Practical points for boundary work in Cockfosters
Washing off mould before treatment
Black mould spotting, distinct from green algae, tends to appear on shaded timber with poor airflow behind it, such as a fence panel sitting close against dense shrub planting on one side.
A proprietary fungicidal wash left to dwell before rinsing removes far more of the surface growth than a plain water wash, which can spread spores across the surface rather than lifting them off.
Cutting back planting to restore airflow behind the affected section addresses the underlying cause; treating the timber alone without improving ventilation usually sees the mould return within a year.
Construction hoarding versus the permanent boundary
Temporary site hoarding during a build is a separate specification from the permanent boundary that eventually replaces it — hoarding is chosen for site security and public safety during works, often under a party wall or highways licence, while the permanent fence is chosen for the finished property.
Where a boundary needs both, it's worth planning the sequence so the permanent fence isn't installed and then damaged by ongoing construction traffic before the build finishes.
Hoarding on a public highway usually needs its own licence from the council, separate from any planning permission covering the building work itself, and unlicensed hoarding on a footway can be removed by the authority.
Certificates of lawfulness for existing boundary structures
A Certificate of Lawfulness of Existing Use or Development can formally confirm that an existing boundary structure was lawfully built, which is useful where there's uncertainty or a dispute about historic permissions.
This is different from planning permission itself — it's a factual confirmation of lawful status, often sought before a property sale to resolve a conveyancing query.
Where a long-standing boundary fence's planning history is unclear, applying for this kind of certificate can settle the question more reliably than relying on assumption.
Haunching a post base above ground level
Haunching means shaping the concrete around a post so it stands slightly proud of the surrounding ground and slopes away from the post in all directions, rather than finishing flush or dished.
That slope sheds rainwater away from the timber-to-concrete interface, which is the point most prone to trapping moisture and starting rot at the base of an otherwise sound post.
A flush or dished base, by contrast, holds a shallow puddle around the post after every rainfall, quietly shortening the post's life regardless of how well the timber itself was treated.
Garden levels raised by decking or patios
A raised deck or built-up patio on one side of a boundary can leave the finished surface level noticeably higher than the fence's original ground-level reference, sometimes reducing the effective fence height as seen from that side.
Where a neighbour raises their ground level after a fence is already installed, drainage that previously ran away from the fence can be redirected toward it, so it's worth checking finished levels on both sides before agreeing a new fence height or base detail.
A fence installed at the same time as a client's own raised patio should account for the new level from the outset, rather than being set to the pre-existing grade and later needing extension.
Resolving height and style disputes with a neighbour
Disagreements over a shared fence usually come down to height, style or who's responsible for a section, and most are resolved fastest with a plain conversation and a written note of what's agreed before work starts.
Where a genuine dispute over the boundary line itself exists, the Land Registry title plan (not the fence's current position) is the reference point, and a RICS-qualified boundary surveyor can produce a determined line if the deeds are ambiguous.
We'd always rather delay a start date by a week to get sign-off from both sides than build a fence that has to be moved once a dispute surfaces.
