Should I repair or replace a broken fence panel?
It depends on the posts. If the posts are solid and the panel has simply blown out or split, a new panel usually slots straight in. If a post has rotted at ground level or snapped, the post needs replacing first, or the new panel will soon lean again.
Timber posts tend to rot where they meet the ground. Concrete posts and gravel boards last much longer, and are worth considering if you're replacing a run of fence. After a windy spell, it's often a mix: a couple of panels, one post and a gate latch.
Much of Leicester sits on clay soil that stays wet for long periods, which can speed up rot at the base of timber posts. Setting posts in concrete with the top shaped to shed water, or using concrete posts, helps them last.
- Panel only
- Posts sound, panel split or blown out.
- Post and panel
- Post rotten at the base or leaning.
- Gravel boards
- Keep panels off wet soil so they last longer.
- Full run
- Several posts gone; replacing is often better value.
Who is responsible for a boundary fence?
It depends on your property deeds. There is no general rule that the left-hand or right-hand fence is yours. The title deeds or title plan may show who owns or must maintain a boundary, sometimes with a "T" mark on one side, but many don't say either way.
You can usually get a copy of your title register and title plan from HM Land Registry. If the documents are unclear, it's best to agree with your neighbour before work starts, and get legal advice if there's a dispute. We can't decide who owns a fence, but we're happy to price the repair for whichever of you is arranging it.
Can you fix a gate that drags or won't latch?
Usually, yes. A dropped gate is normally caused by loose or worn hinges, a sagging frame, or a post that has moved. Tightening or replacing the hinges, adding a brace, or resetting the post often brings it back into line.
We also fit new latches, bolts and hinges, and replace gates that are past saving. A side gate that doesn't shut properly is a security weak spot, so it's worth sorting early.
If you'd like more security at the side of the house, an outside light or a camera can be added in the same visit, since Norman does the electrical side too.
Can you build a shed and put power in it?
Yes. We assemble new sheds and garden storage, and repair existing ones: felt roofs, rotten boards, doors and windows. A shed needs a firm, level base to last, so we check this from your photos. A base that holds water or sits on bare soil can rot the floor well before its time. If the fence beside the shed needs a new panel too, it can go on the same list.
Power and lighting in a shed is electrical work, and Norman is an electrician. It's done to the current Wiring Regulations (BS 7671, 18th Edition), and a new circuit to an outbuilding is notified to building control as the law requires. An outdoor socket on the house wall can usually go on the same visit.