Think about how materials get in
The first question on a terraced street is how long panels and posts reach the back garden. Many homes in Handsworth have a shared alley, a narrow side return or no side access at all. If everything must come through the hallway, please clear it of coats, shoe racks and anything fragile, and let us know in advance so we can plan to carry the materials in smaller loads.
If there is an alley, check that it is not blocked by bins, bicycles or parked vehicles, and that any gate onto it will open. Where a shared passage belongs to several households, a quick message to those neighbours is sensible. Measure the narrowest point if you can, because it helps us decide how to bring posts and panels through.
Make space in a small garden
Small gardens fill up fast, and a fence cannot be changed while furniture, pots and bikes sit against it. Move everything at least a metre away from the line, or stack it at one end of the garden where it will not be in the way. Washing lines and rotary driers often attach near the boundary, so take those down if they are close.
Plants need a plan. Climbers grown on the old fence can be cut back or carefully unpinned, and tubs can be moved to the patio or the front. Lawn and borders will get trodden on, so lift anything delicate. If something is truly precious, tell the fencer. It is far easier to protect a rose than to apologise to one.
Neighbours, noise and rubbish
With homes packed closely together, a shared fence affects more people than the one paying for it. Let both neighbours know when the work is happening, and whether we may need to work from their side to fix posts or tidy the line. Digging and cutting make some noise, so a friendly warning goes a long way.
Decide where the old fence will go. Rotten panels and broken posts take up a surprising amount of room, and a small terraced garden has little space to stack them. We can usually remove the waste, but tell us in advance, and mention if any parking restrictions on your street might affect where the van can stand.
Quick tips
- Measure the narrowest point between the street and your garden so we can plan how long panels and posts will be carried in.
- Clear the hallway or alley completely if materials must pass through, and protect floors and fragile items before work starts.
- Take down washing lines, drying frames and hanging baskets near the boundary the evening before, not while the crew is waiting.
- Tell your neighbours which day work is planned and ask whether anything of theirs is attached to or leaning on the old fence.
If you are in Handsworth, in the B20 or B21 area, and want to talk through access or preparation, call us or send a photo showing the fence location. We also work in Perry Barr and Smethwick, and we will happily give honest advice before you decide anything.
Frequently asked questions
How do panels reach a Handsworth back garden with no side access?
Where there is no side path, materials may need to come through the house or along a shared alley. Clear the hallway of coats and fragile items, make sure alley gates open, and tell us in advance so we can carry smaller loads.
Where does the old fence go in a small terraced garden?
Rotten panels and broken posts take up more room than you would expect, and a small Handsworth garden has little space to stack them. Tell us beforehand whether you want the waste taken away, and mention any parking restrictions that might affect where the van stands.
Fencing contractors in Handsworth · All advice guides