Frequently Asked Questions

Algae can build up on the surface of decking boards, which, when wet, can become very slippery.
Regular cleaning will help prevent your deck from becoming slippery.
For timber decking, some decking oils now give a nonslip finish.

Generally, above 30cm high requires planning permission. There are also other factors to consider, so we recommend a visit to the Government planning portal, where you will find all the latest information on what you can and can’t do.

Deer in this region are becoming a real problem for farmers, domestic gardeners, and on the roads.
The best way to keep Deer out of your property is to use 2m high Deer netting mounted on round or square posts. If your problem is with smaller types of Deer, you may be able to use a lower 1.5m height Universal netting fence with a couple of line wires above but leave some extra post sticking up in case you have to add more line wires later.

I think most people would agree that wooden posts look better than concrete posts, but concrete posts providing they are not damaged, will generally last longer. Concrete posts cost about 30% more than the wooden equivalent, so on a longer fence line, the extra initial cost can be quite significant, although, over the fence's expected lifetime, the concrete post option should work out cheaper.
If you don't like the look of concrete posts, consider using the "H" section metal Durapost instead, which comes in a range of colours and can be used for most styles of fencing.

To make life interesting, two widths of panels are available in the UK.
Continental-style panels are 1.8m wide, and UK panels are 1.83m (6 Feet) wide.
With the addition of packing pieces, continental panels will replace UK panels. However, UK panels will not fit between posts set up for continental panels.

It is usually easy to remove the decking board retaining screws (Use an Impact driver), then after checking that the supporting frame is still sound, replace it with a new board and screws. If your deck is well-weathered, check with your decking supplier, as they might have some weathered boards available to fit in with your existing decking.

Decking can be easily cleaned with a proprietary decking cleaner like our Knock Out, Decking, Driveway and Patio cleaner.
It is essential to follow the instructions on your chosen product. Using a pressure washer will make cleaning all types of decking easier. Take care when pressure washing wooden decking, as it is possible to damage the board's surface if the pressure is too high.

We do not recommend painting any type of wooden or composite decking.
Composite decking is available in various colours and finishes, and wooden decking can be stained if you need colour variations.

What treatment is best for your decking depends on the type of timber or composite the decking boards are made from. Most softwood decking is best treated with a good-quality UV oil, whilst hardwoods may require specific oils and cleaning fluids to look their best. For composite decking, you should follow the manufacturer's instructions.
It is best to check with the installer, supplier or manufacturer whether your type of decking has any particular requirements for treating and cleaning, as these can sometimes be specified as part of product guarantees.
We have some blogs related to cleaning and retreating wooden decking.

What type of extra treatment you use on your gates depends on the wood your gates were made from. We have provided more information on treating gates supplied by Crestala on our information page Crestala gate care information.

Adding a little extra protection to your fencing is always a good idea. There are lots of alternatives available, both water-based and oil-based. We review the options on our information page for Looking after pressure-treated fencing.

Yes, we do. As well as Kent and East Sussex, we also deliver to parts of Surrey and South London. For full details about Crestala deliveries, please take a look at our Delivery information page.

A personal recommendation from someone you know and trust is always a good place to start if you can. Check online reviews and information about the company or tradesperson and get a fully itemised written quote for the work. If you are only given a mobile number and no address or something very vague, beware, as this is typical of many of the "cowboys" you want to avoid, as it makes them very difficult to trace if you have any problems. Instead, ask for names and addresses of previous satisfied customers; genuine companies and tradespeople are usually happy to provide this information. Most reputable tradespeople will accept payment in full on completion of the work or a deposit. Beware of demands for full payment upfront.
Never accept an offer to repair your fence from someone you don't know who knocks on your door and offers to fix your fences.

Yes, we do accept returns on the following basis.

1. Goods returned for credit or refund is subject to the following conditions.

• Standard stock item in a good resaleable condition and, if applicable, in its original packaging.
• Less than 30 days from the date of purchase.
• Accompanied by the original receipt.
• A minimum administration charge of 20%.

2. The following items will NOT be accepted for refunds or credit.

• Post mix and Cement or any powder products.
• Aggregates. (Bulk or plastic bags of sand, ballast, shingle, tarmac or winter grit)
• Any liquids.  (Wood treatments, wood preservatives, end seals, wood oils, wood cleaners or bitumen products.)
• Any timber cut to size, mortised or machined especially to meet your order.
• Any special order products. (Products purchased or manufactured specifically to fulfil your order.)

Refunds are made in the same way as the original payment was received. Card, BACS or Cash.
A charge will be made for any goods that require collection. Goods will only be collected from the original address that we initially delivered to.
In all cases, the credit will not be processed until the goods have been returned to our yard and inspected. Our Returns Policy is in addition to your statutory rights. For our Terms and Conditions of Sale please click here

Deliveries will be to the front or roadside of the property, accessible by good road or hardstanding and will be offloaded adjacent to the vehicle near side. Goods cannot be moved over distance. We recognise that sometimes this can cause problems, particularly for our disabled customers, so it is possible to make special arrangements by prior agreement. This may incur a charge.

You can read our full Delivery Terms & Conditions here.

Firstly, we do not recommend that any form of paint be applied to our fencing.
All our wooden fencing materials are pressure treated except for our Brown Waney panels which are dip treated. Therefore, retreatment is not necessary. However, we recommend treating your fence with UV oil shortly after the fence is erected.
Timber fencing is made from a natural product that reacts to its environment. Wet, dry, hot, humid, sunny, overcast or cold. All types of weather affect the timber used to make up your fence. This causes fencing timbers to warp, twist, shrink, expand or develop shakes (splits in the wood). Simplified, all these are caused by moisture movement into or out of the timber.

Unfortunately, the pressure treatment process used to protect your fencing also adds a lot of extra moisture.
If we can slow down how much water the wood absorbs or how quickly water evaporates from the timber, it will reduce the severity of any problems.
Two coats of good UV oil can alleviate the movement of moisture in both directions, repelling rain and sealing the tiny holes in the surface of the timber that lets moisture out. It will also help your fence last longer and retain its colour and look for longer.

A lot will depend on what type and quantity of fencing you are putting up. For most common fence styles a good starting list would be:

• Hammer
• Saw
• Gloves
• Level
• String line
• Tape measure
• Fencers graft  (Strong, narrow blade spade with a long handle for digging deep holes)
• Double shovels (Long-handled to facilitate removal of soil from deep holes)

Having both graft and double shovels will make hole digging much quicker and easier, but if you only need to dig one or two holes, then you can very often manage without either. (I have used a simple garden trowel on several occasions to dig a tight, deep fence post hole!)

All of these tools are in our Tool section and available as part of your fencing order.

A quick, approximate way is to divide the length of the fence by the width of the panel you intend to use plus the width of the fence post you have chosen.
E.g  So you have 27m (88.5ft) of fencing needed. Panel width is 1.83m (6ft) with the post width 10cm (4” or 0.33ft) = 1.93m

27 divided by 1.93 = 14. So you would need 14 panels & 15 posts.

88.5 divided by 6.33ft  = 14. So you would need 14 panels & 15 posts.

Of course, if you want an accurate overall price all the materials you need, contact our Sales Team, and they will happily do all the working out for you.

No, you don’t have to set your post in any form concrete; however, if you don’t, the chances of you having problems with loose fence posts later on are significantly increased.

There are alternatives to mixing up the more traditional ballast and cement dry mix concrete used for fencing, the favourite being fast setting postmix. Just follow the instructions on the bag. Most people seem to find that 1 ½ to 2 bags per post is about right.

There are also various expanding foams, which at first glance, seem quick and easy to use. However, we have tried several different brands intending to stock them but found they were harder to use than you might think, and the results were not consistent.

Generally, if you are replacing your fence like for like you should be OK, but if the fence is over 2m high you should check before putting it up.
When putting up a new fence, you have to be more careful. In broad terms, you can go up to 2 metres high or 1 meter high adjacent to a road. 

Please check this link to the Government Planning Portal which gives some general guidance on fence height. These general guidelines can vary depending on where you live. If you are in any doubt, we advise that you check with your local planning office.

Replacing or installing a new Deck may require planning permission. Please check this link to the Government Planning Portal which gives some general guidance on what decking is allowed without asking for planning permission. These general guidelines can vary depending on where you live. If you are in any doubt, we advise that you check with your local planning office.

Timber is a naturally porous material and as such can absorb or release moisture depending on the weather conditions. This natural process is generally not detrimental, but some movement in the timber may be unavoidable. This can include splitting, warping & twisting.

During hot weather fence panels and feather edge boards may become distorted. These should return to normal during cooler, wetter weather.

These natural characteristics do not usually affect the structural performance or life expectancy of the timber.

Yes, you can get a quote by adding your items to the quote cart and submitting the quote. You will be emailed your quote within 2 working days. Please note: payment is dealt with separately once an order has been placed and accepted. Alternatively, you can place an order with us by calling 01892 864646 or visiting our yard at South Farm, Langton Green near Tunbridge Wells.

Yes. All our timber is pressure treated (unless otherwise stated) to the appropriate level for its general use, including UC4 for fence posts. See information on Pressure treatments for further details.

No problem! Our experienced team are always happy to help. You can contact us through the online form, call us on 01892 864646 or visit our yard at South Farm, Langton Green near Tunbridge Wells to discuss your requirements.

Unfortunately we do not offer a fitting service. However we will be happy to help you find someone in your local area that can assist you with this if required.

To maintain fair delivery charges to all our customers, charges are based on the location and requirements of each customer. Minimum order values may apply. Please contact us to discuss your requirements.

We offer free local delivery* for orders over £400 including VAT.
(* Excludes Trade & discounted orders. Delivery location within 10 km of our yard.)

Yes. We have a local delivery service. Our standard delivery area includes the areas surrounding Cranbrook, Crowborough, East Grinstead, Edenbridge, Hawkhurst, Heathfield, Marden, Oxted, Paddock Wood, Sevenoaks, Staplehurst, Tonbridge, Tunbridge Wells, West Malling and Uckfield.

In South and South East London we can deliver to Bromley & Croyden areas. (CR and BR postcodes)

We do have an extended delivery area outside of the standard delivery area. This is by special arrangement only.

For more details on our delivery areas, please see our Delivery Information page.