To finish off your land neatly, a clear boundary is always welcome. You can choose charming wooden palisades, elegant aluminium fencing, natural hedges… or a fence wall. Not only does it mark the limits of your garden, it also stops your dog from going off for a walk without you, while providing extra protection against intruders. To top it all off, a fence wall adds character to your property and can have a positive impact on its value. It would be a shame to go without it!
Why build a fence wall?
Fencing the boundaries of your property—whether with a wooden palisade, a PVC fence or a concrete block fence wall—offers many advantages.
Why fence your garden?
Choosing to clearly mark the boundaries of your garden allows you to:
- Define your space, and therefore limit any neighbour disputes over who owns those square metres along the edge of the plot, or simply stop passers-by from trampling your flowerbeds.
- Protect your children and some of your pets, by allowing them to play freely and safely in an enclosed area. It will not stop your cat from roaming wherever it pleases, but your dog will not go off for a walk without you.
- Depending on its height, a fence can act as a privacy screen, protecting you from prying eyes while still offering a view that you have chosen yourself.
- Deter burglars, who will struggle to climb over your protective palisade.
Why choose a fence wall?
You can choose to install a slim—though sturdy!—fence such as a wooden palisade, mesh fencing, a hedge (artificial or natural), aluminium fencing… Or you can opt for a fence wall. It offers several advantages: it is often stronger and more durable, and it adds character to your property. A good long-term option. A tall wall will also be an effective deterrent against potential thieves. And of course, it also comes with the benefits of traditional fencing.
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Which fence wall for your garden?
Thicker and often stronger, a fence wall comes in several materials, each with its own advantages:
A stone wall
Stone is the premium material par excellence for building an elegant, timeless wall around your property. It is the ideal choice for enhancing your home’s character. Who has not dreamed of a castle-worthy wall around their garden?
A brick wall
With a slightly more modern or industrial look, a brick wall also has its charm. You can leave it bare or choose to cover it with a suitable render to give free rein to your creative ideas, although its appeal lies in its natural appearance. It is worth knowing that brick comes in many colours, in shades of red, orange and even white.
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A concrete block wall
Less expensive than brick or stone, concrete block is the most common alternative thanks to its value for money. As the raw finish is not very attractive, it is recommended to cover your wall with render, roughcast, or even a more premium cladding such as timber boarding or a thin stone facing.
An aerated concrete wall
It is also possible to opt for a concrete wall, but it will be more expensive and less resistant than a concrete block fence wall. However, it is more eco-friendly and lighter than the other alternatives.
Another option: what if you installed gabions? These aluminium cages are filled with stones, soil or even plants, for a low wall that is easy to install.
Good to know: you can mix styles with a low wall in stone, concrete block or brick, topped with wrought iron, aluminium, wood, a rigid mesh fence… for a fully customisable finish.
Rules to know before building a fence wall
Good to know: as a property owner, you are fully entitled to mark out your land. Of course, you must comply with any applicable restrictions, but nothing requires you to keep your land open: the French Civil Code states that “any owner may enclose their property”.
The French Civil Code, the French Urban Planning Code, the PLU (Local Urban Plan) and POS (Land Use Plan), as well as certain specific regulations for protected areas, set out the rules to follow.
General regulations
In general, the height of your wall must not exceed 3.20 m, or 2.60 m in towns with fewer than 50,000 inhabitants.
The fence wall must be on your land, without encroaching on your neighbour’s land (unless you have an agreement with them, in which case they may cover half the costs) or on the public highway.
Special cases
If your property is in a protected area (near a historic monument, in a listed site, etc.), your choices may be limited, but you will still be able to find a solution to enclose your land. Depending on the wall you want (height and material), a building permit application and a prior works declaration may be required. If in doubt, contact the urban planning department at your local town hall to ask your questions and receive answers suited to your plot.
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Building a fence wall in three steps
Once you have chosen your type of wall, the material used, the colour, the size, the number of linear metres required… it is time to build your wall! Unless you have skills in the field, it is strongly recommended to have your wall built by professionals to ensure the structure is solid and will last over time.
A fence wall is built in two to three steps:
Laying the foundations.
These must be below the frost line, i.e. at a minimum depth of 50 cm. Depending on the wall they will support, this may be a poured concrete slab, or simply concrete pads that will support the posts or anchor points of your wall.
Building the wall itself.
Once the foundations have had time to dry properly, the visible wall can be built. Level by level, course by course, the bricks, concrete blocks or stones are added to form a wall of varying height. To hold everything together, a mortar suited to the material is spread between each course.
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Optional step: adding render or another material to finish the wall.
Concrete block walls require a coat of roughcast or render, while dry-stone walls can remain natural. As for adding material on top, you can install imposing wrought-iron grilles, elegant aluminium panels, a charming wooden palisade above your low wall, or mix styles by adding rigid mesh fencing and wooden privacy slats. Be sure to plan this in advance so it is easier to fix in place.
You are now ready to add character to your property while protecting it for years to come. You will finally be able to enjoy your garden with complete peace of mind, without being overlooked and without having to go looking for Fido, who decided to chase the neighbour’s cat.
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