A garden in Paignton needed a taller, more private boundary from the overgrown gardens next door. We built 17 metres of new 6ft closeboard fencing, finished with rebated capping along the top.
This one was a little different. Rather than taking the existing fence down, we built the new one just in front of it, so the garden got a solid new face and a barrier from next door. We are really pleased with how it turned out.
The finished 17m run of 6ft closeboard, with rebated capping along the top.
The Project: 17 Metres of New 6ft Closeboard in Paignton
The brief was straightforward: a 6ft closeboard fence along a 17m garden boundary, tall enough to give the garden a more private edge from the overgrown gardens next door.
What the project involved:
- Building a 17m run of new 6ft closeboard fencing
- Setting new timber posts and rails in front of the existing fence
- Fitting a timber gravel board along the base
- Building the face from overlapping vertical closeboard boards, fixed board by board
- Finishing the top with rebated capping
The build under way. The new frame and boarding sit in front of the existing fence, which stayed in place.
Built in Front of the Existing Fence
On most jobs, the old fence comes out before the new one goes in. Here, the customer wanted the new fence built just in front of the existing one, and we were happy to do that.
The new posts, rails and gravel board went in on the garden side, with the existing fence staying in place behind the frame. The closeboard then went on board by board, so the garden now has a solid, even timber face, and a barrier from the overgrown gardens next door.
Posts, rails and a gravel board in place in front of the existing fence, ready for the rest of the boarding.
Why Closeboard?
Closeboard, also called feather-edge or featherboard, is built on site from vertical boards that are thicker on one edge than the other. Each board overlaps the next, giving you a solid face with no gaps. That means proper privacy in the garden, and a fence that copes well with the wind.
Because it is built board by board, it can follow the boundary exactly, and a single damaged board can be swapped later without touching the rest. For more, have a read of why closeboard fencing is perfect for Torbay gardens.
At 6ft, which is about 1.8m, it gives the garden real privacy while staying under the 2m height you can usually build to without planning permission. Our guide to choosing the right fence height explains the usual limits.
Rebated Capping and a Gravel Board
The details at the top and bottom of a fence make a big difference to how long it lasts.
Rebated capping runs along the top of the boards and covers their end grain. That is the part of the timber that soaks up water most easily, so keeping it covered means rain runs off rather than sinking in. It also gives the fence a neat, finished line. We explain more about how it works in our feather-board fence case study from Torquay.
A timber gravel board sits along the base and keeps the closeboard up off the soil. It can be replaced on its own in years to come. Our guide to gravel boards sets out why that simple detail is worth having.
For more on looking after the top of a fence through the colder months, see our guide to protecting your fence before winter.
Rebated capping running neatly along the top of the new closeboard.
The Result
The garden now has 17 metres of solid, private 6ft closeboard. From the garden it is a clean, even face of boards, with the rebated capping running neatly along the top and the gravel board along the base. We are really pleased with how it turned out.
The finished fence from the corner, showing the full 17m run.
Planning a New Fence in Paignton?
Whether you want a taller, more private boundary, a fence built in front of an existing one, or a straightforward new run, we would love to help. We cover Paignton, Torquay, Brixham and the rest of Torbay, and we are always happy to talk through closeboard, height and the best way to treat the boundary you already have.
Get in touch for a free site visit and quote, or call Joe on 01803 494348.
You can also see another recent job nearby in our 3ft closeboard boundary fence in Paignton case study, or an earlier Paignton garden and side passage closeboard case study.
