Fence Builders Ipswich

Fence builders first step of building a fence?

• Fence builders at How Which Fence expertly advise cost effectivness of building and fixing a fence for the greatest longevity.
• Making a list of specifications you require of a fence helps to ensure perfect satisfaction.
• Which is my fence? How high can I have my fence? Dose my neighbour have joint ownership of the fence?
• Should I fix or replace my fence? Can a fence be fixed? Can I afford to replace the fence? Does it cost much to fix a fence? How much dose a post fix cost? What can I afford?
• How long is the fence? How wide are fence panels? How many fence posts will I need? How many panels will I need?
• How high can my fence be? Do I need planning permission? How much privacy do I want from a fence?
• Which fence posts are best? This is probably the most important question which should be asked. How long do fence posts last? Is it cost effective to have a wooden post, concrete post, stainless steel post or a galvanised post supporting my fence? What wood is best for a wooden fence post? What is a Hazard Class 4 fence post? How many years do wooden fence posts last for? What is a ground contact wooden post? Which fence posts need the least maintenance?
• How deep should a fence post hole be? What type of soil will the posts be in? If the soil structure is soft, the soil is sandy, or the fence will need retaining properties at the base of the fence then more thought will be needed to assure the stability of the post. A second option is to have a light weight fence which the find can pass through which will put less resistance on the posts and the effects of soft ground conditions.
• What type of fencing is best?  Which fence is best for my garden? Where dose the sun shine in the garden? Is my garden fence open to strong winds? Do I need a fence which is wind tolerant? Which fence panels are best for a garden? Which fence style last the longest? Will the garden be starved of light with a high fence? Can I get fence panels which let light in the garden better?  Do I want fence panels? Which garden fence panels are best?
• Which will last the longest?  Which type of fence will give me the greatest longevity for my money?
• Which fence rails last the longest? Which fence pails are strongest? Which fence rails do fence panels have? 
• Which fixings will last the longest? Which fixings will keep looking good after weathering for many years? What are the best nails for a fence? Which are the best screws to use on a fence? Which are the best screws to use for a gate? Which are the best screws for gate hinges? 

Is it easy to build your own fence?

• What tools do I need to erect a fence? Tools needed are a pencil, set square, a level, spade, and a bucket with water, post scoops and a bag of post mix.
• What fence nails do I need? The best nails are stainless steel ring nails.
• Is it cheaper to build your own fence? Building your own fence saves approximately half of the cost which a fence builder would charge.
• What is the cheapest way to build a fence? A post wire fence is the cheapest fence style. Firstly start by purchasing the best fence posts for a garden fence as wood often fails during ground contact within 10 years.

How do you fix a post to a wall?

• Do I want a wall mounted post?  A wooden wall mounted post will last longer than a wooden post in the ground.
• Fixing Wall mounted posts should be fixed securely with a wall fixing like an Anchor bolt. These strong durable metal fixings are embedded into a drilled hole in the wall. The anchor bolts will give a very secure fix for a wall mounted post once the nut on the bolt have been tightened up.
• Wall mounted posts for garden panels on a bungalow having an 1800millimetre high fence will need a wooden wall mount that a side can be removed to change the panel when desired. 
• Fence Post advice is on the fence post page

Marking out the post centres

Post centres will depend on the panel and post width. For the best result:

• Fix a string line 150mm from ground level at the base of each end post.
• Cut a length of timber the same size as the panel or rail length so you have a template length marker.
• Also cut a small section of timber to the post thickness.
• Mark out the post line using the 2 cut sections of timber and hammer a stake in at each centre point where a post will be next to the bottom string line.
• Dig the rest of the holes. The rest of the posts can either be set before starting to attach the panels or you can add a panel after setting each post and then another post, repeating this method till completion which is the preferred method.
• Always start at the top of a slope and work downhill.

How do I fix the rails to the post?

• Using a fence bracket is a costly way of attaching the rails to a post. The simplest method is using nails but the last 50mm of a fence rail is occasionally prone to splitting when a nail is hammered in.
• Rails need corrosion resistant fixing which a 100 millimetres galvanised nail is normally used.  Exterior grade screw such as a stainless steel or galvanised screw can also be used but are more costly. 
• Some companies use a flat plate to clamp the rails to the fence which is a great method until the timber shrinks I 10-15 years. 
• Arris rail brackets are used for inline fencing and are attached to the post on the inside edge with galvanised nails. The rail is placed into the bracket and fixed in with several nails.
• An S Bracket can be used for Cant rail or Square cut timber
• Galvanised fixings are acceptable for fencing but if you are close to coastal areas Stainless Steel fixings are a must
• Stainless Steel fixings are the best to use on your fencing project but cost about double the price.

How do I make my fence last longer?

Why paint a fence?

• Pressure treatment preservatives used to protect the wooden components of a fence are nearly always organic. The real nasty properties used to protect timber have been removed as they were deemed environmentally unfriendly. This is why there is a need to put a good quality protection layer on partically the posts to reduce water penetration. 
• Fence posts would benefit if they were treated with a good water sealer to reduce water saturation. The key area to apply the sealer on a wooden post is between 100 millimetres above ground level, down to 150 millimetres below ground level. If the ground conditions are regularly saturated then the sealant will increase the longevity of the post.
• Soden ground conditions  increase the need for wooden posts to be fully treated below ground & wise to use concrete posts.
• Painting your fence with a good quality preservative is best undertaken before building the fence to ensure full coverage of the timber. Most importantly, the posts and rails should be done before assembling as this is the only time these components can possibly be painted ensuring full coverage.
• Painting advice  is   the fence should be painted within 6 months of completion to help seal in the preservatives into the wood. But, it is advised to paint a fence before & after building, so all of the timber is fully coated which includes broken wood gain nail points. The most prone areas for rotting are the areas that struggle dry out where the boards touch the rails, and the wooden post which is highest prone to rotting between 100mm above ground and 150mm below ground. Painting the rails is highly recommended before the Paling Boards are nailed to the rails.
• The best preservatives to use which protect the wooden fence components have pest control properties, rot control properties and UV (ultra violet) protection. The preservative paint should be acrylic base. Preservative paints or stains should allow the wood to breath.