Fencing advice & FAQs

A new timber close-board fence in Cambridge typically costs between £120 and £250 per metre supply and fitted, depending on height, ground conditions and the timber grade used. Concrete posts and gravel boards push the price toward the higher end, but they significantly extend the life of the run. Decorative or composite panels, hardwood close-board and bespoke gates add further cost. The best way to get an accurate figure is to have someone walk the boundary with you - we offer a free site measure and quote across Cambridge and the surrounding villages.

The main cost factors are panel or board style, post material (timber versus concrete), fence height, the number of gates, and how difficult the ground is to work in. Rocky or heavily rooted ground in areas like Cherry Hinton or Trumpington can add time and therefore cost. Removing an old fence also adds to the price, as does disposing of treated timber, which cannot go to a standard skip. Telling a contractor all of this upfront means you get a quote that reflects the actual job, not an estimate that grows on the day.

Pressure-treated softwood close-board panels typically last 15-25 years when fitted with concrete posts and gravel boards and kept treated. Untreated or poorly treated timber close to the ground can start to rot within 5-8 years in the damp Cambridgeshire climate. Concrete panel fences can last 40 years or more; composite panels are generally rated by manufacturers at 25 years or longer without painting or staining. Metal railings and galvanised steel fences, if the coating is maintained, can outlast all of them.

Concrete posts are the better long-term choice for most domestic fences because they do not rot at ground level, which is the most common reason a timber run fails prematurely. Timber posts treated with a UC4-rated preservative (suitable for ground contact) will last considerably longer than untreated or UC3 timber, but they will still eventually decay in the wet, clay-heavy soils found across much of South Cambridgeshire. For a boundary that needs to last 20 years or more with minimal intervention, concrete posts paired with a gravel board are the standard recommendation. Timber posts suit applications where a more natural look is a priority and the owner is prepared to monitor and re-treat them.

Timber panels are the most affordable upfront, offer a natural look and are easy to cut to size, but they need regular treatment and will eventually rot if neglected. Metal fences - wrought iron, galvanised steel or powder-coated aluminium - suit period Cambridge properties and front boundaries where security and appearance matter; they cost more but need less maintenance once the coating is intact. Composite panels are made from a mix of recycled wood fibre and plastic; they will not rot, do not need painting, and have improved significantly in appearance over the past decade. The right choice depends on your budget, the setting, and how much upkeep you are willing to do.

In England, you can erect a fence up to 2 metres tall without planning permission, provided it is not next to a highway or public footpath. If your boundary adjoins a road, pavement or public right of way, the permitted development limit drops to 1 metre. Conservation areas - and Cambridge has several, including large parts of the city centre and many village settings - may impose additional restrictions, and your title deeds or lease may contain covenants that limit height or materials further. If you are unsure, check with South Cambridgeshire District Council or Cambridge City Council before starting work, as enforcement action can require you to remove a fence at your own expense.

There is no universal rule in England that dictates which boundary belongs to which neighbour - it depends entirely on the title deeds for your property. The Land Registry title plan sometimes shows a 'T' mark on the boundary line; the 'T' points toward the owner responsible for that boundary. If your deeds are unclear, the next step is to look at the conveyancing documents from when you bought the house, or commission a boundary report. Assuming your neighbour owns a fence just because it faces a particular way is one of the most common causes of boundary disputes, so it is worth checking rather than guessing.

If fewer than a third of the panels or posts in a run are damaged and the rest of the fence is structurally sound, targeted repairs are usually better value. However, if the posts are beginning to rot at ground level, replacing panels while leaving the posts in place is a short-term fix - the whole run will need to come down within a few years anyway. A fence that is more than 15-20 years old and showing widespread deterioration is almost always cheaper to replace in full than to repair piecemeal over time. We can assess a run honestly and tell you which approach makes financial sense for your specific situation.

Photograph the damage before touching anything, then check whether the downed fence is on your boundary or your neighbour's, because that determines who is responsible for the repair cost. Most standard UK home insurance buildings policies cover storm damage to fences, but many set a low sub-limit (often £500-£1,000) and some exclude fences entirely, so check your policy schedule before assuming you are covered. Temporary measures - securing a loose panel with a batten, or removing a section that is a hazard - are sensible, but do not undertake full repairs until you have spoken to your insurer, as they may want to send an assessor. Cambridge experiences significant storm events in autumn and early spring, and we can usually prioritise emergency call-outs for security or safety-critical damage.

A gravel board is a horizontal board or concrete slab fitted at the base of the fence, between the posts, to sit on or just above the ground - it takes the brunt of soil moisture and grass contact, protecting the more expensive panels above it. Without a gravel board, the bottom of a timber panel sits directly on damp soil and will typically begin to rot within a few years, particularly in the heavier soils of the Cambridge area. Standard fence post spacing in the UK is 1.83 metres (6 feet) centre to centre, matching the width of a standard fence panel. Posts decay fastest at the point where they enter the ground, because that zone cycles between wet and dry; concrete posts or a concrete spur repair system eliminate this problem entirely.

A gate is only as good as its supporting posts - gate posts need to be at least 100mm × 100mm timber or a concrete equivalent, set at least 600mm into the ground (deeper for taller gates), and ideally set in concrete. Hinges should be sized to carry the full weight of the gate; undersized hinges are the most common reason a garden gate sags and fails to close within a year or two. For a gate used by children or near a pool, a self-closing, self-latching hinge mechanism is the practical choice, and a child-resistant latch fitted at adult height meets the relevant safety guidance. Double gates need a secure drop bolt fixed into a ground socket so they cannot be pushed open easily from outside.

We install garden trellis and trellis-topped fence panels as part of most fencing jobs - they are a practical way to add privacy above the 2-metre permitted development limit when used with climbing plants, because planning guidance treats open trellis differently from a solid fence in some circumstances (always verify with your local authority). Pergolas are a separate structure and generally fall within permitted development provided they do not cover more than half the garden area and meet the relevant height limits. Decking is something we can discuss on a job-by-job basis. If you want trellis or a pergola added to a fencing quote, mention it when you book your free site visit and we will price it all together.

Pressure-treated fence timber should be left to dry for at least six months after installation before applying any additional stain or preservative, as fresh treatment repels coatings. After that, a good-quality fence stain or preservative applied every two to three years - ideally in dry weather in late spring or early summer - will significantly extend the life of the timber. Clear any soil, leaves or plant material that accumulates at the base of the panels, as trapped moisture accelerates rot. Painting or staining the end grain of boards (the cut ends) makes a particularly big difference, as end grain absorbs water far more readily than the face of the timber.

Ask for a written, itemised quote that specifies post size, timber grade, panel type, post depth, whether gravel boards are included and what happens to the old fence - a contractor who will not put this in writing is one to avoid. Check that the company has public liability insurance and ask to see a recent local job or speak to a previous customer in your area. Be cautious of very low quotes: below-market pricing usually means thinner timber, shallower posts or UC3 timber used in ground contact where UC4 is needed. Cambridge Fencers is local, we will give you a clear written quote after a free site visit, and we will not pressure you to sign on the day.