A wobbly chain-link fence, prying eyes on the patio or an unclear boundary with the neighbours: if you are having a fence built, you want a result that still stands straight many years later. Gala Bau Kurt builds fences and privacy screens in Düsseldorf, Wuppertal, Schwelm, Ennepetal, Meerbusch, Cologne and throughout North Rhine-Westphalia.
From double-bar mesh fencing (Doppelstabmattenzaun) through solid timber and WPC panels to a complete gate installation: we advise you on material and height, clarify where the boundary runs and which rules apply, pour the foundations and fit everything in one go. The old fence leaves with us and your plot is left clean. As a landscaper working for many international residents in NRW, we are happy to talk it all through with you in English as well as German and Turkish.
What our fencing work covers
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Double-bar mesh fencing
Hot-dip galvanised and powder-coated in anthracite or moss green, with posts set in concrete foundations – tough and maintenance-free.
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Timber privacy fencing
Larch, Douglas fir or pressure-treated pine as slatted or rhombus panels, on post supports that keep the timber clear of the ground.
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WPC and aluminium screens
Solid slot-together systems with aluminium posts – weatherproof, never need painting, and can be combined with glass or rhombus inserts.
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Retro-fitted privacy strips
Making existing double-bar mesh panels opaque – including a check that the posts and foundations can take the extra wind load.
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Garden gates & driveway gates
Hinged and sliding gates on reinforced gate foundations; the electric drives are connected by a qualified electrical contractor.
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Removal & disposal
We take the old fence, the concrete debris and the packaging away with us – no skip required.
How we build fences that stay standing
A fence is only as good as its foundations. Every post goes into a frost-proof pad or bored concrete foundation, in our region around 80 cm deep, and is aligned to a string line and spirit level. For double-bar mesh we use 6/5/6 mm wire, and for tall or heavily used fences the heavy-duty 8/6/8 mm version; posts and panels are hot-dip galvanised and powder-coated, so rust cannot bleed through. Drive-in post spikes (Einschlaghülsen) we recommend only for low, open fences.
Solid panels behave like sails: a 1.80 m privacy screen catches many times the wind load of a mesh fence. With timber, WPC and retro-fitted privacy strips we therefore choose heavier post sections, shorter post spacings and larger foundations. Timber posts sit on H- or U-shaped post supports so the wood cannot rot from below. Before we drill, we check for buried services and locate the boundary markers (Grenzsteine).
- Double-bar mesh: maintenance-free, standard heights 0.83–2.03 m, privacy strips can be added later
- Timber: a warm look; larch and Douglas fir weather to silver-grey if left untreated
- WPC & aluminium: the lowest-maintenance screening, and the highest material price
Fence height, permits and neighbour law in NRW
Under the state building code for North Rhine-Westphalia (Landesbauordnung NRW), boundary enclosures up to 2 m high generally need no building application inside built-up areas. Limits still apply, though: local development plans (Bebauungsplan) and design statutes (Gestaltungssatzung) prescribe lower front-garden fences in many residential areas, and the sight lines at road junctions must be kept clear. The neighbour law act for NRW (Nachbarrechtsgesetz NRW) governs who has to fence and what counts as customary locally; a fence sitting directly on the boundary is only permitted with your neighbour's consent. For hedges used as a living screen, the distance from the boundary is 50 cm up to a growth height of 2 m and 1 m above that.
We check these points as part of the site visit. Fencing work at an existing house also counts as a tradesman's service (Handwerkerleistung): under the German Income Tax Act (§ 35a EStG), 20 % of the labour costs, up to €1,200 per year, can be deducted from your income tax.
Fencing in Wuppertal, Düsseldorf, Cologne & NRW
In the Bergisches Land – Wuppertal, Schwelm, Ennepetal – most plots lie on a slope, and beneath a thin layer of topsoil you often meet slate or greywacke. Foundations here are frequently bored rather than dug, and mesh panels are stepped down the gradient. With 1,100–1,200 mm of rain a year and windy hilltop locations such as Cronenberg, Ronsdorf or Rüggeberg, galvanising plus powder coating pays for itself.
On the Rhine plain around Düsseldorf, Meerbusch and Cologne, foundations are easier to excavate in loamy sands; close to the river, in Wittlaer, Kaiserswerth or Meerbusch-Nierst, the groundwater stands high, and in the open farmland around Osterath and Strümp the wind pushes hard against privacy screens. In villa districts such as Oberkassel or Marienburg the job is often a gate installation, while in Cologne's terraced-house gardens it is the solid screen between two patios. From the Ennepe-Ruhr-Kreis we are with you in 15 to 70 minutes via the A1, A46 and A3.
- Wuppertal, Schwelm & Ennepetal: fences on slopes, bored foundations, weather protection
- Düsseldorf & Meerbusch: gate installations, privacy screens near the Rhine, wind load in open farmland
- Cologne: privacy screens between terraced-house gardens, front-garden fences to the development plan
How your fencing project runs
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Site visit & measuring up
We measure the run of the fence, check the boundary line, the fall of the ground, the subsoil and the access, and discuss height, material and gates.
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Fixed-price quote
A quote per linear metre including posts, foundations, fitting, removal and disposal – with no add-ons afterwards.
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Foundations & posts
Old fence down, buried services checked, foundation holes dug, posts concreted in; the concrete then needs one to two days to set.
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Fitting & handover
We hang the panels or elements, adjust the gates, clear up the plot – and walk round the finished job with you.
What does a fence cost per metre?
The price depends on the height, the material, the ground (rock, slope, roots) and the number of gates. Non-binding guide prices including material, fitting and VAT:
| Scope of work | Costs & Prices |
|---|---|
| Double-bar mesh fence 1.0–1.8 m incl. foundations & fitting | approx. €65–150 per linear metre |
| Timber privacy fence (larch, Douglas fir, pressure-treated pine) | approx. €60–120 per linear metre |
| Privacy screening in WPC, plastic or aluminium | approx. €120–350 per linear metre |
| Simple mesh or chain-link fence in drive-in post spikes | approx. €30–60 per linear metre |
| Gabion fence / gabion wall incl. filling | approx. €120–300 per linear metre |
| Removal & disposal of the old fence | approx. €50–80 per hour |
Garden gates, driveway gates and electric drives are quoted separately according to size and specification. Rock or a steep slope increases the foundation work – we allow for that in the fixed price after the site visit.
All figures are non-binding guide prices incl. VAT. The final price depends on area, access, materials and effort. You will receive a binding fixed-price quote after a free on-site visit.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does a double-bar mesh fence cost per metre, fitted?
For heights of 1.0 to 1.8 m the guide figure is roughly €65 to €150 per linear metre including posts, concrete foundations, fitting and VAT. Privacy strips, gates, sloping ground and rock push the price up. After the free on-site visit you receive a fixed price for the whole run.
How high may a fence or privacy screen be in NRW – do I need permission?
Under the building code for NRW (Bauordnung NRW), boundary enclosures up to 2 m high generally need no permit inside built-up areas. Local development plans (Bebauungsplan), design statutes and the sight lines at junctions can require lower heights, particularly in the front garden. We check the rules that apply to your plot before we quote.
Can the fence go directly on the boundary line?
Only with your neighbour's consent – it then becomes a shared boundary enclosure. Without that agreement we set the fence a few centimetres onto your side. If the boundary markers (Grenzsteine) cannot be found, we recommend having the line marked out by a chartered surveyor (Vermesser) beforehand.
Mesh, timber or WPC – which lasts longest?
Hot-dip galvanised, powder-coated double-bar mesh lasts several decades with no maintenance at all, and WPC and aluminium a similar time at a higher price. Timber lasts 15 to 25 years depending on the species, provided the detailing is right – post supports, clearance from the ground and good ventilation.
How long does building a fence take?
A fence of 20 to 30 m is usually standing within two to three working days: foundations and posts on the first day, panels and gates once the concrete has set. On a slope, in rock or with solid privacy panels we allow a little more time.
Can I claim fencing work against my tax?
Yes, as a tradesman's service (Handwerkerleistung) under § 35a EStG: 20 % of the labour costs, up to a maximum of €1,200 per year, come straight off your income tax – materials do not count. You need an invoice showing the labour costs separately and payment by bank transfer; the allowance does not apply to new-build projects.