LEGAL HEIGHT

At the front of the property, you can install fencing up to 1m high. In most other areas you can increase this to 2m. Anything above this would require planning permission from your local authority. You, the client, would be responsible for obtaining it. The terms of you excepting my quotation is that you would be responsible for the cost to reduce the height of any fencing if you are ordered to do so because you did not obtain any permission. If you need any advice then I will be glad to help or you can contact your local planning department who I have found in the past to be very helpful.

NEIGHBOUR CONSIDERATION

With respect to your neighbours, we ask that you please inform them that you are intending to have a fence erected and whilst we take all reasonable steps not to go onto their property, we many have to during the construction of the boundary. With regard to the appearance of the fitting of the close board fencing, it was in the past accepted that the owner of the fence had the framework on their side. Nowadays, most local authorities no longer demand this. We would however ask that you check with your local council prior to construction for piece of mind. We ask that on the first morning of construction, you, the client, or someone acting on your behalf, to be on site to confirm the line of the fence and point out any aspects that could affect us. This could be anything from working around prized plants to pipes or electric cables. On the point of pipes and electric cables, we take great care to work around them but we need you to tell us if there are any hidden.

CLEARING THE FENCE LINE OF RUBBISH

Whilst clearing the fence line, it may be necessary to cut down or trim back any bushes or trees. It is not our policy to destroy gardens as we appreciate how hard it is to develop and establish them. However, we ask that you appreciate that we need a suitable space to construct the fence safely. As required by the Environment Agency, Nick Smith Fencing is registered under the Control of Pollution Act 1989 to ensure the safe and legal disposal of any waste. It is in everyone’s interest that all rubbish and materials are brought to and from the site via a side access. If that were not possible, we would ask that you provide clear access through the house or garage.

TYPES OF FENCING

Lapped panels – Lapped panels are generally constructed using 3 fronts and 5 rear battens for extra strength and are manufactured approximately 0.9mm to 1.8m in height in 300mm increments. All standard panels are 1.83m wide with capping on the top. We can accommodate different heights, widths and sloping tops so if you have any special requirements, please let us know.

Trellis –Trellis is sourced from several suppliers depending on the type of fencing quoted for. More detail can generally be found on the quote provided, if not please ask for additional information if necessary. Standard trellis has 100mm spacing between battens. Small square trellis has 50mm spacing, thus affording extra privacy. We can also install curved (concave & convex) top trellis. Trellis can be erected as a fence in itself or be put above a solid fence. For posts that are more then 1.83m apart we install straight top trellis with a maximum length of 3.6m and a maximum height of 915mm. We can also supply diamond trellis, but these are 1.83m long maximum, with the option of 320mm, 470mm or 625mm high. Costello Fencing can obtain special sizes on request.

Closeboard panels –Once again closeboard panels are sourced from several suppliers but we have found one product that comes with a 25 year guarantee. As standard, panels are a maximum 1.83m long and up to 1.85m in height in increments of 150mm. Panels are made using 2 horizontal rails up to 1.2m high and 3 rails for anything taller. Note that mass-market manufacturers do not use featheredge boards in their panels as we do. Their panels can be lightweight and therefore give a shorter lifespan. Closeboard panels can be constructed with timber or concrete gravelboards below and fitted between slotted timber or concrete posts. Please not that the timber gravelboards and posts used also come with a 25 year guarantee which gives them a similar lifespan as concrete. The choices you have with regards to the concrete gravel boards are that they are all 44mm thick but you have two heights of 150mm or 300mm. We recommend that the higher gravel board be used when there is a difference in ground level and it can act as a mini retaining wall. We also offer the choice of standard faced boards or a brick pattern on one side for the 300mm gravel boards only. The brick pattern boards do cost more; please ask for the price difference.

Palisade fencing – Our palisade fencing is usually constructed with two or three rails depending on the height. These are clad with round, pointed or flat top pales that are spaced 75mm apart. This can be reduced if more privacy is required. The heights available are 1.0, 1.2 & 1.8 metres with the posts spaced 2.4 metres apart. Matching gates can also be fitted in single or pair form.

Traditional closeboard fencing –Traditional closeboard fencing consists of gravelboards running along the bottom with a number of arris rails clad with featheredge boards above, all of which is fitted between mortised posts. The quantity of arris rails depends on the height. Generally speaking, anything up to 1.5m high would have two rails and anything above that has three. Posts are normally set at 3m intervals but in some instances, a longer section may have to be used to avoid an obstruction (e.g. tree roots, pipes). It is recommended that if using reinforced concrete posts, concrete gravelboards should also be used to avoid any timber being in contact with the ground, therefore increasing the lifespan of the fence. Counter rail and capping can be used to protect the top of the featheredge boards and also provide added strength to the fence. Please check your quotation to see if it is included.

We can also offer closeboard fencing with the timber coming with a 25 year guarantee. The treatment used draws out the moisture content to below 30% before the treatment is applied. Please ask if you require an additional quote if not already provided. The posts used for this type of fencing are 125x100mm and set at 2.4m intervals maximum.

GATE SPECIFICATION

Close board Gates –These are made from a 100x47mm timber framework, clad with featheredge boards. They can be made to any size but as a rule for a new fence they are 0.9, 1.0 or 1.2 metre wide.

Tongue and Groove Gates –These are made in a 100mm x 47mm planed all round (P.A.R.) framework, rebated to take 19mm x 100mm V-jointed tongue and groove boards. They can be made to any size.

Front Garden Gates –These are made using 75mm x 50mm planed all round (P.A.R.) timber, clad with 19mm x 100mm V-jointed tongue and groove boards on the lower section. They are standard sizes from 915mm high x 915mm wide up to 1050mm high x 1220mm wide. Please ask for the sizes in between. They can be paired to give a double-leaf arrangement for wider openings.

General Information –If you have a preference as to which way you would like the gate to hang, please inform us and we will do everything to follow your instruction. Please note that gates can not open out onto a public highway as this would be classed as causing an obstruction. Your Local Authority can & will issue an Enforcement Order to make you change the direction they open, if you ignore this they will carry out the work themselves and recover the costs from you.

Gate Fittings –Single gates are hung using 450mm Tee hinges with a Suffolk or Ring latch plus a padbolt. Double gates up to an opening of 2.4m are also fitted with 450mm Tee hinges. Anything larger is hung using heavy-duty reversible hinges using a bar-and-cap system. A drop bolt is fitted to one gate along with a latch and padbolt. All fittings come in galvanised, bright zinc plated or black painted finish.

GENERAL INFORMATION AND TREATMENT DETAILS

All fencing posts (timber, metal or concrete) are encased in concrete to a depth of 600mm using a semi-wet mix. It may be necessary for posts that are used to hang large gates off, or because of ground levels, to be concreted into the ground at a greater depth to ensure stability. Please feel confident that I will do this as and when I feel it is required. Unless stated in the quotation –All timber posts are 100mm x 100mm in size and are pressure treated to conform to all necessary British Standards. Timber products can have a dye added to the treatment process giving a brown colour finish. If required the timber can be offered in it’s normal treated colour of a pale green. We can erect fencing using hardwood Oak timber but please allow for the price of the materials to be at least two and a half times the price of pressure treated softwood. Future Treatment –We recommend that once a year you give your fence a coat of treatment to increase the life and replace the lost colour due to bleaching from the sun. A choice of colours can be purchased from most hardware stores.

ACCEPTING THE QUOTATION

If you find the quotation to be favourable and you would like us to do the work detailed, please contact us by telephone, e-mail or mail and we will contact you with the next available start date. The start date that we give you will be to the best of our knowledge, the day we intend to begin. If for any reason we are running late, we will contact you to give you as much notice as possible. Please allow that weather, sickness and jobs running over due to additional work being requested can effect the start date. We try, and normally succeed, to keep to the date we give you but we do apologize for any delays that can happen. Our policy is to put each job in order and complete one installation before we begin another. When we begin a job, we stay until it is finished.

PAYMENT

In some circumstances we ask for any deposit to cover the cost of the materials. We can issue an Invoice for the amount if required otherwise we will issue one at the end of the works detailing interim payments. For Bespoke Gates we ask for payment in full minus the VAT which will be due on delivery of the gates. On completion of work we ask that you pay the balance outstanding. If for any reason we do not have an invoice to give you, please still pay the amount and we will send a completed invoice by return of post. We accept payment by cash, cheque, Debit/Credit Card and BACS.