Fencing & Boundary InstallationDurham, Darlington & StocktonPosts Set Right, Lines Set Straight

It is tempting to focus on panel quality when choosing a new fence, but the panel is the part that is easiest to replace if it fails. The post is what everything hangs off, and a post that is set too shallow, or bedded in loose rubble rather than poured concrete, will start to move under wind loading long before the timber itself shows any sign of wear. Taller close board and feather edge panels in particular catch a significant amount of wind, and County Durham's exposed, open sites see their fair share of it.

We set posts to a depth appropriate for the fence height and the ground conditions on site, using poured concrete rather than compacted rubble or hardcore. On more exposed sites, or where fencing runs along a boundary that takes the worst of the prevailing wind, we increase post spacing support or depth accordingly rather than applying a single approach regardless of exposure.

Very few gardens are perfectly flat, and a fence installed without accounting for slope either leaves gaps under the panels at the low end or forces awkward, uneven panel heights along the run. We set the run out to line and level first, then either step the panels, installing them level but at slightly different heights along the slope, leaving small triangular gaps at each post, or rake them, angling the panel itself to follow the slope continuously. Which approach suits a particular boundary depends on the panel type, the severity of the slope and the look wanted.

Where a new fence is replacing an old one, we remove the existing structure fully, including any old concrete post bases left in the ground, rather than trying to build around them. Leaving old foundations in place might save time on the day but it constrains where new posts can go and often means compromising on spacing or line just to avoid digging out old concrete.

Close board fencing, built from overlapping feather edge boards fixed to horizontal arris rails between posts, gives a solid, private and durable boundary that suits most residential gardens across Durham, Darlington and Stockton. Panel fencing, using pre-made lattice, waney edge or featheredge panels, is quicker to install and more cost-effective, suiting boundaries where budget and speed matter more than the very longest lifespan. Post-and-rail fencing suits paddocks, field boundaries and more rural settings where containing livestock or marking a boundary matters more than privacy.

Timber posts are the standard choice and, set correctly in concrete, give a long service life, while concrete posts are available where longevity and low maintenance matter more than appearance, often used alongside timber panels to combine the strength of concrete with the look of a timber fence line. Trellis toppers can be added to increase height for privacy or to support climbing plants without needing a full extra panel height in solid timber.

A gate puts a very different demand on its supporting post compared with a fence panel. Every time a gate opens and closes, it applies leverage to the hanging post, and over thousands of openings that leverage will find any weakness in how the post was set. We size and set gate posts specifically for this, using appropriately sized concrete-set posts capable of taking the repeated load without gradually leaning out of square.

We fit gates including all necessary ironmongery, hinges, latches and closers where wanted, and make sure the gate hangs level and closes squarely against its post from day one, rather than needing adjustment within the first few months of use.