privacy, sunlight?
3. What should I coat it with to make it last?
4. Should I paint everything before I put it up?
5. Any things that you had to do which didn't even occur to you?

Many thanks. This could be a long winded one :-)

modelreject

Thanks Andrew. Can you clarify some of the terms you used and possibly link to an image..

"slotted concrete posts"
"close-boarded fence panels"
"lap panels"
"gravel boards"

BoxerfanUK

andrew-b wrote: »

1. 2metres (6 feet)
2. 2metres (6 feet)
3. Any fence paint really. We used Cuprinol Ducksback for all our fences though it's a bit pricey. If you use pressure treated timber you don't need to at all but personally i like a bit of colour to my fences.
4. If using standard treated timber (recommended) there is no need to


I would use slotted concrete posts with close-boarded fence panels (rather than the flimsy waney lap panels). Don't forget to fit gravel boards ..again i'd go for concrete. Wooden posts have a tendency to rot at the base..if you must use wooden posts use 3"x3" (75x75mm) rather than 2x2.

The maximum fence height you can have is actually 6 feet 6 inches not 6 feet.

Regarding using wooden posts, 3"x3" would be an absolute minimum and I have never ever seen anyone use 2"x2" for fence posts, they wouldn't last 5 minutes!!!

Its true that concrete posts last longer, but they are very heavy and look ugly.

I have just had a fence replaced of the closeboard featheredge type, made up of 5"x4" wooden posts, arris cross rails and feather edge closeboard fencing with gravel boards, top notch job and will last for years.

Steve_xx

andrew-b wrote: »

2metres is correct...but my conversion to feet is the wrong bit...so yes your right it's 6'6" (See http://www.planningportal.gov.uk/permission/commonprojects/fenceswallsgates)

One of our fences has 2"x2" posts...there when we bought the property.
Those are some chunky posts Boxer..they'll rot eventually though. I had to put some concrete repair spurs in last year where two 3x3" wooden posts in concrete had rotted through (new fence in 2006 before we moved in)...i'd much rather have concrete posts any day. If you don't like the look just paint them or grow a plant in front of it.
The best/strongest fence in our garden is concrete posts, closeboard panels and concrete gravel board.

Totally agree regarding concrete posts as opposed to wooden ones. I did a very long run with wooden posts, many years ago, and all but one rotted and I had a hell of a job sorting that lot out.

You can also get plastic posts these days, but I've never tried them and I don't know what the cost comparison is between them and concrete. If aethetics is a major consideration then plastic might look better than concrete.

modelreject

Thanks everyone. I agree about the uhliness of concrete posts. Great advice so far. How long would you expect wooden posts, or a fence in general, to last for. I will be living in property for at least 10 years.

Steve_xx

You might get 10 years out of wooden posts, depending on how well they are installed. If they're on low lying land where there tends to be a lot of wetness about then they wont last long. If they're on higher ground that is well-drained then they'll last longer. Though you should factor some maintenance in, ie treating them with preservative every two years, especially the bases of them.

Personally, I would go for concrete or plastic as there's too much of a problem if the wooden ones snap at the base.

roger196

Chat to neighbours first. People like to be consulted even though you don't have to follow their advice. They might even help you with the work. Are there any problems likely with boundary lines?

modelreject

There is some dispute as to where the boundaries lie though I haven't chatted about it as the house is up for sale and no one lives there at the moment. It's pretty easy to see where it should be as there is an invisible line from our driveway down to the back of the garden.

DVardysShadow

modelreject wrote: »

It's pretty easy to see where it should be as there is an invisible line from our driveway down to the back of the garden.

Oh yes, it is much easier to see when the invisible man points at it.

27col

None of our fencing is painted and although panels have needed to be replaced it was not because of rot, but simply because they had been damaged by wind. The only reason that I can think of for painting a fence is to improve it's appearance. Painting does not prevent the main cause of fence damage, and that is the rotting through of the posts at ground level.

vaio

Steve_xx wrote: »

You might get 10 years out of wooden posts, depending on how well they are installed........

Not too sure about that, my OH has a treasured photo of me mixing concrete to install wooden fence posts "assisted" by a toddler, that toddler is now 26 and the posts are still there.

They were nothing special, treated 3x3, maybe 4x4 from B&Q or similar. Never been re-treated and are now on their third set of infill panels