BUILDING AND MAINTAINING A FENCE

Planning and Preparation

• Carefully plan how you want your fence to look and what size.
  This will save on any waste and buying more than you need.
  
• Check for any underground cables and pipes, to make sure
  you can dig the necessary holes for your fence posts.
• In most cases, you can build a fence up to 2 metres in height
  without planning permission, but it’s best to check with your
  local planning office if you are unsure of the restrictions.
• If you are installing a fence that runs between you and your
  neighbour’s garden, check whether they are happy for you to
  access their garden, as it’s easier if you can work from both sides
  of the fence.
• If you are going to be securing your posts with Postfix,
  you’ll need 8ft posts for a 6ft fence, as roughly 2ft will be
  underground. If you are planning to use post-spikes
  or bolt down post sockets, you’ll only need 6ft posts.
• If you are planning to add a gravel board or trellis to
  your fence, factor it into your plans as their size may
  determine the length of fence posts you need.

Do it right

• Even though the posts you have purchased are already treated, it’s a good idea to soak
  the base of the post in wood preservative before installation.

• Always use treated wood and exterior grade screws to prevent premature
  rotting and rusting.

• If you are installing a pressure treated fence panel it should be raised a
  minimum of 50mm above ground level to prevent rotting.

• If you are installing a fence onto a sloping area, keep the fence panels
  horizontal but fill the angled gap by cutting gravel board to size. Use a circular
  saw or jigsaw to make accurate angled cuts. Some heavily sloped areas will
  require a different method of installation, so it’s best to seek advice as the
  method will be dependent on the specifics of your garden and the gradient
  of the slope.

Choosing the right type of fence

First take a look at the size and design of fencing that suits your garden and your needs.
There’s a wide range to choose from:

• Closeboard fencing – closeboard is made up of overlapping
  vertical boards of timber.
  This is the strongest and heaviest panel. It gives you complete
  privacy and is ideal for boundary fencing.

• Overlap fencing – this is made from overlapping
  horizontal timber boards.
  It’s a cheaper fence that offers high levels of privacy.

• Picket fencing – a stylish way to break up your garden
  or provide low borders
  whilst maintaining the view from your garden.

• Trellis – use trellis on its own as open screen fencing
  or as a decorative panel on top of a solid fence.

• 
  
• Fence panels are nearly always 6ft (1.8m) wide.
• Measure the length of the area being fenced. Divide the length
  by the width of the panel – example: for a 36ft fence,
  36ft ÷ 6ft = 6 panels.
• You’ll also need the same number of gravel boards to place
  at the bottom of each panel.
• Add one more fence post to the number of panels needed
  so you have enough posts to support both ends of the fence.

Choosing the right posts

• Decide if you want wooden or concrete posts – there are pros and cons for both.
  You also need to decide whether you want to set them in concrete or use 
  post supports.
  Post supports are metal containers dug into or fixed onto the ground.
• Concrete posts ensure you have a good strong fence, but they do need
  a fair bit of work to put up.
• Wooden posts are easier to handle, but as they’re buried in the ground,
  there’s a slightly higher risk that they’ll rot.
• Metal post supports deal with some of these problems and they’ll help
  you put up a fence relatively quickly.

Aftercare

• Treat all cut timber and drill holes with two coats of preservative.
• Once the fence is complete, apply a paint or wood stain
  to add a splash of colour and further protect the timber.
  These come in a variety of colours so be sure to look at the range.

Wood is prone to Warps,
Rotting and Insect Attacks

Timber is prone to rotting and fungal attacks, so this is something
to consider about timber fencing.

However, with ample treatment and maintenance, your timber
fencing should last a long time.