Find the right fencing & gates

Fencing and gate specialists are the experts responsible for securing your property’s perimeter, providing privacy, and enhancing your home’s kerb appeal. From installing classic timber panels to bespoke driveway gates, these tradespeople combine heavy-duty groundworks with precise carpentry to ensure your boundaries stand firm against the British weather.

UK homeowners typically call upon these professionals for everything from emergency storm damage repairs to complete garden transformations. A well-installed fence does more than mark a boundary; it acts as a windbreak, a noise barrier, and a vital security feature for children and pets.

Beyond standard garden fencing, these specialists often handle decorative trellis work, secure side gates, and robust security fencing for commercial or larger residential properties. They understand the local soil conditions and wind loads, ensuring that your investment doesn't lean or collapse after the first winter gale.

What to Expect When Hiring a Fencing Specialist

A professional fencing project follows a structured process to ensure longevity and structural integrity. Here is what you can typically expect when you hire a specialist:

• Site Survey and Consultation: The tradesperson will visit to measure the perimeter, check for underground utilities, and assess the ground levels and soil type.
• Detailed Quotation: You should receive a breakdown including materials (posts, panels, gravel boards), labour, and the cost of disposing of your old fencing.
• Ground Preparation: This involves clearing old structures, managing overhanging vegetation, and marking out post positions accurately.
• Post Installation: Posts are set deep into the ground (usually 600mm) and secured with rapid-setting concrete (Postcrete) to ensure a solid foundation.
• Fixing Panels or Rails: Depending on the style, they will install pre-made panels or "kit-form" featheredge boards, ensuring everything is perfectly level.
• Finishing Touches: Installation of gravel boards to protect timber from ground moisture, post caps for decoration, and any requested gates or hardware.
• Waste Removal: Most professionals will take away the old fence panels and debris, provided they hold a valid waste carrier licence.

Why Hire a Professional?

While fencing is often viewed as a DIY task, the physical demands and technical requirements are frequently underestimated. Professional installers have the specialised equipment—such as petrol augers and heavy-duty breakers—to handle stubborn roots or rocky British soil that would break a standard spade.

Structural Integrity: A fence acts like a giant sail in the wind. Professionals know exactly how deep posts need to be and how to spacing them to prevent the entire line from blowing over during a storm.

Legal and Boundary Accuracy: Fencing pros can help ensure your new boundary stays on your land, avoiding costly disputes with neighbours. They are also familiar with local planning laws, such as the standard 2-metre height restriction for rear gardens.

Material Knowledge: A specialist knows the difference between dip-treated and pressure-treated timber (UC3/UC4 grades). Using the wrong grade for ground contact is the primary cause of premature rot in DIY fences.

Typical Costs

Fencing costs are usually quoted "per bay" (typically 1.8m or 6ft wide) or as a total project price. Prices vary based on the height of the fence, the material of the posts (wood vs concrete), and the ease of access to your garden.

Service	Low £	High £	Notes
Closeboard (Featheredge) Fencing	£110	£190	Per 1.8m bay, including labour and materials.
Standard Lap Panel Fencing	£75	£130	Per 1.8m bay. Budget-friendly but less durable.
Timber Side Gate (Installed)	£250	£500	Includes heavy-duty hinges and latch.
Double Driveway Gates (Timber)	£800	£2,500+	Varies wildly by design and wood type (Softwood vs Hardwood).
Post Replacement (Repair)	£90	£160	Per post. Includes digging out the old concrete.
Waste Disposal Fee	£100	£250	Depends on the volume of old fencing removed.

Factors that increase the price include steep slopes, which require "stepping" the panels, and the choice of concrete posts over timber, which are more expensive but last significantly longer.

How to Choose the Right Fencing Specialist

Choosing a reputable tradesperson ensures your fence remains upright for a decade or more rather than just a few seasons. Use this checklist to vet your potential contractor:

• Check for a Waste Carrier Licence: It is your legal responsibility to ensure your old fence is disposed of correctly. Ask to see their Environment Agency registration.
• Timber Quality: Ask if they use pressure-treated timber and what the "use class" is. For posts, you should ideally look for UC4 rated timber.
• Insurance: Ensure they have Public Liability Insurance to cover any accidental damage to your property or your neighbour’s property during the build.
• Portfolio: Look for photos of completed runs. Check that the tops of the fences are level and the posts are vertically straight (plumb).

Questions to ask before hiring:

• "How deep do you dig your post holes?" (Look for a minimum of 2 feet or 600mm).
• "Do you use gravel boards?" (These are essential for preventing the bottom of the panels from rotting).
• "Is the waste removal included in the written quote?"
• "What guarantee do you provide on your workmanship?"

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I need planning permission for a new fence?

In most parts of the UK, you do not need planning permission for a fence under 2 metres high in a rear garden. However, if the fence is adjacent to a highway or footpath, it is usually restricted to 1 metre. Listed buildings and conservation areas may have stricter rules.

Should I choose concrete or wooden posts?

Concrete posts are more expensive and harder to install but will not rot, potentially lasting 20-30 years. Wooden posts offer a more natural look and are cheaper upfront, but even pressure-treated wood will eventually succumb to ground rot, usually within 10-15 years.

How long does it take to install a new garden fence?

An experienced two-person team can typically install 4 to 6 bays (roughly 7-10 metres) of standard fencing per day, including the removal of the old fence. Very hard ground or complex slopes may slow this progress.

Which side of the fence should face my neighbour?

There is no law stating which side must face you, but traditionally the "good side" (the one without the rails) faces your neighbour. However, many modern panels look the same from both sides to avoid this dilemma.