Fencing Services

Fences That Stay Standing

Fencing in the North East has to deal with the wind. Storms that funnel up the Tees Valley can take down badly-fitted fence panels in a single night, and the sad sight of a row of panels lying flat on a driveway after a winter storm is all too familiar. The cause is almost always inadequate posts: 75mm timber posts shoved into a shallow hole, or concrete-spurred posts where the spur is too short. We do not fit fences that way. We use full-depth concrete-spurred posts or full-length timber posts set in proper concrete to a minimum depth of 600mm, and we make sure the line of the fence is straight and the posts are plumb.

We work on garden fences across Middlesbrough every week. Some are full new installations where we are starting from scratch on a new-build estate; some are replacements after storm damage, with old posts and panels coming out and a complete new fence going in; some are panel-only replacements where the existing posts are sound but a panel or two has blown out. Each is approached differently and quoted accordingly.

Fence Types We Install

There are several common fence types in domestic gardens, each with its own use and aesthetic. The choice depends on what you want from the fence: privacy, security, wind protection, decoration, or some combination of these.

• Closeboard (overlap) panels — the most common 6×6 garden fence
• Featheredge fencing — built on site, more durable than panels
• Picket fences — traditional front-garden look
• Slatted contemporary fencing for modern garden designs
• Trellis topping for additional height and decoration
• Concrete posts and gravel boards for maximum durability
• Timber posts for a more traditional look
• Garden gates: timber, metal and combination styles
• Driveway gates with concrete posts and proper hinges
• Pergolas and arbours
• Cattle and field fencing for larger plots
• Boundary post-and-rail fencing

Posts, Gravel Boards and Foundations

The single most important component of a long-lasting fence is the post. Timber posts rot at the ground line because that is where they are alternately wet and dry. We always specify pressure-treated timber to a UC4 ground-contact treatment level, and we set posts in proper concrete with at least 600mm below ground. For maximum durability, we recommend concrete posts with timber panels: the posts last 50 years or more and the panels can be replaced individually as they age. Gravel boards underneath the panels lift them clear of wet ground and stop the bottom edge rotting.

Setting posts is a craft of its own. The line of posts must be straight along the boundary, the spacing must match the panel size exactly (a 25mm error over five panels gets ugly fast), and each post must be both plumb and at the correct height. We use string lines, levels and measuring tapes throughout, and we are not in a rush. The result is a fence that looks straight and stays straight for the next decade.

Garden Gates and Driveway Gates

Gates need different treatment from fence panels because they have to swing repeatedly without sagging. The hinge side post is the critical one — it takes the full weight of the gate and resists the constant cycle of opening and closing. We use heavy-duty timber posts or concrete posts on the hinge side, oversized hinges sized for the actual weight of the gate, and proper drop bolts on double-leaf driveway gates to take the strain off the hinges when closed. The result is a gate that opens with one finger five years after installation rather than one that drags on the path within six months.

Quotes and Coverage

We provide free site visits and written quotes for all fencing work. Quotes include all materials at trade cost, all labour, post setting and waste removal. Most domestic fencing jobs we can complete within a single day or two. We cover the whole of Middlesbrough and Teesside. Get in touch via the contact form or by email.

Frequently Asked Questions