This Pontypool job was about privacy. The two photos are taken from almost the same spot on a block-paved drive beside the house, and the difference between them is the whole story.

In the first, the boundary is a low wall with loose, weathered posts leaning against it and a clear view straight over to the road and the houses opposite. In the second, a tall close-board fence in a rich brown stain closes the corner off completely, with the two clipped conifers and the planters still in place in front of it.

From open corner to screened space

Corners like this one are common on estates around Pontypool. The drive and the front of the house are on show to everyone passing, and a waist-high wall does little to change that. A full-height fence turns the same few square metres into somewhere you can sit out or leave the bins without feeling watched.

Close-board was the right style for it. The vertical featheredge boards overlap, so there are no gaps to see through, and the boards run cleanly from one bay to the next. The dark stain suits the brown weatherboarding and brickwork on the house, and it will hide the usual weathering better than bare timber would. You can compare the options in our guide to close board, panel or slatted fencing.

What the photos show

The job was done in wet weather, as plenty of Welsh fencing work is. The before photo shows the team on site with spades and bars, the old posts already loose and a bag of material waiting on the soil.

  • Before: a low wall as the boundary, with leaning timber posts and an open outlook
  • After: tall close-board fencing in a dark brown stain across the whole corner
  • The two conifers and the planters kept and working as a foreground to the fence
  • The bare soil strip in front now covered with grey gravel, edged against the drive

Tall fences and the wind

A solid fence at this height catches a lot of wind, so the posts do most of the work. They need to go in deep and be set firmly in concrete, especially on an exposed corner plot. There is more on how different fences cope in which garden fence stands up best to Welsh wind, and local points in new garden fencing in Pontypool: what to expect.

If a corner of your own garden feels too exposed, have a look at our fencing and gates page and our wider work on landscaping in Pontypool, then ask for a free quote.

Questions About This Job

How high can a front or side fence be?

Height limits for fences next to a road or footpath are lower than for back gardens, and they vary with where the fence is. Check with Torfaen Council before building anything tall near a highway. We can talk through the options when we visit.

Can a fence go in behind an existing low wall?

Often it can, either just behind the wall or with the wall taken down, depending on its condition and where the boundary line sits. We look at the wall and footings first and suggest what makes sense.

Is a stained fence more work to look after?

Not much. A coloured stain usually needs refreshing every few years to keep it even. Our tips on making a garden fence last longer cover the rest.