New Fence Installation in Sawston

When a fence tells you something is wrong

A fence rarely fails overnight. The warning signs appear gradually, and most homeowners in Sawston notice them but aren't sure whether they're looking at a repair job or a full replacement. This page is about helping you read those signs correctly so you make the right call before the problem gets worse.

The most obvious sign is a post that has started to lean. A single leaning post can sometimes be reset, but when two or more are moving in the same direction, it usually means the post footings were either too shallow or the concrete around them has broken down. Posts set in solid concrete without drainage can actually fail faster than those packed with postcrete and gravel, because standing water works its way down and rots the timber at the base.

Rot at the base: the most common cause of fence failure

Timber rot at ground level is responsible for the majority of fence failures in domestic gardens. It happens where a post sits in soil that stays wet for long periods, especially where the ground is clay-heavy or where a flower bed or lawn keeps moisture pressed against the wood. The rot is often invisible until a post snaps cleanly in a bout of wind.

Pressure-treated timber slows this process significantly, but it doesn't stop it if posts are installed without adequate drainage. A good installation digs the post hole to the correct depth for the post length (typically a third of the total post length below ground), adds a layer of gravel at the base for drainage, and uses a post mix or concrete that is set proud of the ground and finished with a slope so water sheds away from the timber rather than pooling around it.

Untreated or partially treated timber, which is unfortunately still sold in some DIY sheds, can show visible rot within three or four years in a typical garden setting. Fully pressure-treated posts, used correctly, should last considerably longer.

Panels blowing through, warping or splitting

Fence panels that bow, warp or shed their facing boards are often a sign of cheap materials rather than age. Thin, low-density panels tend to absorb moisture unevenly and the facing boards split away from the frame. This is particularly common in panels that are described as "featherboard" but are actually made with undersized or irregular timber that doesn't grip the frame properly.

Warping in close-board fencing is a different problem. Individual boards that cup or twist are usually caused by timber that wasn't properly dried before use or was installed when wet. Once a board has warped it won't flatten out; the only fix is replacement. When several boards on the same run start moving, it's worth checking whether the arris rails they're fixed to are themselves sagging or cracking, which will undermine the whole panel regardless of how good the boards are.

Panel damage from roots, neighbours' vegetation and impact

Garden fences also suffer from plant pressure. Tree roots lifting posts, ivy pulling at panels and neighbouring shrubs pushing through the back of a close-board run are all genuine causes of structural damage. Before any new fence is fitted, these need to be dealt with at the same time - fitting new panels against the same root or the same encroaching hedge simply repeats the problem a few years later.

Impact damage from falling branches is usually obvious, but the resulting lean in a post is sometimes assumed to be the only harm done. In practice, a significant impact can crack a post or shift its footing without visibly tilting it, and a post in that state will fail early. When we carry out a pre-installation survey, we check the full run, not just the section that's visually damaged.

Checking your boundaries before you order

Before any new fence installation in Sawston, it's worth getting clarity on which boundary belongs to which property. The deeds or title register will usually indicate this, but where they're unclear, a conversation with your neighbour before work starts avoids disputes after. Party fence work has its own legal framework under the Party Wall etc. Act 1996, and while most residential fence replacements fall outside this (a fence on your own land, not a shared wall), it's worth checking if the line is uncertain.

We install on your land, set back fractionally from the legal boundary if needed to ensure posts can be dug and the fence properly finished on both sides. We can advise on this at the survey stage.

What a new fence installation involves

We install timber panel, close-board, picket and post-and-rail fencing. The right choice depends on what the fence needs to do - privacy, boundary marking, containing children or pets, or simply tidying a garden edge.

• Timber panel fencing is the most popular choice for garden privacy. Standard panels run in 1.8 metre widths and come in heights from 0.9 metres up to 1.8 metres.
• Close-board fencing is stronger and better suited to longer runs exposed to wind. Individual featherboard boards are nailed to arris rails fixed between posts, giving a solid, even finish on the garden side.
• Picket fencing suits front gardens or boundaries where you want a clear edge without a solid barrier.
• Post-and-rail fencing is used where a boundary needs marking on open ground without a visual screen.

All posts we use are pressure-treated. Where ground conditions require it, we use concrete spurs or metal post supports rather than direct burial to improve the longevity of the installation.

Typical costs for fence installation near Sawston

New close-board fencing typically costs in the region of £80 to £120 per metre supply and fit, depending on post spacing, ground conditions and fence height. Timber panel fencing on straightforward flat ground generally runs between £60 and £100 per metre supply and fit. These figures will vary with the length of the run - a short run of five or six metres costs more per metre than a longer run of twenty or thirty metres, because the setting-out and access time is spread across fewer panels.

Disposal of old fencing adds a small amount to the total. If the ground is hard, stony or close to other structures, digging will take longer and this is reflected in the price. We provide itemised quotes so you can see what you're paying for before you commit.

Ask us to survey your fence run in Sawston

If you're seeing any of the warning signs described above - leaning posts, rotting bases, warping panels or lifting rails - call us to arrange a site visit. We'll look at the full run, give you an honest assessment of what needs replacing and what can be kept, and provide a clear price before any work is booked.