Fence repair in Fulham and decking repairs

Common fence problems in terrace gardens

Back gardens behind Fulham's terraced streets are usually divided by a mix of old brick walls, trellis and timber fence panels, often put up at different times by different owners. The weak point is nearly always the posts. Timber posts rot at ground level, where wet soil meets air, and after a few windy nights the whole run starts to lean.

Panels also blow out of their slots, gravel boards crack and trellis tops come loose. Ivy and climbing plants add weight and hold moisture against the wood. Our Fulham handyman can usually put most of this right without replacing the whole fence.

Fence repair in Fulham: posts, panels and gates

A rotten timber post can often be fixed by bolting a concrete repair spur alongside it. A spur is a short concrete post set into the ground next to the old one, which holds it upright. Where a post has completely failed, it can be dug out and replaced with a new timber or concrete post set in fresh concrete or postcrete.

Broken panels are swapped for new ones to match the height and style. Gravel boards, the boards that sit along the bottom of the fence just above the ground, stop panels sitting in wet soil and make them last longer. Garden gates that drop and drag are usually down to tired hinges, a loose post or a frame that has twisted, and all three can be fixed.

• Straightening and reinforcing leaning posts
• Replacing broken or blown out panels
• Fitting gravel boards and capping rails
• Rehanging and adjusting garden gates

Decking repairs and making old decks safe

Decking in shady London gardens stays damp and often goes soft long before its time. Common repairs include replacing split or rotten boards, refixing boards that have lifted, and swapping rusty screws for new ones. The frame underneath, called the joists, matters most. If the joists are rotten, new boards on top will not last, so we check them by prodding and lifting a board where needed.

Once a deck is sound, a jet wash and a coat of decking oil help it last. We can jet wash the deck on the same visit.

Front garden fences, railings and bin stores

At the front of the house, many terraced homes have a low wall with railings or a short timber fence and a gate. These take a lot of knocks from bins, bikes and buggies. A small fence repair in Fulham, such as refixing a gate latch or replacing a split rail, is a quick job that makes a big difference to how the house looks from the street.

Front boundaries are where the height rules matter most, because they usually sit next to the pavement. A like for like repair is very different from putting up something taller. If you want a higher front fence for privacy, check the planning rules described below first.

Timber bin stores and bike sheds in front gardens are common in rental flats and conversions. Rotten bases, broken doors and loose roofs can all be repaired, and a fresh coat of stain or paint helps them last longer.

Fence height rules and planning

The Planning Portal explains that you can usually put up or alter a fence, wall or gate without planning permission if it is no more than one metre high next to a road used by vehicles, or the footpath of that road, and no more than two metres high elsewhere. These heights are measured from ground level.

There are exceptions. Permission is needed if the house is a listed building or the fence would form a boundary with a listed building. If you are in a conservation area, you may need permission to take down a fence, wall or gate, and a council can remove these rights through what is called an Article 4 direction. Hammersmith and Fulham Council says conservation areas cover about half the borough, so if you are unsure, check with the council before changing a front boundary. Repairing a fence like for like at the same height is a very different job from building a taller new one.

Who owns the fence, and the Party Wall Act

Before any boundary work, it helps to check your deeds or talk to your neighbour about who owns the fence. Many disagreements start because one side repaired something the other side thought was theirs.

Brick garden walls are a separate matter. Government guidance on the Party Wall Act says it covers a wall on the land of two owners that does not form part of a building, such as a garden wall, but not timber fences. It also covers building a new wall on or at the boundary. For that kind of work, you must give your neighbour notice in the way the Act sets out. Simple fence panel and post repairs do not fall under the Act, but if the job involves a shared brick wall, read the government guidance first.

Getting it done with minimal fuss

Many terraced gardens are only reachable through the house, so posts, panels and concrete have to be carried through the hall. We lay down dust sheets and plan the job so materials only come through once. We can take old panels and rotten timber away.

We cover fence repair in Fulham and nearby, including Parsons Green, Sands End and Putney. Send us a few photos of the fence or deck and a rough length, and we will come back with a free quote.

Common questions