Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. Only the apps you allow.

Meet the Other Phone.
Only the apps you allow.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
Gardening

Find tips and tricks to make your garden or allotment flourish on our Gardening forum.

Original poster

Neighbour's ColourFence

82 replies

brokenstone · 02/05/2023 13:52

Hi there

My neighbour has installed a ColourFence which is not to our taste. It's metal and I dislike the colour so I don't think I can paint it and I doubt they would want me to. Also, it makes an awful noise when anything hits its. I feel like I have a container ship in the garden!

I think I'll probably have to put our own fence in front of it but I was just wondering if they was another way to hide it?

Many thanks

Neighbour's ColourFence
OP posts:
Original poster
brokenstone · 02/05/2023 13:53

Also, the trellis is very low so they can now see into our house and garden.

OP posts:
BIWI · 02/05/2023 13:53

That's hideous!

But if it's on their boundary, not much you can do about it.

Best thing would be to plant a climbing shrub to grow up/across it I think.

OhhhhhhhhBiscuits · 02/05/2023 13:54

You could put some trellis up in front (not attached to their fence) and grow some climbers up it, to hide it.

I dont think it's that bad. They are becoming more and more popular and also cost an absolute fortune so don't start attaching stuff to it or it could all kick off and they could ask you to pay for any damage.

HeddaGarbled · 02/05/2023 13:59

Hedge!

I am such a fan of hedges instead of or in front of fences. We’ve got blackbirds nesting in ours 🐦 ❤️ 🪺

sapphiredrago · 02/05/2023 14:12

That's hideous OP. Their choice though if it's on their side.

I would just grow something tall in front of it to hide it, or even as you say, put your own fence in front to completely block it out.

PiranhaTank · 02/05/2023 14:14

I don't think it's too bad either. On the plus side, you've got very expensive fencing that you didn't have to pay for and, in a couple of years, it will be hidden if you put some bushes, climbers etc in front of it.

Kvetching · 02/05/2023 14:16

Aargh that’s completely hideous. I’d be buying mature hedging plants like laurel or yew in a bid to obscure it entirely.

DiscoBeat · 02/05/2023 14:22

Beech hedging would be nice in front of it. That brown is not dissimilar to the colour of our beech hedges in the autumn and winter. And if you get the red version it will be blended the rest of the year as well. You can buy them as taller plants - we bought 5ft ones for part of the garden where we wanted quicker screening.

Original poster
brokenstone · 02/05/2023 14:32

Thank you all. I think I will go for hedging and plants to cover it.

It may well be expensive but it doesn't mean I have to like it!

OP posts:
Pottedpalm · 03/05/2023 08:54

It is hideous! I would go for a fence on your side, higher than theirs.

MrsPelligrinoPetrichor · 03/05/2023 08:58

A clematis would cover that in no time.

KnickerlessParsons · 03/05/2023 09:03

If you could paint it, it would look lovely in black with some shrubs in front of it. Why don't you try?

Allthegoodnamesarechosen · 03/05/2023 09:04

Everyone saying plants….they will ( or may, depending on the soil) do the job in time, but it’s going to take a few years. You seem to have gravel in front at the moment, does the fence have concrete footings?

I would go for trellis, it is cheaper than fencing , and surprisingly good at hiding what is behind. Any climbing plants will do better with a climbing frame ie trellis to grow up. You can also put things like mirrors or pictures ( I have done simple leaves on a bit of board sometimes to give extra depth. ) it’s easier and less light obstructing to have high trellis too.

faffadoodledo · 03/05/2023 09:06

I've seen some striking black or dark dark blue grey fencing lately. Can you paint your side? Dark colours make some planting combinations absolutely pop

SnarkyBag · 03/05/2023 09:07

I’d but laurel hedging up. Grows pretty quickly and in time will cover the whole fence and give you enough height for privacy.

SnarkyBag · 03/05/2023 09:08

Laurels will also help fill the sound of things hitting it

CheeseEaterEddie · 03/05/2023 09:14

You can buy "instant" hedging, loads of suppliers online depending what you want. Laurel will grow in shade and is lovely and thick, also evergreen. I have recently bought some 6ft laurels to fill a gap in an established hedge. You can't get higher than 7ft as they won't fit on a pallet. I paid around £70 each for my 6ft ones. That company doesn't have any in stock at that height left.

Alternatively, put your own fence in up against theirs at a taller height for instant privacy and paint it whatever colour you like.

HurryShadow · 03/05/2023 09:50

I think these types of Trellis panels would make it look nicer and you could grow clematis up it quite quickly, which would then look gorgeous when it flowers. I love clematis. Still haven't quite forgiven DH for chopping ours back so hard that it died.

Dip treated Trellis panel (W)1.22m (H)1.83m | DIY at B&Q

Dip treated Trellis panel (W)1.22m (H)1.83m - B&Q for all your home and garden supplies and advice on all the latest DIY trends

https://www.diy.com/departments/dip-treated-trellis-panel-w-1-22m-h-1-83m/3663602430636_BQ.prd

Daftasabroom · 03/05/2023 10:07

brokenstone · 02/05/2023 14:32

Thank you all. I think I will go for hedging and plants to cover it.

It may well be expensive but it doesn't mean I have to like it!

If you can put up with it for a while, bare rooted plants in spring are a fraction of the price of potted plants. Either way go to a hedging specialist, we've used Ashridge in the past. Maybe a screen of runner beans or sweet peas as a temporary thing.

ehb102 · 03/05/2023 10:19

I sympathise. My father has this all around his back garden. I think it looks like an industrial unit. He likes that he doesn't have to worry about it falling over or repairing it all the time plus it is very secure. The neighbour started it though.

OhhhhhhhhBiscuits · 03/05/2023 10:37

Please don't paint your side. You are likely to have a really irate neighbour, and also will need to use metal paint which to get a nice even coat isn't easy and will cost a fortune! You have no legal right to paint the fence, and could end up having to replace it.

MrsPelligrinoPetrichor · 03/05/2023 10:58

OhhhhhhhhBiscuits · 03/05/2023 10:37

Please don't paint your side. You are likely to have a really irate neighbour, and also will need to use metal paint which to get a nice even coat isn't easy and will cost a fortune! You have no legal right to paint the fence, and could end up having to replace it.

Really? Pretty sure you can paint something that's on your property.

OhhhhhhhhBiscuits · 03/05/2023 11:10

MrsPelligrinoPetrichor · 03/05/2023 10:58

Really? Pretty sure you can paint something that's on your property.

Show quote history

Nope. If the neighbour has paid fully and the fencing is within their boundary it is their property. You have no legal right to attach anything, paint it etc....... the type of fencing the OPs neighbour has costs approx £180-200 per panel plus fitting. So it could be a really expensive mistake to make of she did paint it and the neighbour kicked off. It would also cost a fortune in paint as I said, it's not normal wooden fencing it is metal fencing.

Reugny · 03/05/2023 11:11

MrsPelligrinoPetrichor · 03/05/2023 10:58

Really? Pretty sure you can paint something that's on your property.

Show quote history

No you can't paint a fence unless you own it or get permission from the owner.

They can take you to the small claims court if you don't get their permission and sue you for the damage to make good.