Keep pets and children safe
When a fence comes down, your garden is open to the street or your neighbour's for a while. A dog can slip out in seconds, and a small child might wander towards digging tools or stacked timber. Plan ahead: keep pets indoors or with a friend for the day, and make sure children understand that the garden is a work area.
Think about gates as well. If you have a dog that barks at strangers, tell us so we can plan around it. Cats can bolt through a gap, and rabbits or chickens in a run need moving well away from the work. If anyone at home has a sleeping baby or works nights, mention that too, because noise and timing can sometimes be adjusted.
Clear the line and the route
Move everything that stands near the fence: bins, trampolines, planters, play equipment, garden chairs and stacked bricks. Fencers need space to remove old panels, dig holes and carry new ones. Walsall's older terraces often have shared passages, so make sure yours is free and any gate on it opens easily.
On estates, side gates and garages can get in the way. Look at the path from the road to the back garden and ask yourself whether a long panel could be carried along it. If it cannot, tell us in advance. Likewise, flag any low-hanging branches, wires or washing lines that cross the route. Uneven paving, steps and loose slabs are worth pointing out as well, since they are easy to trip on when someone is carrying a heavy post.
Neighbours and waste
A fence is rarely just your business, and a polite word with the people on each side is worth the effort. Let them know when we are coming, and that we may need to work close to the line from their side. If they are away, a note through the door helps. Good communication prevents most problems before they start, and neighbours who know what to expect are usually far more relaxed about a bit of noise and the odd van parked nearby.
Decide what happens to the old materials. We can often take away the rubbish, but if you would like to keep timber for the fire or the shed, say so first. Make sure there is somewhere to stack waste temporarily, away from doors and paths, so that nobody trips over it during the work.
Quick tips
- Put dogs, cats and small pets somewhere secure for the whole job, because an open boundary is an easy escape route.
- Explain to children that the garden is a work area, and agree a place indoors where they can watch safely.
- Walk from road to garden carrying a long plank, or imagine doing so, to spot any bends or gates that will not allow panels through.
- Leave a note for neighbours who are away, saying when work is planned and that we may need to stand on their side.
If you are in Walsall, anywhere in the WS postcode area, and want to talk through preparation for your fencing job, call us or send a photo with the fence location. We also work in Bloxwich and Aldridge, and there is no pressure at all.
Frequently asked questions
How do I keep pets and children safe while the fence is down?
Once panels come out, the garden is open to the street or next door. Keep dogs, cats and small pets indoors or with a friend, move rabbits or chickens well away, and explain to children that the garden is a work area.
What should I tell the fencers before work starts in Walsall?
Flag anything that could affect the work: a dog that barks at strangers, a baby sleeping or someone working nights, low branches, wires, uneven paving or steps. Tell us too if a shared passage is used, and make sure its gate opens easily.
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