FAQs - Fencing

The team at Farmac have many years experience giving our customers expert advice on their fencing, decking and landscaping projects. When customers visit our shop in Pudsey, West Yorkshire, we are frequently asked questions which we feel would be of use to others. We hope the questions below will be helpful to you. If you have a particular question which is not answered, please contact us and we will do our best to help.

  • Q. Do European fence panels need further preservative treatment?

    We are often asked if you need to treat European fence panels with preservative and the answer is it’s always useful to help to seal the timber by adding timber treatments to your new fence but not essential. Depending on what time of year you fit your wooden fence it may be appropriate to allow the wood to dry out a little before painting it with timber preservative or fence stain.

  • Q. Do I need to pre order my fencing products or do you have the materials in stock?

    We generally have the products listed on our website in stock, but in busy periods it’s best to check first. If you are collecting we can also have your order put to one side for easier loading. For larger quantities, we always advise ordering in advance.

  • Q. Do Overlap and Featheredge panels need further preservative treatment?

    Our Golden brown fence panels are treated by dipping them in a preservative treatment. To help stabilise the timber it is a good idea to treat them as soon as they have dried out a little with a good quality fence preservative.

  • Q. How do I calculate how much fencing I need?

    If you are unsure how to calculate what materials you require for your fencing project contact us with the details and one of our experienced staff will try and help you to work out quantities and costings. If you are unsure about any DIY project we recommend that you seek professional advice.

    NB We will always do our very best to help you decide what materials are required but we cannot be held responsible for the final list of materials you order.

  • Q. How long can I expect pressure treated timber to last?

    Our fencing timber components are pressure treated for a long life. You could expect at least 15 years life span for most Tanalised products given normal wear and tear.

    NB.Weather changes can affect timber making it shrink or expand. As a result of the changes , knot-holes, cracks or warping may occur - this is, unfortunately, beyond our control. Colour may vary from time to time and may also vary from pictures shown.

  • Q. How much concrete or postmix do I need per post?

    That depends on the size of the hole. I would recommend keeping the hole as tight as possible. Digging a great bomb crater will require more filling. It is best to use 1 bag of postmix for each post up to 1.2m high out of the ground and 1.5 bags for posts longer than 1.2m. Postmix in 20kg bags should fill a hole of 300x300x300mm.If mixing your own concrete I would recommend using 25kg per post up to 1.2m and 40kg for anything longer to ensure it remains stable.

  • Q. My wooden post has snapped? Can it be fixed?

    Yes using a Metpost repair spur. Cut off your old wooden post at ground level and then drive the repair spur into the old post. Your new fence post then simply wedges into the repair spur.

  • Q. What can I do to protect my fencing from strong winds?

    Well, I hate to admit it but not a lot. A lot of standard, budget construction fence panels are 'closed boarded', meaning there is no way for the wind pass through and so act as a wind break.

    Most of the European panels such as the Omega Lattice Top and the Square Top Horizontal are alternately boarded on both sides to allow the wind to pass through. If your fence is a rail and pail construction, again with gaps between the boards, wind will most likely pass through causing little or no damage.

    If your fence is fairly new it has a better chance of surviving the harsh weather. Rotting posts and panels, skew-whiff posts, exposed concrete at the base of the post are all signs it could be ready to go.

    All in all it's a suck it and see situation. Fingers crossed! :-) If it does fall over, please contact us as we should be able to help.

  • Q. What is the best mix for concreting in fence posts?

    The most popular option is to buy a ready mixed postcrete which is fast setting and comes in 20kg bags. Alternatively, you can do it the old fashioned way, mixing 5 parts ballast with 1 part cement.

  • Q. Why would I choose a concrete post instead of wooden?

    Concrete posts will not rot and it may stand up to bad weather better in the long run. Timber posts are all pressure treated so shouldn’t rot in the short term either. You don’t need to treat concrete or timber posts with preservative.