Buying garden fence panels for the first time can feel more complicated than it should be. There are styles, sizes, boundary rules and budgets to weigh up before a single panel goes anywhere near your garden. This guide walks through what actually matters, so you can choose properly the first time round.
Start With the Boundary Rules
Before you order anything, it helps to know exactly where your boundary sits and whether your neighbour needs to be involved. Many garden disputes start with a fence that went up without a quick conversation first.
Most garden fence panels installed at a standard height do not need planning permission, though this can change near a road, a listed building or a shared boundary with a public right of way. If you are ever unsure, a quick call to your local council planning team will confirm where you stand.
It is also worth agreeing who owns which boundary before you buy. This saves any awkwardness once the new fence is up and admired, or not, by the people next door.
Work Out How Many Panels You Need
Once the boundary is settled, measuring properly saves time and money later. Panels are sold in standard widths, so an accurate measurement of your boundary run tells you how many garden fence panels and posts to order, with a little allowance left for corners and gates.
For the full method, our earlier guide on how to find out how many fence panels you need for a project walks through measuring a run and spacing the posts correctly, step by step.
Choose a Style That Suits Your Garden
Style is where most of the fun happens. Timber fence panels come in a wide range of finishes, from traditional Waneylap through to cleaner vertical board designs, and each brings a slightly different character to a garden.
If your garden faces the street, a double sided finish keeps both sides looking presentable. For a softer, more decorative boundary, picket or trellis styles let more light through while still marking the edge of your plot clearly.
We cover the full range of styles in more depth in our guide on choosing the right fence panels for your garden, which is worth a read if style is where you are stuck.
Set a Realistic Budget
Cost varies with style, height and finish, so it pays to compare like for like rather than judging purely on price per panel. Concrete posts and base panels add to the upfront cost but reduce maintenance considerably over the years, which is worth factoring in rather than ignoring.
Our piece on fencing on a budget has more detail on where to spend and where to save without compromising on quality.
Getting the Height Right
Height affects privacy, security and how the finished fence looks from both sides of the boundary, so it is worth getting right before you order. Rather than repeat that whole decision here, our dedicated guide on choosing the right height for your fencing walks through privacy, security rules and practical considerations for pets and children in full.
Whatever height you land on, our garden fence panels are supplied ready to pair with the posts and bases you need to complete the job properly.
For homeowners weighing up fence panels in Manchester and further across Cheshire, getting these basics settled early makes the rest of the project far more straightforward. Browse our timber fence panels and concrete posts and bases ranges to see what is available.
FAQ’S
It depends entirely on the length of your boundary and the panel width you choose. Measure the full run first, then use our guide on working out how many fence panels a project needs to get an accurate number before you order.
In most cases, no. Standard height panels along a normal residential boundary are usually fine. Restrictions can apply near roads, listed buildings or shared access, so check with your local council if your situation is at all unusual.
Timber posts are a traditional, cost effective choice, while concrete posts and base panels resist rot and generally need less upkeep over time. Many customers pair concrete posts with timber panels for the best of both.
You can, though it tends to look best when one style leads and a second is used sparingly, for example a run of vertical board panels with a picket section near a seating area.
Explore our range online or speak with our team to find the perfect fencing solution for your garden. Get in touch via email dunhamfencingsupplies@gmail.com or call us for a chat on 0161 399 5712.