Strong, Smart Fencing Installed Properly — First Time

A properly installed closeboard or feather edge fence using pressure-treated UC4 timber posts, concrete or concrete-spurred post bases, and gravel boards at the base can realistically last 20 to 30 years with no intervention beyond an occasional coat of preservative on the boarding. The posts and gravel boards are the most critical elements — cheap untreated timber posts set directly in soil will rot within five to eight years regardless of how good the boards above them are. We specify and supply treated materials as standard.

For most domestic garden fencing, we recommend concrete posts as the default. Concrete posts do not rot, do not move over time, and are not susceptible to insect damage. They require no maintenance and outlast the boarding fixed to them by decades. Timber posts are appropriate where a lighter, more natural appearance is required — for example on post-and-rail paddock fencing or where posts are visible above a low boundary. If you want concrete posts with a timber aesthetic, slotted concrete posts with feather edge boarding are an excellent compromise.

We stock the most common fencing components — concrete posts, arris rails, feather edge boards, gravel boards, and post spurs — and carry out storm damage repairs as a priority service. In most cases we can attend a storm-damaged fence in Burton upon Trent and the surrounding area within 24 to 48 hours of your call. Where the damage is a blown panel or broken post on a boundary fence, we can normally complete a secure, permanent repair in a single visit. Call us on +44 7944 852580 and we will triage your situation over the phone.

Boundary ownership is determined by the title deeds of your property — look for a T-mark on the boundary line on your title plan, which indicates the property responsible for that boundary. The responsible party must maintain the fence in reasonable condition. In practice, many residential fences are shared by agreement between neighbours rather than strictly by legal obligation. We advise on boundary positions at survey stage and always recommend confirming ownership with your deeds before installing a new fence on or near a shared boundary.

In most cases, no. Under Permitted Development rights, you can erect a fence up to 2 metres high to the sides and rear of your property without planning permission, and up to 1 metre high adjacent to a public highway or road. There are exceptions — including properties within Conservation Areas, listed buildings, and plots where Permitted Development rights have been removed by condition. If you are unsure, we can advise based on your specific location and property type, and direct you to the relevant planning authority if required.

Yes, provided the existing posts are in sound condition and capable of carrying the additional load. We fit trellis extension panels using post extension brackets that bolt to the existing posts and extend them upward by 300mm or 600mm to accommodate the trellis. Keep in mind that the combined height must remain within Permitted Development limits — adding 600mm of trellis to a 1.8m fence brings you to 2.4m, which requires planning permission at the rear and definitely exceeds the 1m limit at the front. We always check and advise on this before fitting.