Compare like with like
If you ask two or three contractors for a price, make sure they are pricing the same job. Give each the same length, height and style, and ask each to list what is included. One reply might cover gravel boards and removal of the old fence while another leaves them out, which makes a lower price look better than it is. Ask for a plain breakdown so you are comparing the same thing across every reply.
On a longer Solihull boundary, small differences in specification multiply along the run. Ask about panel thickness, how the panels are fixed, and what finish or treatment the timber has. Ask whether post caps are supplied and whether the posts are the same type throughout. If a contractor can answer these quickly and clearly, it suggests they have thought about your garden rather than a generic job.
Posts and gravel boards on a longer run
Ask which type of post will be used and how deep it will be set. Timber, concrete and slotted posts all have a place, but a tall fence in an exposed back garden needs firm footings. Ask how far apart the posts will be and whether any are being set in concrete. The answers show whether the contractor is working to a method or improvising as they go, which is worth knowing before the digging starts.
Gravel boards deserve a question of their own. They sit under the panels, keep the timber off damp soil and are much easier to swap out than a full panel. Ask what they are made of, whether they are included, and how they will cope if the ground along your Solihull garden rises or falls. A fence without them can look fine at first and decay at the bottom sooner than it should.
Old fences, boundaries, payment and contact
Ask whether the old fence will be removed and the waste taken away, and how the boundary line will be agreed. With larger gardens, the line can run past hedges, trees and old posts that no longer mean much. This is general information only, so check your deeds, ask your local council or take advice if unsure, and talk to the neighbours who share the boundary.
Last, ask how and when payment is made and what is put in writing. Ask what the arrangement is if the job runs longer than expected through no fault of anyone, and how to get hold of the contractor once the work is finished. A good answer on contact afterwards is just as important as a good answer on materials.
Quick tips
- Give every contractor the same length, height and style, then ask each to list what is included so replies match up.
- Ask about panel thickness, timber treatment, post caps and how panels are fixed, not only the overall look.
- On long runs, ask how gravel boards will follow rises and falls in the ground along the boundary.
- Ask for payment terms and the afterwards contact route in writing, and keep them with your photos of the job.
If you are in Solihull or the surrounding B91, B92 and B93 area, call or send a photo of the fence and where it is, and we will go through these questions with you. There is no pressure at all. We also work in Shirley and Knowle.
Frequently asked questions
How can I compare replies from several contractors fairly?
Give each the same length, height and style, and ask each to list what is included. One reply may cover gravel boards and old fence removal while another leaves them out. On a longer Solihull boundary, small differences in specification add up along the whole run.
What should I ask about posts on a tall fence in an open garden?
Ask which type of post is used, how deep it is set, how far apart the posts are and whether they go in concrete. A tall fence in an exposed Solihull back garden needs firm footings, and the answers show whether the contractor works to a method.
Fencing contractors in Solihull · All advice guides