Merthyr Tydfil sits high at the head of the Taff valley, with the Brecon Beacons rising just to the north, and the weather here is harder on a fence than almost anywhere else we work. Rain arrives often and stays in the ground, wind pushes up the valley and over the ridges, and a lot of gardens are on sloping ground where a post never stands in dry soil for long. Fences that would last years further south can be leaning after a couple of winters here.
T J Landscapes builds and repairs fencing and gates across Merthyr Tydfil with that in mind, from the terraces on the valley sides to the newer estates higher up. Quotes and advice are free, and our Merthyr Tydfil landscaping page shows what else we do in the town. When you are ready, send us a few details.
Our six kinds of fencing work, looked at through the wind and rain that shape every garden in Merthyr Tydfil.
Close board on concrete posts is the fence we reach for first on an exposed Merthyr Tydfil plot, because the boards are fixed individually to strong rails and there is no loose panel to be lifted out of its slots in a gale.
Panels can work in the more sheltered gardens lower in the town, but in Merthyr Tydfil we steer people away from thin overlap panels and towards heavier framed ones slotted into concrete posts.
Hit and miss and slatted designs let some of the wind through, which takes a lot of strain off the posts in the higher, more open parts of Merthyr Tydfil while still giving a fair amount of privacy.
Wind catches a gate like a door left open, so on a Merthyr Tydfil garden we use a stout hanging post, strong hinges and a latch or drop bolt that holds it shut when the weather turns.
Where a garden on the edge of Merthyr Tydfil backs onto open hillside, a post and rail line with a hedge planted behind it can be a better long-term boundary than a tall solid fence facing the full wind.
Storm damage is the most common repair we see in Merthyr Tydfil, usually a post snapped at ground level where it has been sitting wet for years, and we can often put that right without replacing the whole run.
Rot starts where timber meets wet soil, and in Merthyr Tydfil the soil is wet for much of the year. On heavy ground a post hole can act like a sump, collecting water from the lawn around it. A timber post standing in that for a few winters softens at the base until the first strong gust snaps it clean off.
We deal with that in a few ways. Concrete posts take rot out of the picture entirely. Where timber posts are wanted, we set them deep, finish the concrete above ground level and slope it away from the post, and keep gravel boards between the soil and the fence. On particularly boggy boundaries it may be worth looking at drainage first, and the local guide on garden drainage solutions in Merthyr Tydfil explains the options.
A solid two-metre fence facing up the valley takes a great deal of force in a storm, and all of it ends up at the base of the posts. You can meet that with stronger posts and deeper footings, or you can reduce the force by letting some air pass through. On the most exposed Merthyr Tydfil gardens we often suggest a bit of both.
Our article on strong fencing for windy Merthyr Tydfil gardens goes further into this, and which garden fence stands up best to Welsh wind compares the styles more widely.
We build for the weather the town actually gets.
Post depth, footings and fence style are chosen for wind and rain, not for a sheltered showroom garden.
Concrete shaped to shed water and gravel boards along the bottom, so timber is not left sitting in wet ground.
Where a fence sits on or beside a retaining wall, we look at the wall before we add any load to it.
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On the older terraced streets of Merthyr Tydfil, the back garden often climbs in levels, with stone or block walls holding each one up. A fence along the side has to step up past those walls, and sometimes it is fixed to the top of one. We check that the wall can take it, because wind on a tall fence pulls hard on whatever it is attached to.
If a wall is bulging or cracked, it should be sorted before any fence goes on it. Brickwork in Merthyr Tydfil covers rebuilding retaining and boundary walls, and retaining and boundary walls in Merthyr Tydfil explains the warning signs. We also plan the work around the weather, as there is no sense setting concrete in a downpour.
Real reviews from homeowners across Merthyr Tydfil — 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.”
Local and practical guides to help you plan the work.
One team for the whole garden, so a single visit can price everything you have in mind.
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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.
Usually the posts are the problem: too short, too shallow or rotten at the base. Replacing them with deeper-set concrete or heavy timber posts and choosing a style that lets some wind through normally ends the cycle.
On wet or exposed ground they are often the sensible choice, because they will not rot. Timber posts look warmer and are easier to fix things to. Concrete posts or timber posts sets out the trade-offs.
Yes. The fence can step up with each level, or close board can follow the slope more closely. We look at the walls between levels first, as they need to be sound before a fence is fixed to them or built beside them.
Length, height and style, the type of posts, how exposed the garden is, the ground and any drainage issues, access for materials and whether an old fence needs removing. We give a free quote after seeing the site.
Keep soil, leaves and plants off the bottom of the fence, trim hedges back so the boards can dry out between showers, and treat timber every few years. How to make a garden fence last longer has more tips.
Let us know how long the fence is, how exposed the garden feels and whether any walls are involved. Tony will be in touch to arrange a visit.
