It is always good to be asked back. This Paignton customer had used us before, and this time they wanted a low boundary along the side of their garden: something that marked the line clearly and looked smart, without walling in a garden they had clearly put a lot of work into.
The answer was a 3ft closeboard fence, built on site down a sloping garden beside an established flower bed, rockery and path.
The finished 3ft closeboard boundary stepping up the slope beside the rockery and flower bed.
The Project: A Low Boundary That Respects the Garden
The run follows the side of the plot, beside a planted flower bed and a rockery, then carries on down the slope towards the front of the property. The planting right up against the line was a big part of the brief. The bed, the rockery and an established palm all had to stay where they were.
What the project involved:
- A 3ft closeboard fence built on site from feather-edge boards
- New timber posts with metal post caps
- Two rails between the posts, run with the slope of the garden
- Timber gravel boards along the base so the boards stay off the damp soil of the bed
- A capping rail along the top to protect the end grain and give a clean finish
- Working around the established flower bed, rockery and palm so the planting stayed in place
Posts and rails going in around the rockery, with the planting left in place.
Why a 3ft Fence Works Here
Not every boundary needs to be 6ft. A low fence marks the line and leaves the garden feeling open, with light and views kept. On a sloping plot, a lower fence also looks far less imposing from the other side.
Closeboard suits a low fence just as well as a tall one. The overlapping feather-edge boards give a solid, gap-free face, and building on site means each bay can step or rake with the ground instead of leaving gaps under drop-in panels. If you prefer something more open at this height, our picket fence installation page shows another option.
Height is worth thinking about early, especially where a fence gets close to a road. Our guide to choosing the right fence height covers the usual limits across Torquay and Torbay.
The frame runs the length of the flower bed, with the gravel board already set along the base.
Following the fall of the ground, the rails run with the slope rather than fighting it.
The Installation
We started with the frame: posts set along the line and rails fixed between them, following the fall of the ground. Gravel boards went in at the base, then the feather-edge boards were fixed board by board, with the capping rail along the top.
Working beside an established bed means taking care with every post hole and every step along the line. The posts were placed to avoid the larger plants and stones, and the bed and rockery were left planted once the fence was finished.
A low, tidy boundary that keeps the garden open while still marking the line clearly.
From the other side, the posts, rails and gravel boards follow the slope of the lawn.
The Result
The garden now has a neat, low closeboard boundary that follows the slope, sits comfortably beside the flower bed and rockery, and gives a clean timber line from the back of the garden down towards the front. Thank you to our returning customer for having us back.
The run carries on past the established palm, which stayed exactly where it was.
Whether you need a low boundary like this one, a full-height privacy fence, or a mix of both in Paignton or elsewhere in Torbay, get in touch for a free site visit and quote.
Call Joe on 01803 494348.
You can also see another recent job in our Paignton garden and side passage closeboard case study.
