Most garden boundary work in the West Midlands is priced the same way: by the metre for fences and walls, by the square metre for decking, and by the item for gates. If you know roughly how long the run is, how high you want it and what style, you can get a realistic range in a couple of minutes.
Ground and Gate does not do the work. You answer a few questions and send some photos, we show you an indicative price range, and we pass your enquiry to one local specialist who covers your postcode. They confirm a fixed price.
What this covers
- New fences: featheredge (closeboard), overlap panels, slatted and post and rail, with timber or concrete posts, and the old fence taken away if needed.
- Fence repairs: replacement panels, snapped or rotten posts, leaning runs and gravel boards, including storm damage.
- Side gates: timber or metal pedestrian gates, usually between the house and the boundary.
- Driveway gates: single or pairs, timber or metal, and automation (which always needs a site visit).
- Decking: timber and composite, ground level or raised.
- Garden walls: low brick walls under 1m. Taller and retaining walls go to a groundworks specialist after a survey.
- Trellis and screening: trellis toppers, slatted screens and privacy panels.
How pricing works
Fencing is priced per metre at a given height, then adjusted for posts and removal. The rates below are supply and fit, waste included, and are indicative for the West Midlands.
| Style | Under 1m | About 1.2m | About 1.8m |
|---|---|---|---|
| Featheredge / closeboard | £57–£81 | £76–£108 | £95–£135 |
| Overlap panels | £36–£54 | £48–£72 | £60–£90 |
| Slatted / contemporary | £78–£114 | £104–£152 | £130–£190 |
| Post and rail | £24–£39 | £32–£52 | £40–£65 |
On top of that:
- Concrete posts add about £10 per metre over timber.
- Taking the old fence away adds £8–£15 per metre.
- Awkward access adds 10–20%: no way in for a mini digger, a route through the house, or a long carry from the road.
- Small jobs have a minimum of £400.
As a worked example, 15 metres of 1.8m featheredge on concrete posts, with the old fence removed, comes to about £1,700–£2,400. Other items: gates run from £250 for a timber side gate up to £3,500 for a pair of metal driveway gates, decking is £120–£300 per m², and low walls are £150–£250 per metre. The full breakdowns are in the fence cost per metre guide, the decking cost guide and the driveway gates cost guide.
Height limits
Without planning permission, a fence, wall or gate can be up to 2 metres high, or 1 metre where it is next to a road used by vehicles or the footpath beside one. The height includes any trellis on top and is measured from ground level. Listed buildings and conservation areas are stricter, and some estates have covenants or open-plan conditions on front gardens.
Anything over 2m, or over 1m facing a road, needs a site visit rather than an online range. See how high can a garden fence be? and the 1m rule for fences next to a road.
Who owns the boundary
There is no rule that you own the left or right fence. The title plan from HM Land Registry sometimes shows "T" marks that indicate who is responsible, but many plans show nothing and the deeds are silent. Before replacing a shared fence, agree it with your neighbour and keep the new posts on your own side if it is yours. Our guide to who owns the fence goes through it step by step.
Masonry walls that sit on the boundary can be party fence walls under the Party Wall etc. Act 1996, which means notice to the neighbour before certain work. The Act does not apply to timber fences.
Where we cover
We pass enquiries to specialists across Sutton Coldfield, North Birmingham, Solihull, South Birmingham, Edgbaston and Harborne, Lichfield and Tamworth, Walsall, Wolverhampton, Dudley and Stourbridge and Coventry. Before a firm receives enquiries we see its public liability insurance and record the expiry date, check waste carrier registration where waste leaves the site, and confirm identity and trading name. See how we check firms.
Questions about fencing, gates and decking
How do I measure for a fence quote?
Pace out the run: one long stride is about a metre, which is close enough for a range. Note the height you want and whether any stretch faces a road. Our guide on measuring your garden for a fence quote covers corners, slopes and gates.
Is the online price fixed?
No. It is an indicative range. The specialist confirms a fixed price after seeing your photos or measuring up.
Can I get a fence and a patio done together?
Yes. Mention both on the form. Combined jobs are usually handled by a driveways and patios specialist, with the fencing part noted, and may be passed across if they don't do fencing.
Do you cover walls taller than 1m?
Walls over 1m and retaining walls need a survey and are handled by a groundworks specialist. Low garden walls under 1m are priced online.