At Witham Timber, we understand how important the purchase of a new fence can be. It needs to suit (and fit) your space, your taste, and your budget. Here are our tips to get it just right.
In the first instance, browse our fencing blog and familiarise yourself with the basics, including boundary guidelines (Can I replace my neighbour’s fence?), planning permission and other regulations (What is the legal height for a fence?), as well as the different types of fencing available.
How big a stretch is being fenced?
If you are installing a fence where none exists, it’s vital to plan it out to ensure you buy the correct number of materials. Where you are replacing a fence, ensure you measure out the exact length you will be replacing. Remember that any final measurements will need to include the width of fence panels and fence posts.
Calculating fencing supplies needed
Fence posts, fence panels and gravel boards are available in a wide choice of heights and widths, which are shown in individual product descriptions, so accurate measuring in the planning stage is essential. The following offers a rough guide to sizes for fence panels, fence posts, and gravel boards.
|
Fence Panels (height in m) |
Gravel boards (depth in cm) |
Fence post height (allowing 600mm in the ground) |
|
0.9 |
15 |
1.82 |
|
1.22 |
15 |
2.13 |
|
1.52 |
15/30 |
2.4/2.4 |
|
1.65 |
15/30 |
2.4/2.7 |
|
1.82 |
15/30 |
2.7/2.7 |
The aesthetic of the fence
A new fence can represent a considerable investment and should complement the look and style of your garden. However, while fencing is used to create boundaries, there is no reason it cannot also serve as a feature, and the choice of fencing styles offers the homeowner lots of scope. Our complete range of fencing products includes feather edge panels, waney lap panels, decorative fence panels, and trellis fence panels, to suit every style of garden.
The purpose of the fence
Your choice of fencing may be determined by its purpose. For example, will your fencing serve only to demarcate a boundary line, or will it need to offer security to the property? Do you want to create a private space or will the fence be used purely to add a decorative element? Feather edge fencing is strong and solid, offering security and privacy, while waney lap fence panels offer a more cost effective privacy solution. And, for those wanting to create an eye-catching statement, decorative fence panels are ideal.
Where will the fence be?
This question considers the conditions your fence will be subjected to, rather than where in your garden it will be! Do you live in an area that experiences higher than average rainfall? If so, you may want to add fence post caps to the finished fence to protect posts from excess water. If your fence will be susceptible to windy conditions, for example in exposed, coastal locations, a fence that will withstand these environmental factors will be needed. Where security and privacy is not an issue, open fencing styles, such as Lincolnshire fencing and post and rail fencing are a good solution. If you need to provide privacy and security while withstanding strong winds, waney lap fence panels will tick all the boxes.
Fencing supplies from Witham Timber
At Witham Timber we have over 240 years’ experience of providing quality timber and our timber fencing department includes everything you will need to install a new fence. Additionally, we also stock and supply no-maintenance plastic eco fencing, and DuraPost fencing. If you need any advice about any aspect of fencing, or would like to ask a question, contact us by email at sales@withamtimber.co.uk or call our friendly sales team on 01205 359188.