What Happens on the Day Your New Fence Is Installed?

Before the Team Arrives

Most homeowners feel a little uncertain about what to expect on fence installation day. Knowing what happens in advance makes the whole process much smoother, so here is a clear, honest account of how a typical day unfolds.

A day or two before work starts, it is worth walking your boundary and clearing anything that could slow things down. Move garden furniture, potted plants and any children's toys well away from the fence line. If there are overhanging shrubs or climbing plants on the old fence panels, cutting them back yourself beforehand saves time on the day.

Check the forecast. Cambridge and the surrounding villages can see wet, heavy ground after prolonged rain, and waterlogged soil makes it harder to achieve solid post depths. If the ground is particularly soft, let us know and we can discuss the best approach for your situation.

Arrival and Setting Out

We will agree a start time with you beforehand. On arrival, the first job is to set out the fence line accurately. This means marking post positions along the boundary so that panels sit level and the line runs true from end to end. Accurate setting out matters much more than people realise - a small error at the start compounds over the full length of a long run.

If there is an existing fence to remove, that comes next. Old concrete spurs, rotten posts and broken panels are loaded out and taken away for disposal, so you are not left with a pile of debris in your garden.

Post Installation - the Most Critical Stage

Posts are the structural heart of any fence, and getting them right is what separates a fence that lasts from one that leans within a couple of years. In most Cambridge gardens we use either concrete spurs or direct-set timber posts in concrete, depending on the ground conditions and the fence style chosen.

Post depth is particularly important for taller panels. As a general guide, a third of the post length should be below ground level, though this varies with soil type and panel height. Concrete is mixed and poured around each post, and the posts are checked for plumb - vertical alignment - before the concrete begins to set.

This is the stage where patience matters. Fresh concrete needs time. On a typical day, posts are set in the morning and panels are fixed once the installer is satisfied the posts are stable. This sequencing is normal and should not cause concern.

If you are having a new gate fitted alongside your fence, take a look at our gate installation service - the gate posts are set at the same time and positioned to allow the correct clearance for the gate leaf.

Fitting Panels, Rails and Finishing Details

Once posts are secure, panels or rails and pales are fixed into place. The method depends on the fence type. Closeboard fencing, for example, is built up from individual feather-edge boards fixed to horizontal arris rails, which gives a stronger result than a flat panel and suits exposed gardens particularly well. Panel fencing uses pre-made sections slotted or screwed directly to the posts.

Gravel boards are fitted at the base to keep timber panels clear of ground contact, which extends the life of the fence noticeably. If you have opted for metal fencing such as steel railings, the process differs slightly - posts may be set into concrete or bolted to existing hard surfaces, and the infill sections are fixed once the posts have cured fully.

All cut ends of timber should be treated with a suitable end-grain preservative on the day of fitting. Treated timber sold in the UK typically carries a use-class rating that indicates what it is suitable for, but treating cut ends remains best practice regardless of the timber specification.

For guidance on whether your new fence requires planning permission, the Planning Portal sets out the rules clearly. In England, a fence needs no planning permission if it is no higher than 2 metres, or no higher than 1 metre where it sits next to a highway used by vehicles. Conservation areas, listed buildings and Article 4 directions can change this, so always check if you are unsure.

Finishing Up and Leaving the Site

At the end of the day, the site is cleared of offcuts, packaging and any soil disturbed during digging. Your garden should be left tidy. We will walk the finished fence with you so you can check alignment, panel fit and gate operation before we leave.

If you have spotted any issues with existing panels elsewhere in your garden while work has been underway, ask about our fence repairs service - it is often practical to address smaller repairs on the same visit.

New timber will weather and change colour as it settles in, which is completely normal. Applying a fence treatment or stain after the timber has had a few weeks to dry out is good practice and helps maintain the wood over time.

Get a Free Quote for Your Cambridge Garden

Whether you are in Great Shelford, Histon, Newmarket or anywhere across the Cambridge area, we are happy to visit, measure up and give you a clear, written quote. Contact us today for your free local fencing quote and we will talk you through the options that suit your property and boundary.