Hertfordshire · Landscaping & Outdoor Spaces

Fencing and gates in St Albans

Typical time on site: 1–3 days for a typical garden. Guide price in St Albans: £1,250–£3,200 including VAT.

New close-board timber fence with concrete posts and a side gate

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Fencing installation is setting fence posts into the ground, usually in concrete, and fixing panels or boards between them to mark a boundary, add privacy or keep children and pets in, with gates fitted where access is needed.

From a first conversation about new fencing and gates to the day the site is cleared, homeowners in St Albans deal with us directly. We come out to measure up at no cost, explain the choices in plain terms and send a written quote. For context, comparable work in the East of England usually falls within £1,250–£3,200 including VAT, and it is available across AL1 and AL2.

Guide price
£1,250–£3,200 inc VAT
Time on site
1–3 days for a typical garden
Postcodes
AL1 and AL2
Planning rules
England
Local area
Hertfordshire
Survey
Free, with a written quote

How much do new fencing and gates cost in St Albans?

The table below shows guide prices for new fencing and gates in St Albans. They are based on rates in the East of England, which run about 5% above the national guide, giving an overall range of £1,250–£3,200. All figures include VAT and are firmed up after a free site survey.

Type of jobWhat it usually involvesGuide in St Albans
Repairs or a short runReplacing a few panels and posts, or a short run of up to about 6m.£300–£950
Typical garden boundaryAbout 20m of panel or closeboard fencing with concrete posts and gravel boards.£1,250–£3,200
Composite or long runs with gatesComposite or premium fencing, longer runs, or a driveway gate.£3,200–£7,400

What moves the price up or down:

  • Total length and height of fencing
  • Fence style and material: panels, closeboard or composite
  • Post type: concrete, timber or aluminium
  • Number, size and type of gates

What do you get?

  • Measured survey of each fence run, levels and slopes
  • Removal and disposal of the old fence and posts
  • Concrete or timber posts set in concrete
  • Concrete or timber gravel boards to keep panels off the soil
  • Panels or boards fixed level or stepped to follow the ground
  • Gates hung with hinges, latches and locks
Closeboard or featheredgeVertical boards on rails, strong and solid for privacy and exposed sites.
Slatted or hit-and-missHorizontal or alternating boards for a modern look that lets air through.
Composite fencingLow-maintenance boards in aluminium or concrete posts that do not rot or need painting.
Side and driveway gatesTimber, metal or composite gates with secure latches and locks.

Local housing and new fencing and gates

Hertfordshire is home to the first garden cities, Letchworth and Welwyn Garden City, and the post-war new towns of Stevenage, Hatfield and Hemel Hempstead. Watford and St Albans have Victorian terraces and Georgian streets, interwar semis line the commuter suburbs, and brick-and-flint cottages appear in Chiltern villages to the west.

New-town and garden-city homes often suit extensions, window replacement and roofline renewal, though some garden-city estates have their own design guidance. Victorian terraces commonly take loft rooms and side-return extensions.

Whatever era your St Albans home dates from, we plan new fencing and gates around how it is actually built rather than a one-size-fits-all specification.

Do you need permission in St Albans?

Planning law differs across the UK. For a home in St Albans, it is the England rules below that count, and we check them with the council ahead of any quote.

In England, fences, walls and gates up to 2 m high are usually permitted development, or up to 1 m where they are next to a road used by vehicles or its footpath. Listed buildings, conservation areas and estates with planning conditions can be stricter.

Building Regulations do not apply to ordinary garden fences, but boundary lines should be agreed with your neighbour first.

Rules change and every property is different, so we check the planning history and constraints for your address before we quote.

From survey to handover

  1. A visit to your home

    First, someone visits your home in St Albans to see the space, take measurements and note anything that could affect the work, such as access or the condition of what is there. There is no charge for this visit.

  2. Quote in writing

    We put everything into a written, fixed-price quote: the specification, what's excluded, staged payments and the expected time on site. Take whatever time you need to decide; there's no pressure to commit.

  3. Getting ready

    Next comes planning the work itself. We set a start date that suits you, line up the right trades, and make sure any approvals for new fencing and gates are in place before the first day on site.

  4. Finish and handover

    The work is carried out to the agreed specification, with floors and furniture protected and the site kept tidy. At the end we clean up, walk through the finished job with you and hand over any certificates.

What you can expect from us

Permissions checked firstWe check whether planning permission or building control approval is needed for your property, and handle applications and notices where they apply.
Tidy, protected work areasFloors, furniture and access routes are covered and protected while we work, and the site is tidied at the end of every working day.
One contract, several tradesJobs that need builders, plasterers, electricians and decorators come under a single contract, so you are not coordinating separate firms yourself.
Realistic timetablesWe give you an honest estimate of time on site at the quote stage and keep you informed if anything affects the programme once work starts.

Questions about new fencing and gates in St Albans

How much does a new fence cost?

About 20m of new panel or closeboard fencing with concrete posts costs £1,250–£3,200, including removal of the old fence. As a guide, allow roughly £55–£130 per metre plus a small fixed cost for removal and waste. Lap panels sit at the lower end, while closeboard, slatted and composite fencing cost more. Gates, slopes and hard ground add to the price. We confirm a fixed price after measuring.

Can I stay at home during the work?

In most cases, yes. Most people can live at home throughout, and we plan the work to keep disruption down by protecting floors, agreeing working hours and keeping access routes clear. Bigger jobs affecting kitchens, bathrooms or heating may mean a short spell with reduced facilities, and we talk this through with you at the survey.

Do I need planning permission in St Albans?

It depends on the work, the size of the project, your property type and whether the building is listed or in a conservation area. St Albans is in England, so England's rules apply. Many smaller jobs need no planning application, but some still need building control approval. We check what applies to your address before quoting.

How long does it take to replace a fence?

Replacing a typical 20m garden fence usually takes one to two days, including taking down the old fence, setting posts in concrete and fitting panels or boards. Longer runs, slopes, hard ground and gates take longer. Post concrete needs time to set before panels are fully loaded. We give you an expected timeline with your quote.

How do I make my fence last longer?

A fence lasts longer when timber is kept off the soil and protected from moisture. Gravel boards beneath the panels, concrete posts and keeping plants and soil away from the fence all help. Treat timber with a preservative or stain every few years, and replace damaged boards promptly. Composite fencing needs only occasional washing.

Near St Albans

St Albans and its AL1 and AL2 postcodes are part of our coverage. Homeowners in Harpenden, Hatfield and Hemel Hempstead can also book a free survey with us and receive a written price for their job.

Planning new fencing and gates in St Albans?

Start with a free site survey for new fencing and gates in St Albans. You'll receive a written quote showing exactly what is included and how the payments are staged.

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