How we research
Where our information comes from, and how we decide what to trust.
Garden fencing sits where practical DIY meets property law and planning rules. Each needs a different kind of source. Here is how we approach the research for every guide.
1. Law and planning: primary sources first
For rules on height, planning permission, high hedges, dogs and boundaries, we start with the legislation itself on legislation.gov.uk and official guidance on GOV.UK and the Planning Portal. We then check the equivalent position in Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland using the devolved governments' own sites. Where we cannot confirm a detail for a particular nation, we say so and point readers to the official source rather than guessing.
2. Materials: standards and technical guidance
For timber treatment we rely on the published use class system in BS EN 335 and guidance from the timber preservation industry body. For posts, concrete and fixings we use manufacturers' published technical information across several products rather than one brand.
3. Practical method
Installation and repair steps reflect widely used methods, cross-checked across several technical sources, and the author's own experience of doing garden jobs. Where methods vary, for example post depths, we give the common working figures and explain the reasoning so readers can adjust for their site.
4. Prices
Cost figures are broad estimates based on the general level of retail prices and labour costs at the time of writing. We give ranges rather than single figures, date them, and say plainly that they are not quotes.
5. What we avoid
- Copying rules from other fencing websites without checking the original source.
- Presenting conventions, such as T-marks or "the good side faces out", as law.
- Product recommendations, since we do not test products.
Every guide then goes through our fact-checking process. The main references are listed on our sources page.