WALTONS ULTIMATE FENCE PANEL BUYING GUIDE A free guide from
CONTENTS WHY BUY A FENCE?... 3 PLANNING AHEAD... 4 Will I need planning permission?... 4 Check with the neighbours... 4 BOUNDARY FENCES... 5 Lap fencing... 5 Feather edge fencing... 5 Hit-and-miss fencing... 5 Waltons 3ft x 6ft Lap Garden Fence Panels ( 20.49) are easily customised with a lick of paint DECORATIVE STYLES... 6 Lattice topped... 6 Curved... 6 Chevron... 6 INTERNAL FENCING... 7 Picket fences... 7 Hurdles... 7 Screens... 7 FENCE INSTALLATION... 8 How to put up your fence... 8 These rustic 6ft x 4.5ft Natural Woven Willow Panels are just 37.95 each FENCE MAINTENANCE... 9 Treatment types... 9 How to maintain your fence... 9 MORE HELP... 10 This Horizontal Weave With Trellis ( 79.99) will add a touch of class to any garden waltons.co.uk Waltons ultimate guide to buying fence panels 2
WHY BUY A FENCE? From functional boundaries to decorative plant trellis - fencing can transform your garden. People buy fences for all sorts of reasons, but usually, a fence marks the boundary between neighbouring properties, between your garden and the pavement or road, and between your back garden and your neighbour s plot. You may also wish to use fencing within your garden for fencing off decking or patio areas, to hide the bins or screen your veg patch, and to provide shelter around your barbecue zone. Many people also install lattices for growing climbing plants, and screens to hide unsightly walls. Some of you might be looking for a fence for use purely as a decorative feature, others might intend their fence to perform an important role in making home and garden secure and private. If you re thinking of installing or replacing fencing, our guide tells you everything you need to know to get you started. These 6ft x 6ft Lap Panels ( 28.99) are pressure treated for the best protection from weather damage Need to cover an ugly wall? Screening can be unrolled, cut to size and attached in minutes waltons.co.uk Waltons ultimate guide to buying fence panels 3
PLANNING AHEAD Before erecting a new fenced boundary, check if you ll need permission from your local planning authority. Will I need planning permission? If you re replacing an existing fence, you probably won t need to get planning permission to do so provided you don t intend to make the fence higher than it was before. For new fences, you do need planning if your fence: Will be higher than 1m and built next to a road or pavement. Will be higher than 2m if installed anywhere else on your property. You live in a listed building or your home is within the curtilage (enclosure) of a listed building, or the fence will form a boundary with a listed building or its curtilage. Your right to erect a fence, wall or gate has already been cancelled by planners. If you re simply maintaining, altering or improving an existing fence, you don t need to get planning permission as long as you don t make it higher. Neither do you need planning consent to remove a fence, unless the fence is in a conservation area. If you re not sure whether you need planning to erect your new fence, or make changes to an existing one, it s always best to check with planners in your area, especially if you live outside of England, where the rules may be different. Check with the neighbours If you re planning any kind of work that might impact on the people who live next door, it s only neighbourly to check with them first. It s really important to let your neighbours know if you intend to replace or change your boundary fences: You need to make sure the fence is in fact your responsibility and not your neighbour s You must make sure your neighbour is fully on board with your plans. Take the trouble to ask your neighbour s opinion about the design you re thinking of opting for because they have to live with it too. Do tell them how high the fence will be, and when you come to install the new fence, make sure you fully agree on the boundary line. waltons.co.uk Waltons ultimate guide to buying fence panels 4
BOUNDARY FENCES Boundary fences provide security and privacy, ensuring you and your family can enjoy your home and garden in peace. Here the boards are vertically aligned within a frame, with each having an overlapping tapered edge. This kind of fencing needs to be tough, weather resistant, and long lasting. The higher your fence, the more security it affords remember, if you can see out, other people can see in. Here are your main boundary fence options: Lap fencing Another tough fencing option, feather edge fences are an excellent solution for sloping ground. That s because, depending on the design, you can level the top of the fence, and trim the bottom to follow the contours of the land. Feather-edge fences are often easy to maintain because individual boards can simply be removed and replaced when they deteriorate. Feather edge panels should ideally feature top and bottom battons to protect the end grain of the wood. Hit-and-miss fencing Affordable and easy to treat, lap fencing provides great value for money Overlapping horizontal boards secured within a robust frame with additional uprights for extra strength lap fencing is a long lasting fence solution that adds a rustic feel to your garden. Choose from sawn-edge timber for a regular look, or the more rural waney-edge finish where the timber s natural edge remains. Feather edge fencing Hit and miss fencing is found in either vertical or horizontal patterns A very strong fence for windy spots, hit and miss fencing features vertical boards separated by horizontal battens. Neighbouring uprights are secured on opposite sides of the battens to create the hit miss pattern that gives this kind of fence its name. The air gaps created by this sandwich construction allows some of the wind to blow through the fence, reducing the chances that it will blow it over in stormy weather. Affordable and easy to treat, lap fencing provides great value for money Hit-and-miss fencing can also be horizontally aligned, creating a woven look which is also great for growing climbing plants against with the hit and miss planking providing plenty of gaps for vines and creepers to entwine. waltons.co.uk Waltons ultimate guide to buying fence panels 5
DECORATIVE STYLES As well as providing adequate security and privacy, boundary fencing also makes an attractive garden feature. Here are some of the most common style additions that take basic boundary fences to a new level: Lattice topped Go for convex curves, concave curves or, to create a wavy effect, choose a combination of the two. Selecting fence panels with curved tops breaks the fence line up a bit, creating a look that s easier on the eye. Chevron Lattice is perfect for climbing plants and hanging baskets The chevron s criss-cross design makes for a fence panel that s both striking and sturdy Fence panels with latticework incorporated into the upper section provide a higher screen without blocking that all important sunlight. Lattice work is also a good option if you d like to grow climbing plants against your fence, although it s always best to avoid loading too much weight onto the top of the fence in case it makes the structure unstable. Curved This strong fence is made by attaching panels across a wooden frame in a diagonal direction. Splints are then layered diagonally in the opposing direction to create an attractive chevron design. Can t decide? You need not settle on one style, there are plenty of both decorative and functional hybrids to match any style of garden. Choose from gentle curves to dramatic waves - an elegant solution for garden fencing. Trellis: a gardeners dream for growing climbing plants waltons.co.uk Waltons ultimate guide to buying fence panels 6
INTERNAL FENCING Putting up fences within the confines of your garden is a great way to create interest by splitting your plot into different areas. Picket fences They re a great way to obscure your veg patch, or compost heap, hide the bins, or screen the oil tank. Screens Ideal for animal runs, allotments and more Garden screens are a quick and cost effective way to cover unsightly boundaries A classic fence style, picket fences are a great way to separate your patio area from the lawn, or to keep the kids contained in their play area. It s a type of fence that also lends itself to front gardens, where its low height and gaps between upright planks allow passers by to enjoy your garden as they walk past your house. Hurdles Garden screens can be made from willow, bamboo or other materials, and are perfect for improving the appearance of walls and fences. Made by securing withies together in a vertical arrangement, you can buy screens in various lengths and finishes. Simply cut them to size, and secure to any suitable upright feature. Gates As with any enclosure, you need to consider access both for people and vehicles, bikes and other equipment. Rustic and eco-friendly, traditional hurdles blend in with nature seamlessly Made from woven willow withies, hurdles are a traditional fencing method that provides an attractive and versatile divider. Whether you go for single or double gates depends on what you need to get in or out of your garden the most popular solution is to opt for gates which match your fencing, something which is easily achievable thanks to the fact that gates are available in all the most popular styles. Waltons hurdles are tightly woven so that even if you cut the hurdles to fit the space, they won t fall apart. waltons.co.uk Waltons ultimate guide to buying fence panels 7
FENCE INSTALLATION Waltons fence panels arrive to your door ready for installation, with no specialist tools required. How to put up your fence Putting up a garden fence should be easily within the capabilities of anyone reasonably fit and with average DIY skills. Nevertheless, it s a job easier with two pairs of hands rather than one, and does take a bit of care to get right. If in doubt, it s best to get a professional in to do the job. You need to: Prepare the ground for the fence by clearing away weeds and debris to give you room to work. Mark out the fence line using pegs and string. Measure up, remembering to include the width of your fence poles in your calculations. Install the posts to a depth of about 2 feet - make sure you buy poles that are long enough to do the job, and do use your spirit level to make sure they re straight. Attach your fence panels to the posts Add finishing touches such as post caps, and apply finishes. If you d like more in-depth information to help you with the process of putting up your fence, we ve written a handy guide to erecting a fence which explains the job in more detail. And better still, there s a video to provide you with an example installation. Watch our 5 minute video guide to fence installation waltons.co.uk Waltons ultimate guide to buying fence panels 8
FENCE MAINTENANCE Fence panels need to stand up to the elements. Check and treat them regularly to keep them at their best. Treatment types You ll want your new fence to stand the test of time. For this reason it s important to consider the kind of treatment applied to your fence before you buy it. Pressure treated: Timber treated by forcing anti-rot chemicals into the wood under pressure is perhaps the best way to ensure your garden fence lasts for a long time. Even so, you ll need to top up the wood s protection by regularly applying a good wood stain. Dip treated: As the name suggests, dip treated timber is first immersed in a wood treatment product. This method of protecting wood isn t as long lasting as pressure treatment so it s important to treat or paint dip-treated products yearly. Waltons fence panels come with a 10 year anti-rot guarantee, designed to offer many years of service. Our fence panels come dip treated as standard, but if you re looking for extra tough fencing, we ve a wide range of pressure treated panels, too. How to maintain your fence Your new fence is well worth looking after, and regular maintenance will extend its lifespan significantly. Here s how to care for your fence: Check it regularly for damage or signs of rot, replacing damaged planks or panels as soon as you notice there s a problem. Do remember to clean dirt off your fence as it binds moisture to the surface, encouraging the growth of rot-inducing mould. Maintain good airflow around your fence. Treat the wood regularly with quality wood stain. These small jobs go a long way to keeping your fence in tip top condition for longer. Now you know everything you need to know about choosing and installing your fence, all you need to do is select the best to suit your needs. waltons.co.uk Waltons ultimate guide to buying fence panels 9
MORE HELP Experiment with colours to help your fence blend in or become a focal point of your garden You now have all the information you need to choose the right fencing for your garden. Follow our tips for care and maintenance and you ll enjoy your new purchase for many happy years to come. For more help choosing your ideal fencing call our sales experts on 0800 029 1000 or visit waltons.co.uk. Resources Waltons help pages Waltons blog This charming Feather Edge Garden Gate ( 39.95) creates an inviting walkway for visitors And join us on social media: For new fencing visit waltons.co.uk Prices shown are correct at time of publication. For latest prices visit waltons.co.uk. Any modification to a new Waltons shed can void your warranty. To create stunning boundaries inkeeping with nature, see this Natural Woven Hazel Fencing ( 30.95) waltons.co.uk Waltons ultimate guide to buying fence panels 10