Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. Child-safe in minutes.

Meet the Other Phone.
Child-safe in minutes.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
Property/DIY

Join our Property forum for renovation, DIY, and house selling advice.

Original poster

Does this fence look silly?

58 replies

jjanice842 · 26/02/2022 22:33

In process of replacing both sides of fence with neighbours. One side asked for lower slats to stop the sun being blocked out which I went along with not really thinking about it. The fencer has almost finished and now I think it looks really stupid. What should I do? For info I know the garden slopes to the right but I am having that part of the garden raised and levelled off (covering path and retaining wall)

Does this fence look silly?
OP posts:
CrotchetyQuaver · 27/02/2022 00:33

It needs to be level all the way along like the other side. If the neighbours will agree 2foot of trellis on the top that side then they'll both be the same height and neighbours won't have sun blocked out.

Depending on what's on the RH neighbours side of their fence I realise that might be a very tall fence at the far end of the garden before it reaches the garage...

MarmiteCoriander · 27/02/2022 00:42

@NoIdeasForWittyNickname

Arent's the nieghbours bothered that with the reduced fence height you'll be able to see into their garden very easily, especially once the ground is raised? Confused
This! Cousin inherited and moved into her parents home. The fencing on 1 side was the same as yours and about 4ft high- because the previous neighbours were close friends. Confused

You can cope with 2ft extra of fencing and lack of sunlight that provides, SO can they cope!!! Yes, as it photo depicts, it does look ridiculous OP! Is this fence yours or theirs? Def go 6ft and tell them to sit on the other side of their garden in the sun if they want to.

HeddaGarbled · 27/02/2022 00:50

I like the lower fence. The high fence on the other side is very domineering and oppressive in such a narrow garden.

anotherheadache · 27/02/2022 01:39

There's no privacy. I would either add trellis or make as high as other side.

KloppsTeeth · 27/02/2022 01:46

I also like the lower fence. If I was adding trellis, I would go for some contemporary slatted trellis, or something from
screen with envy or Charles and Ivy that doesn’t ever need painting.
The lack of symmetry wouldn’t bother me. Fences near me are all sorts of different heights.

TigerLilyTail · 27/02/2022 02:54

Is the back fence 5 foot?

I think the 6-foot fence looks too high and the 4-foot too low, so I would have gone for 5-foot all around. But, I think it looks fine. It wouldn't bother me.

JaniceBingALing · 27/02/2022 03:16

Oh no OP it's awfully mismatched!! Good job you've realised before the job is finished and hopefully it won't be too much faff to replace with 6footers!

CosmicComfort · 27/02/2022 06:34

It doesn’t bother me but we have mismatched fences. I suppose though if I was replacing both sides at the same time I probably would want them to look the same🤷‍♀️

We have 6 foot panels one side which neighbours are responsible for and 3 foot wood slats which we replaced a long while ago. We do also have a lot of mature plants though. You do need that with a low fence. When we need to replace we will go a bit higher but not 6 foot. I do like the outlook 3 foot gives. More open and relaxed. Not keen on our neighbours though which makes it tricky.

Original poster
jjanice842 · 27/02/2022 07:20

The fencer hasn’t finished the job, he’s paused as I told him it looked ridiculous. LH wanted 6ft, RH wanted 6ft from back of house at patio then down to 4ft on slope. I’ve stupidly tried to please everyone. I think the slope makes the 4ft side look even worse. I’ll just need to ask him to change the 4ft to 6 and pray my neighbours don’t fall out with me. I could cry at how awful it is

OP posts:
illyawasthebest · 27/02/2022 07:24

Before you waste more money, try the trellis approach. I think trellis and fairly lights and it could look lovely OP.

The 6ft does look quite oppressive!

JaniceBingALing · 27/02/2022 07:26

Minimise risk of fall and and explain to them first

illyawasthebest · 27/02/2022 07:26

If you can afford to just redo, what about this sort of thing?

Does this fence look silly?
MarshaBradyo · 27/02/2022 07:26

It looks really odd put a trellis up

GeneLovesJezebel · 27/02/2022 07:29

Have it all the same and stuff the neighbours.

ItsSnowJokes · 27/02/2022 07:30

Good fences make good neighbours in my opinion. We have had 6 foot all the way around put in last year and it is great. Don't have to worry about the neighbours looking in, we painted them so they all match and it's our little haven.

MotherOfCrocodiles · 27/02/2022 07:40

Trellis. If you go up 6ft from your garden it will be looming, what, 8 foot over the neighbours who will have no sun.

I think once you have planting in you won't be bothered by the fence. IdeAlly the fence is not a feature you really notice. It's just because it is bare

Notmyyearthisyear · 27/02/2022 07:50

I think it’s so nice of you to have agreed to your neighbours request. If this offers them a little more sunshine, it’s worth it. Keep the posts for the moment and consider adding trellis, it will look great and you will have good neighbours to your side!

Soontobe60 · 27/02/2022 07:54

I’d put trellis up too, but I’d cut back the left hand side and add trellis so both fences match. If the RH fence has been made lower to allow sunlight in their garden, surely the LH fence will block sunlight into your own garden?
Nice dog BTW!

Plexie · 27/02/2022 08:08

How are you going to raise the level of the garden after the fence is installed? You'll need a retaining wall and that will block access to the new fence.

Chestofdraws · 27/02/2022 08:13

The ground needs to be raised before you do the fence op

TwoLeftSocksWithHoles · 27/02/2022 08:32

It certainly seems to be puzzling for your dog...

Bagelsandbrie · 27/02/2022 08:34

Have it all the same - it’s normal to have 6ft fences at the back and your neighbours will just have to accept it.

Kazzyhoward · 27/02/2022 08:41

Even if you had 6 feet fence panels on right, it'd still look odd with the ground being lower as the top of the fence posts on right are still lower than top of fence posts on left.

Alwayswonderedwhy · 27/02/2022 08:46

The fence on the left looks very high and makes a small garden look very boxed in. I'd make it the same height as the right and put trellis on top to break it up.
The right hand side will look ok once the posts are cut or some trellis added.

xxxsuper · 27/02/2022 08:47

LH wanted 6ft, RH wanted 6ft from back of house at patio then down to 4ft on slope. I’ve stupidly tried to please everyone.

I'm a bit puzzled that you even asked them let alone went along with their wishes really. I would probably go for trellis now but I really wouldn't have paid for a fence to suit next door anyway.