A fence does a lot of quiet work. It marks where your garden ends, keeps children and dogs in, gives you privacy from the neighbours and the road, and takes a battering from the wind every winter. When it is built properly you stop noticing it. When it is not, you notice it every time a storm comes through.
T J Landscapes puts up new fences, hangs gates and repairs damaged runs for homes across South Wales. Tony and the team work out of Pontypool, and much of the fencing we are asked to replace has failed at the posts, so that is where our attention goes first. Quotes and advice are free, and we are happy to look at a leaning fence and tell you honestly whether it needs fixing or replacing.
These are the jobs we are asked for most. Many gardens need a mix, such as a close board run down one side, a decorative screen by the patio and a new side gate.
Vertical featheredge boards nailed to rails between posts, with a gravel board along the bottom. It is sturdy, private and one of the strongest timber fences for an exposed garden. Because it is built in place, it can follow a slope or an uneven boundary neatly.
Ready-made panels slotted or fixed between timber or concrete posts. It is quick to put up and easy to replace a single panel later. Heavier-duty panels with a solid frame hold up far better in the wind than thin overlap panels.
Slatted, hit and miss, trellis-topped and picket styles for places where looks matter as much as privacy. Slatted and hit and miss designs let some wind through, which suits breezy plots, and trellis tops give climbers something to grow on.
Side gates, garden gates and wider entrance gates in timber, hung on strong posts with proper hinges and latches. A gate gets used every day, so we pay close attention to the hanging post and the fall of the ground so it opens freely and does not drop over time.
Longer runs along the edges of larger gardens, paddocks and rural plots, including post and rail fencing where a solid screen is not needed. We set out the line carefully and work around levels, hedges and existing walls.
Replacing snapped or rotten posts, refitting panels that have blown out, swapping gravel boards and straightening leaning sections. If the rest of the fence is sound, a repair can be the sensible and less costly answer.
The right fence depends on what you need it to do. A solid, tall fence is the obvious choice for privacy, but on a very windy plot a design that lets some air through may stand up better over the years. Where the boundary is shared, the look from both sides matters too.
Our guide to close board, panel or slatted fencing compares the main styles in more detail, and which garden fence stands up best to Welsh wind is worth reading if your garden catches the weather.
Every fence stands or falls on its posts. A panel is only as secure as the two posts holding it, and those posts are fighting wind, wet soil and gravity every day. Posts that are too thin, set too shallow or left sitting in waterlogged clay will rock loose however good the boards above them look.
We dig post holes to a proper depth for the height of the fence, set the posts in concrete, and shape the top of the concrete so water runs away from the timber. Gravel boards keep the panels and boards off the soil, so they do not wick up moisture and rot from the bottom.
Concrete posts will not rot and are a strong choice for exposed gardens. Timber posts look warmer and are easier to fix other things to, and good pressure-treated posts last well when they are set properly. We explain the trade-offs in concrete posts or timber posts for a garden fence.
South Wales gardens are rarely flat and rarely sheltered. On the stepped terraces of Aberdare and Merthyr Tydfil, a fence has to follow a steep fall, which means either stepping the panels down in stages or building close board that follows the ground. On the coast around Penarth and Port Talbot, wind and salt air are the bigger problem.
Access matters too. Many terraced gardens can only be reached through the house or down a narrow rear lane, so posts, concrete and panels are often carried in by hand and old fencing carried out the same way. We plan for that when we quote, so there are no surprises on the day.
Where a fence has to sit on top of a retaining wall or next to a change in level, we look at the wall first. Our brickwork and garden walls service can rebuild a failing wall before a new fence goes on top.
We build fences to stay up, and we will tell you straight what your garden needs.
Deep holes, concrete footings shaped to shed water and gravel boards to keep timber off the soil, because that is where most fences fail.
If a repair will do the job, we will say so. If the posts are finished, we will show you why before recommending a new fence.
We also lay patios, build walls and decks and lay turf, so a new boundary can be planned with everything around it.
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After a storm it is tempting to prop a leaning fence up and hope for the best. Sometimes a repair really is all that is needed: one snapped post, a panel blown out of its slots, or a rotten gravel board. If most of the posts are rotten at ground level, though, patching one section tends to move the problem along to the next.
We look at the whole run, test the posts and tell you what we would do if it were our own garden. Our article on fence repair or replacement lists the signs to look for, and how to make a garden fence last longer covers the simple upkeep that keeps a new fence in good shape.
Before any boundary work, it helps to agree the line and the plan with your neighbours. Fence height limits and planning rules apply in some situations, such as a tall fence next to a road or work at a listed building, so check with your local council if you are unsure.
A gate is the part of the boundary you touch most, so it deserves a good post and decent ironmongery. We hang side gates and garden gates to match the fence, and set them to swing clear of paths and steps. Read choosing and fitting a garden gate for the details.
Fencing is often one piece of a larger project. We regularly put up new boundaries alongside a new patio, decking or fresh turf, and an overgrown boundary may need hedge trimming or tree work or a garden clearance first. Doing it all together means the fence line, levels and finishes are planned as one.
Real reviews from homeowners across South Wales — rated 4.8 out of 5 on Google from 69 reviews and 10/10 on Checkatrade.
“Had my patio done by the company and could not be happier. Top quality work done and quickly too.”
“I was pleased to find Tony and his lads were absolutely great! Tony responded quickly & was very polite.”
“We were delighted with the work and materials, which were of very high quality. Tony and team helped us.”
Practical guides on choosing, building and looking after garden fences and gates.
Most gardens need more than one trade. The same team does all of it, so one visit and one quote covers the whole job.
We fit fencing and gates across South Wales from our base in Pontypool, including the towns below. Each link leads to our fencing page for that town.
T J Landscapes South Wales
24 Conway Road, Pontypool
Torfaen, NP4 6HL
We cover homes right across South Wales, from Cardiff and the coast up to the valleys and the Brecon Beacons.
The main factors are the length and height of the fence, the style, whether you choose timber or concrete posts, how easy it is to get materials in, the ground conditions, and whether an old fence needs taking down and taking away. Gates add to the job too. We measure up on site and give you a free quote.
Close board fencing on well-set posts, especially concrete ones, stands up very well. Slatted and hit and miss designs also cope well because some wind passes through. Thin overlap panels on shallow posts are the ones that tend to blow down.
Yes. We can take down your old fence and remove the timber, posts and concrete as part of the job, so you are left with a clean boundary. Just mention it when you ask for a quote.
Yes. Panels can be stepped down the slope with the posts set at different heights, or close board can be built to follow the ground more closely. We will suggest whichever suits the fall of your garden and the look you want.
Often we can. If the rest of the fence is sound, replacing a few posts or panels is a sensible repair. If most of the posts are rotten, we will explain why a new fence may be the better use of your money.
Most back garden fences at normal heights do not need permission, but taller fences, fences next to a road or footpath, and work at listed buildings or in conservation areas can. Rules change, so please check with your local council if you are unsure. It is also worth talking to your neighbours before replacing a shared boundary.
It depends on the quality of the timber, how well the posts are set, how exposed the garden is and how the fence is looked after. Keeping soil and plants off the boards and treating the timber every few years all help it last longer.
Let us know roughly how long the fence is, what style you like and whether you need a gate. Tony will be in touch to arrange a visit.
