Fencing Options Guide: Choosing the Right Fence for Your Manchester Home

Fencing serves different purposes for different homeowners — privacy screening, boundary definition, security, decorative boundary treatment, or a combination of all of these. The right choice depends on:

- Primary purpose: Privacy, security, aesthetics or boundary marking - Location: Front garden (visible to the street), rear garden, side boundary - Property character: Traditional or contemporary, terraced or detached - Maintenance tolerance: How much ongoing maintenance are you willing to undertake? - Budget: Fencing costs range from modest to significant depending on material and height

Dalys Driveways installs fencing alongside driveway and landscaping work across Greater Manchester and Cheshire, and we can advise on the right option for your specific situation.

Timber is the most popular fencing material in the UK for rear gardens. The main types:

Featherboard (closeboard) fencing: Individual featheredge boards nailed to horizontal arris rails between posts. Provides excellent privacy and security. Very repairable — individual boards can be replaced as needed. Typically 1.5m or 1.8m high.

Panel fencing: Pre-made panels (waney lap, tongue and groove, trellis top) slotted or screwed between posts. Quick and economical to install. Less durable than closeboard — panels can be damaged by wind and are harder to repair.

Picket fencing: Traditional front garden fencing — open vertical palings that define a boundary without blocking light or views. Suits period properties beautifully. Typically painted white.

Timber costs: Featherboard fencing: £80–£140 per linear metre installed. Panel fencing: £60–£100 per linear metre.

Maintenance: Timber fencing requires treating with preservative or paint every 2–3 years. Untreated timber will rot, particularly in Greater Manchester's wet climate.

Composite fencing (wood-effect profiles made from recycled wood fibre and PVC) has grown significantly in popularity because it looks like timber but requires virtually no maintenance — no painting, no preservative treatment, and no rot.

Composite fence boards are available in various profiles (horizontal, vertical, slatted) and colours (grey, anthracite, wood-effect tones). The contemporary horizontal slat style is particularly popular for modern properties.

Costs: Composite fencing typically costs £120–£200 per linear metre installed, significantly more than timber. However, the 25-year+ lifespan and zero maintenance cost mean the lifetime cost of ownership can be similar or lower.

Considerations: Quality varies significantly between manufacturers. Look for a composite with a genuine guarantee (25 years from established brands like Jacksons or Trex). Cheap composite can fade, warp, or become brittle.

Steel or aluminium railings are the traditional choice for front garden boundaries, particularly for period properties in Altrincham, Bowdon, Didsbury and similar areas. They're very durable, require minimal maintenance (periodic painting for steel, none for aluminium), and have an authenticity that suits Victorian and Edwardian properties.

Galvanised and powder-coated steel is the most cost-effective metal fencing option. Available in standard rail or hoop-top profiles in black or green.

Aluminium fencing looks similar to steel but is lighter, rust-proof, and powder-coated in a wide range of colours. Premium option at £150–£300 per linear metre installed.

Gates: A well-matched gate completes a front boundary. Timber, steel and aluminium gates are all available to match the fencing style. Automated gate systems (electric openers) are increasingly popular for off-road parking areas.

Brick or block walls provide the most permanent, secure and low-maintenance boundary of all. A well-built brick wall will last the life of the property with minimal maintenance.

Brick walls: Built in matching or complementary brick to the house. Typically 600mm–900mm for front boundaries, up to 1.8m for rear privacy walls. Require coping stones or engineering brick on top to prevent water penetration.

Concrete block walls: Rendered and painted, or faced with brick slips. A cost-effective alternative to full brick construction for taller retaining or privacy walls.

Costs: Brick walling: £200–£400+ per linear metre depending on height, foundation requirements and brick specification.

Planning considerations: Front boundary walls over 1 metre in height (or 600mm adjacent to a highway) generally require planning permission. Always check with your local authority.