A fence does more for a garden than people give it credit for. It marks the boundary, gives you privacy, keeps the dog and the kids in, blocks the wind off your patio and frames everything else you've spent money on. Get it wrong and it leans, greys off and blows out in the first proper storm. Get it right and you forget about it for fifteen years.
This is a plain guide to the fencing we fit most around Nottingham, how the options compare, and the one thing that decides how long any fence lasts.
Key takeaways
- Closeboard (feather edge) fencing on concrete posts is the longest-lasting timber option
- Composite fencing costs more up front and then needs almost nothing doing to it
- Slatted screens suit modern gardens where you want light and privacy together
- The posts and gravel boards matter more than the panels, every time
Closeboard & Feather Edge Fencing
Closeboard, sometimes called feather edge, is our go-to for a solid boundary that lasts. Instead of a pre-made panel, the fence is built up board by board on site, so there's no weak panel to pop out in the wind.
- Pros: Strong, long-lasting, no flimsy panels, easy to repair board by board.
- Cons: Costs a bit more than a standard lap panel and takes longer to put up.
On concrete posts with gravel boards along the bottom, a closeboard fence stays put and stays off the wet ground, which is exactly what you want for a Nottingham winter.
Fence Panels: Quick and Affordable
Standard lap and overlap panels are the cheaper, quicker option, and for a lot of gardens they do the job fine. Drop them between posts and you've got a tidy boundary in a day.
- Pros: Affordable, fast to fit, easy to swap if one gets damaged.
- Cons: The pre-made panels are the first thing to go in high wind.
If you go down the panel route, it's still worth setting the posts in concrete and adding gravel boards. That's what keeps the bottom of the panel out of the damp and stops it rotting from the ground up.
Composite Fencing: Fit It and Forget It
Composite fencing is the low-maintenance choice. The boards are a wood and plastic mix that holds its colour and never needs painting, treating or oiling.
- Pros: No upkeep, keeps its colour, modern look, won't rot or splinter.
- Cons: Higher cost up front than timber.
You pay more at the start, but you make it back by never touching it again. If the thought of re-treating a fence every couple of years fills you with dread, this is the one.
Slatted Fencing & Privacy Screens
For a more modern look, slatted screens give you privacy without boxing the garden in completely. The gaps let light and a bit of air through, so the garden doesn't feel closed off, and they look smart against a patio or seating area.
- Pros: Contemporary look, lets light through, great as a feature screen.
- Cons: Less of a full visual block than solid panels.
A lot of people mix them in, solid fencing round the boundary and a slatted screen by the patio, so you get privacy where you sit without losing light across the whole garden.
💡 Tip: Whatever style you pick, set the posts in concrete and use gravel boards. Timber sitting on wet soil is the number one reason fences rot and lean. Lift it off the ground and you add years to it.
Garden Gates to Match
It's worth sorting a gate at the same time as the fence. We fit timber and metal garden gates and wider access gates, matched to the fencing so the whole boundary ties together rather than looking like an afterthought bolted on later.
What Garden Fencing Costs in Nottingham
The price comes down to the style, the height, the length of the run and whether the old posts and gravel boards need replacing too:
- Lap panels: The budget option, quick to fit.
- Closeboard / feather edge: More than panels, but lasts far longer.
- Composite fencing: The highest up front, the lowest over its life.
- Slatted screens: Priced on the timber and the run, often used in shorter feature sections.
Removing and tipping an old fence adds to the job too, so it's worth getting that priced in from the start.
Need a new fence?
Send us the rough length and a photo of the boundary and we'll recommend the right style, set it on concrete posts and give you a free quote.
Choosing the Right Fencing Contractor
Fencing looks simple, and a good one is, but the difference is all in the prep. The fencing contractors worth using will:
- Set posts in concrete to the right depth so the fence stays upright.
- Use gravel boards to keep timber off the wet ground.
- Get the line and levels right, even on a sloping garden.
- Clear away the old fence and tidy up after themselves.
We're a Nottingham-based team and we fit garden fencing across Nottingham and Nottinghamshire, covering West Bridgford, Beeston, Arnold, Carlton and Hucknall.
Final Thoughts
The right fence depends on your budget and how much upkeep you're happy to do. Closeboard if you want timber that lasts, composite if you never want to think about it again, slatted if you're after a modern look by the patio. Whichever you go for, it's the posts and gravel boards that decide how long it stands.
If you're ready to sort your boundary, Nottingham Landscaping Services will get it set up properly and built to last.