Dudley is hilly in places, so ground levels can change along a boundary, and that shapes how a fence is built. Tell us about the garden, particularly if it slopes or steps, and we will get back to you to arrange a visit and talk through the options.
Fencing on sloping ground
A fence on a slope cannot simply follow the ground, or it ends up looking uneven. Lap panels are made flat and rigid, so on a slope they are stepped, with each panel sitting a little higher than the one before and a gap left below that the gravel board must fill. On a steeper Dudley boundary this takes careful measuring before a post goes in.
Closeboard is often the better fit on a hill, because the boards are fixed on site and can follow the slope more smoothly, with the rails angled to match. Either way, we set the posts first and work out the rest from there. We will explain how your fence will look on the slope before we start, so you know what to expect.
Retaining walls, steps and ground levels
Where one garden sits higher than the next, there may be a retaining wall, a bank or a step in the ground along the boundary. A fence cannot hold back soil, and a post set in loose bank can lean over time. We look at what is holding the ground and place the posts in firm soil, usually in concrete, on the stable side.
If a wall is in poor condition we will say so, since a new fence will not fix it. Sometimes the sensible answer is to set the fence on top of the wall or just behind it. Tell us what is there when you get in touch, and we will check it in person before agreeing the job.
Gates, old fence removal and nearby areas
We take away the old fence when we finish, and we can fit a gate into the new run, hung on a heavy post so it stays true on sloping ground. Please check who owns the boundary before work starts. We work across DY1 and also in Tipton, Brierley Hill, Sedgley and Netherton, so just ask if your address is close to Dudley but not quite in it.
Questions about fencing in Dudley
Can you fence a sloping garden in Dudley?
Yes. We step lap panels down the slope or fit closeboard that follows it, with concrete posts set plumb and gravel boards to fill the gaps. We measure the fall along the boundary first so we can tell you how the finished fence will look.
Will my fence lean on a bank or retaining wall?
It should not, if it is built right. We set posts in firm ground in concrete and avoid loose bank. If the wall itself is failing, a new fence will not cure that, and we will tell you before we start.
Do you remove and dispose of the old fence?
Yes, we remove the old panels, posts and rails and take them away. Old concrete in the post holes is the hardest part, so let us know if you know it is there and we will allow for it.
