Thanks for your thoughts. You could be right about the plants. The finishing of the fence was more of an expectation (based on my neighbours fence). We only had an agreement for the contractor to install a fence I never thought to make an agreement based the finished appearance.
It should seems odd that when I'm out and about and see other new fencing put up they all seem to look like my neighbours (pre varnishing) compared to the appearance of mine.
I guess it is something I will have to get used to and hopefully time and weathering will improve the appearance more to my liking.
I don't care for the colour of the neighbouring fence either but it's all a matter of personal taste.
Mine is all stained an olivey green to blend in with the background and the planting. Perhaps you could do something similar, especially as you have planting in front of it to grow and gradually cover it. A darker shade gradually disappears as planting matures. Alternatively you could opt for a contrasting shade to highlight the plants.
Give it a bit of time and see how you feel. The winter weather will change the appearance and by spring you might like it better - or you might feel the need to get the paintbrush out
It's a place where beautiful isn't enough of a word....
I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
I had a similar fence erected 3 years ago, and painted it with a forest green "Ducksback". Now the planting all blends in aand the fence has more or less disappeared.
Yes contractor did advise to wait at least a year before painting (and also to add a bit of turps in as well). I would think both Lyn and Kezza are correct in reasons for gaps in timbers.
I'd like to show a photo of part of my fence as I'm also a bit puzzled about one or two things, although I still like your fence.
Regarding those gaps. I've got similar fencing and don't have those gaps. Mine have been placed so they overlap about 1/2 an inch. Also I have upright posts about 6 foot apart plus horizontal cross bars going along the whole fence, 3 in fact, one near the base, one in the middle and one near the top. I also have boards (not sure of the technical name) along the base so there is no gap underneath. You can see it just above the shingle line below.
Another thing you might have to watch out for as this has happened to mine in recent years (my fence is 8 years old and never been painted)... is that some of those knots in the wood might blow through and holes can appear (handy if you're a nosey neighbour I suppose...lol) I've got several in mine but as I've got lots of bushes growing up, I don't notice them too much and I like to keep them as I can look to the fields beyond where often see wildlife, otherwise I'd have to get them replaced if I had a neighbour the other side. I think you can see from this how the panels overlap. I'm not sure whether this is right or wrong mind you.
..here's what I mean about getting holes in the wood. This does make me laugh, whoppers !...people must think I'm some kind of perv of summat...lol.. but my binoculars fit these exactly and I can watch any wildlife that appears over the fence - it's a big field beyond... however, as you can see, I've got a big Rosemary bush growing up which will soon give cover but I shall still manage access... my neighbours all know I'm mad,... so... whatever...
...you wouldn't want these on your fence though...beware...!
Overlapping boards (featherboards?) are the norm. The piece of timber touching the ground that is sturdy and horizontal is call gravel board, it is what I made my raised veg bed from. I used concrete gravel boards and posts for longevity on my fence.
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Hi Nutcutlet.
Thanks for your thoughts. You could be right about the plants. The finishing of the fence was more of an expectation (based on my neighbours fence). We only had an agreement for the contractor to install a fence I never thought to make an agreement based the finished appearance.
It should seems odd that when I'm out and about and see other new fencing put up they all seem to look like my neighbours (pre varnishing) compared to the appearance of mine.
I guess it is something I will have to get used to and hopefully time and weathering will improve the appearance more to my liking.
I don't care for the colour of the neighbouring fence either but it's all a matter of personal taste.
Mine is all stained an olivey green to blend in with the background and the planting. Perhaps you could do something similar, especially as you have planting in front of it to grow and gradually cover it. A darker shade gradually disappears as planting matures. Alternatively you could opt for a contrasting shade to highlight the plants.
Give it a bit of time and see how you feel. The winter weather will change the appearance and by spring you might like it better - or you might feel the need to get the paintbrush out
I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
I would say the neighbours fence has been painted with fence paint. I was advised to wait 1 or 2 years before painting so timber can 'weather'.
I'm puzzled as to why both fences have gaps between all the timbers, is there a reason for this?
I would think there are slight gaps to let the wind through, otherwise the whole lot could get flattened in a gale which I've seen happen before
I would think the gaps are for expansion, when it gets constantly wet in the winter, it will swell, its not overlap, just butted.
Hi Artjak
Yes contractor did advise to wait at least a year before painting (and also to add a bit of turps in as well). I would think both Lyn and Kezza are correct in reasons for gaps in timbers.
I'd like to show a photo of part of my fence as I'm also a bit puzzled about one or two things, although I still like your fence.
Regarding those gaps. I've got similar fencing and don't have those gaps. Mine have been placed so they overlap about 1/2 an inch. Also I have upright posts about 6 foot apart plus horizontal cross bars going along the whole fence, 3 in fact, one near the base, one in the middle and one near the top. I also have boards (not sure of the technical name) along the base so there is no gap underneath. You can see it just above the shingle line below.
Another thing you might have to watch out for as this has happened to mine in recent years (my fence is 8 years old and never been painted)... is that some of those knots in the wood might blow through and holes can appear (handy if you're a nosey neighbour I suppose...lol) I've got several in mine but as I've got lots of bushes growing up, I don't notice them too much and I like to keep them as I can look to the fields beyond where often see wildlife, otherwise I'd have to get them replaced if I had a neighbour the other side. I think you can see from this how the panels overlap. I'm not sure whether this is right or wrong mind you.
..here's what I mean about getting holes in the wood. This does make me laugh, whoppers !...people must think I'm some kind of perv of summat...lol.. but my binoculars fit these exactly and I can watch any wildlife that appears over the fence - it's a big field beyond... however, as you can see, I've got a big Rosemary bush growing up which will soon give cover but I shall still manage access... my neighbours all know I'm mad,... so... whatever...
...you wouldn't want these on your fence though...beware...!
Overlapping boards (featherboards?) are the norm. The piece of timber touching the ground that is sturdy and horizontal is call gravel board, it is what I made my raised veg bed from. I used concrete gravel boards and posts for longevity on my fence.