Fencing · Cheltenham & the Cotswolds
Closeboard, featheredge, slatted, hit-and-miss and bespoke timber boundaries. Concrete-set 600mm minimum, pressure-treated graded timber, galvanised fixings - built to stand through Cotswold winters, not to look good for a season.
Boundary work coordinated with neighbours, party-wall awareness and full ground-condition surveys before quote.
Overview
Garden fencing is the installation of vertical timber, composite or metal boundaries on concrete-set posts, providing security, privacy, screening and definition of property lines. Quality of materials, post depth and fixing chemistry determines whether the fence lasts 5 years or 20.
Homeowners replacing storm-damaged or end-of-life boundaries, dividing newly extended gardens, adding privacy from neighbouring properties or roads, or installing pet-secure perimeters. Particularly suited to Cheltenham terraces where neighbour coordination matters and Cotswold properties needing rural-style boundaries.
After storm damage (Storm Eunice 2022 and Ciarán 2023 took out an estimated 40% of Gloucestershire's fencing), when an existing fence rocks or leans, when buying a property with deteriorated boundaries, or when planning a garden redesign that needs new perimeters before hard landscaping starts.
A fence is 80% post and 20% panel. The visible panel is what most quotes describe; the post depth, concrete mix and fixing detail is what determines whether it stays vertical through a Cotswold winter. Professional installation means proper post-hole depth (600mm+), correct concrete mix (postcrete or wet C20), and galvanised fixings rated for treated timber.
The cost of getting it wrong
Fence failures are predictable and almost universally avoidable. Three failure modes account for the vast majority of replacement work - and all three trace back to corner-cutting at install.
Posts set less than 600mm deep, or set in soil/gravel instead of concrete, work loose within 2–3 years. Once a post moves, the rail-to-post fixing fails and the panel sags.
Untreated or under-treated timber set in standing water (no drainage below the post) rots through at ground level within 3–5 years. The post snaps in the next high wind, taking panels with it.
Bright steel nails and screws used in treated timber react with the timber preservative (copper-based), rust through within 18 months, and the panel detaches from the rail. Galvanised or stainless only.
The Millpond Process
Confirm boundary line, identify neighbour party, check soil type and any underground services. Soil-test for clay, peat or rock affecting post-setting.
Existing fence removed, posts dug or broken out, debris removed under our Waste Carrier Licence.
Holes dug to 600mm minimum (longer for tall fences). Gravel drainage layer at base. Posts plumbed and set in postcrete or wet C20 concrete to manufacturer cure time.
Cants and rails fixed with galvanised fixings to graded pressure-treated timber. Capping rail and gravel board (concrete or timber) installed to spec.
Site cleared, photos taken, care guide and 5-year workmanship guarantee provided. Optional staining or pre-finishing offered.
What you actually get
Concrete-set, pressure-treated, galvanised-fixed fencing routinely lasts 20+ years - twice the industry average.
Higher post-spec, hit-and-miss panel options for high-wind sites, and concrete gravel boards prevent rot and storm-related failures.
Slatted, hit-and-miss and decorative trellis-top options provide privacy without the prison-yard aesthetic of solid closeboard.
We coordinate with neighbouring properties on shared boundaries, document the agreement and avoid post-install disputes.
No gaps at the gravel board, no climb-able horizontal rails on the inside, gate hardware rated for daily use.
Sound boundary fencing is the second-most-cited item on RICS Home Buyer Reports affecting saleability - after roof condition.
Materials, methods & variations
Fencing specification is more involved than it appears. The blocks below cover the variables that determine a 5-year versus 20-year fence - and where most installs cut the corner that costs the homeowner.
Concrete slotted posts: 50-year life, support timber panels, cost 30–40% more upfront but eliminate post-rot failure mode. Pressure-treated timber posts (UC4 grade, 100x100mm minimum): 15–20-year life, traditional appearance. Metal posts (e.g. DuraPost): galvanised steel, 25-year life, modern aesthetic, expensive.
Closeboard (vertical featheredge) - strongest, most private, traditional Cotswold style. Hit-and-miss - 50% airflow, ideal for high-wind sites, modern look. Slatted (horizontal or vertical) - contemporary, semi-transparent. Lap panels - budget option, 8–10 year typical life, rarely recommended.
Up to 2m: permitted development on most domestic boundaries. Adjacent to highway: 1m maximum without planning. Conservation areas and listed buildings: often require consent - we flag at quote stage. Trellis or post extensions can take effective screening to 2.5m+ without planning in many cases.
Concrete gravel boards: prevent timber-to-ground contact, eliminate the primary rot path, 25-year life. Timber gravel boards: cheaper, replaceable, 8–10 year life. We specify concrete as standard on closeboard fences - the cost difference pays back inside the first replacement cycle.
All fixings galvanised or stainless - bright steel is incompatible with pressure-treated timber. Timber: UC4 graded pressure-treated to BS 8417, minimum 12-year warranty. Cut ends sealed with end-grain preservative on every cut.
Field gates, pedestrian gates, double gates, automated gates - each requires hung-and-latched correctly with rated hardware. Drop bolts, slam locks, automated openers (Came, Nice, BFT) coordinated with electrical first-fix during the build.
Questions answered
Still unsure? Call 07834 619294 and speak with the team direct - no call centre, no scripts.
Fencing is priced per linear metre after a free on-site survey — quoted to the access, ground and existing structures we find.
Minimum 600mm for a standard 1.8m fence, 750mm for 2m fences, 900mm+ for gateposts. In every case set in postcrete or wet concrete with a gravel drainage base. Under 600mm is industry-standard corner-cutting that fails within 3 years.
Deeds rarely state. Common convention: posts on your side = your fence; smooth (good) side faces the neighbour. We check Land Registry plans and coordinate with neighbours before any boundary work, documented in writing.
Yes - repair and single-panel replacement is part of what we do. Honest assessment: if the posts are still sound, we replace just the panel. If posts are loose or rotting, we'll quote the full run rather than putting good money after bad.
Yes - single or double leaf automated gates with Came, Nice or BFT openers, intercom, key-fob and safety-edge integration. Electrical first-fix and final commission coordinated by qualified electrician.
A typical garden boundary (20–30m) is 2–3 working days, including demolition and waste removal. Larger projects scale accordingly; gates and automation add 1–2 days.
Modern slotted concrete posts in a grey or buff finish are visually subtle and largely hidden by the panels and capping. Photos of completed work supplied at quote. They are the right call for longevity on long-stay properties.
5 years on workmanship (post-setting, panel fixing, gate hanging). Materials warranty per manufacturer (typically 12–15 years on UC4 treated timber, 25+ years on concrete posts).
Genuine workmanship failures (post-pull-out from inadequate setting, fixing failure) are repaired free. Genuine storm acts-of-god (tree falls on fence) are an insurance matter - we'll provide a free estimate to support the claim.
A preview of our work
On-site survey, accurate measurements, written specification, itemised pricing and a firm start date. No subcontracted estimators, no pressure, no surprise add-ons mid-build.
Free on-site survey, free written quote
