In most cases, no. You can erect a fence up to 2 metres high without planning permission, provided it does not border a road or footpath, where the limit drops to 1 metre. If your property is in a conservation area, or has permitted development rights removed, additional restrictions may apply. It is always worth checking with your local council before starting work.
Garden Fencing Supplies: Panels, Posts, Gates & Fixings
MacBlair stocks a full range of garden fencing materials to cover everything from a quick panel replacement to a complete boundary installation from scratch. Fence panels are available in lap, closeboard, and featheredge styles in heights from 1.2m to 1.8m, with pressure-treated timber as standard to resist rot and fungal decay. Matching fence posts come in both timber and concrete options to suit different ground conditions and panel weights.
The range covers every component needed to complete a fence run properly. Pick up fence post supports for a faster, no-dig installation, or use Postcrete to set posts securely in concrete. Additional products include:
- Fence rails and arris rails for custom closeboard builds
- Wire netting for agricultural and domestic boundary marking
- Trellis panels for decorative screening or climbing plant support
- Garden gates with a full selection of hinges, latches, and padbolts
Gate hardware is stocked in depth. Gate hinges, latches and gate fittings, and padbolts are all available as individual items, useful when repairing an existing gate rather than replacing the whole thing. Pressure-treated timber throughout the range meets BS 8417 treatment standards, making it suitable for ground contact applications where service life matters.
Once the fence is up, protect the timber with fence paint or a wood preservative treatment to extend its life and keep it looking well season after season. MacBlair delivers across Northern Ireland, so materials can be ordered online and delivered directly to site or home without the hassle of a builder's merchant run.
Fencing FAQ's
Lap panels use horizontal overlapping boards and are the most common and affordable option for garden boundaries. Closeboard fencing uses vertical featheredge boards fixed to arris rails, creating a stronger and more wind-resistant structure. Closeboard is generally the better choice for exposed sites or where maximum privacy and durability are priorities.
A general rule is to bury one third of the total post length in the ground. For a standard 1.8m (6ft) fence, posts are typically 2.4m long, with around 600mm set below ground level. The hole should be roughly 300mm wide and filled with fast-setting post mix concrete such as Postcrete, which sets in around 10 minutes and can be tamped to a neat finish.
Yes. Fence post supports, sometimes called bolt-down post spikes or post anchors, allow posts to be fixed to an existing hard surface or driven into soft ground without excavating a hole. They are a quicker option for replacing a single post or installing fencing on a patio or concrete base. For a full new fence run in open ground, setting posts in concrete generally gives a more secure and longer-lasting result.
Start with pressure-treated timber rated for ground contact use, which meets BS 8417 treatment standards. Keep panels off the soil by using gravel boards at the base of the fence run. Apply a fence paint or wood preservative every couple of years to maintain the protective coating, particularly on cut ends where treatment penetration is lower. Good airflow around posts and avoiding soil build-up against the timber also makes a noticeable difference to service life.