Kent · England
Timber bollard installation in Gravesend
Local installation of timber bollards in Gravesend — free survey, fixed written price, and posts set to the right spacing for people and vehicles.
Computer-generated imageGravesend timber bollards
Timber bollards deter and guide vehicles; they are not tested barriers. In Gravesend, that tends to mean sites such as small industrial units, filling-station forecourts and residential driveways.
We work across DA12, DA11 and DA13 — Gravesend itself and places including Shorne, Shorne Ridgeway, Sole Street and Gold Street. Jobs in Gravesend can be combined with work in Strood (5.7 miles), Dartford (6.8 miles), Rochester (6.9 miles) and Chatham (8 miles) (straight-line distances).
Key facts for this area
- Area
- Kent, England
- Highway authority
- Kent County Council (local roads)
- Planning authority
- the council for Gravesham
- Postcodes
- DA12, DA11 and DA13
- Guide price
- Typically £105–£365 per post + VAT (£125–£435 inc VAT for homes); minimum job £465
- Survey
- Free, with a fixed written quote
What timber bollards cost in Gravesend
| Specification | Guide price | Includes |
|---|---|---|
| Standard | £105–£215 + VAT · £125–£255 inc VAT | Standard post, foundation, reinstatement |
| Upgraded | £185–£295 + VAT · £215–£345 inc VAT | Upgraded finish or fittings, reflective band, matched keys |
| Premium | £265–£365 + VAT · £315–£435 inc VAT | Heavy-duty or architectural spec, premium finish |
Per post, supplied and installed; +6% for South East. Guide only — the fixed price follows a survey.
Typical timber bollards jobs in Gravesend
Typical reasons Gravesend sites choose timber bollards:
- School frontages and nursery entrances
- Country parks, nature reserves and woodland car parks
- Village greens and recreation grounds
Consents, ground and services in Gravesend
Kent County Council is the highway authority covering Gravesend's local roads. If any post would stand on adopted highway rather than your land, that consent is the first thing we sort out.
Bollards on private land often don't need planning permission, but it depends on the council's view, the height and the location; in a conservation area, next to a listed building or under an Article 4 direction, ask the local planning authority (the council for Gravesham) first — we flag this at survey.
Clay holds water against the timber and benefits from a free-draining stone base; sandy ground may need a concrete surround to stop posts loosening. Turf around new posts is reinstated and, on sites used by mowers, posts are spaced so equipment can pass.
- Fit reflective bands or white tops where posts stand beside roads or in unlit car parks.
- Use certified sustainable sources for hardwoods, which many public bodies require.
Installation, step by step
Survey the setting
A free site survey looks at the ground, drainage, tree roots, how vehicles currently get onto the land and how the site looks. You receive a fixed written quote with species, size and fixing.
Dig the holes
Holes are dug by hand or auger to the required depth, avoiding roots and checking for services along verges and footpaths.
Set the posts
Posts are set plumb and to a consistent height, backfilled with compacted stone or concreted with a shaped top. Cut softwood ends are re-treated.
Finishes and options
| Option | Detail |
|---|---|
| Tropical hardwood | Very dense and long-lasting in ground contact. Specify certified sustainable sources. |
| Fixing methods | Direct burial in compacted stone, set in concrete with a shaped collar, or mounted on a steel shoe or socket. |
| Sizes and profiles | Commonly 100–200 mm square or round, with chamfered, pyramid or domed tops to shed water. |
What moves the price in Gravesend
Our South East guide prices are a starting point; the survey in Gravesend firms them up. What tends to move them:
- Ground conditions, roots and services
- Removable or hinged posts for access
- Fixing method: stone, concrete or steel shoe
After installation
New oak can release tannin that stains nearby paving for the first season; this weathers away. Replacing individual damaged posts is straightforward if the original size and species are recorded.
We can also service, repair or replace existing posts anywhere in Gravesend.
Common questions
Which parts of Gravesend do you cover for timber bollards?
We cover all of Gravesend (DA12, DA11 and DA13) and the rest of Kent. We also work in Strood, Dartford and Rochester.
Do I need consent for timber bollards on a public footway in Gravesend?
Kent County Council is the highway authority covering Gravesend's local roads. If any post would stand on adopted highway rather than your land, that consent is the first thing we sort out.
What's a typical price for timber bollards in Gravesend?
In Gravesend, typically £105–£365 per post, supplied and installed, plus VAT (£125–£435 including VAT for homeowners), with a minimum job of £465 plus VAT, using our South East guide prices. The fixed figure comes in writing after we've seen the site.
How long will a timber bollard last in the ground?
It depends on species, treatment and how the post is set. Dense hardwoods and oak heartwood last much longer than softwood, and posts that are kept out of standing water last longer than those sitting in wet concrete. A steel shoe that keeps timber off the ground extends life considerably.
Why is my new oak bollard cracking?
Oak shrinks as it dries, and surface checks and splits are a normal part of that. They rarely affect the post's strength. Deep splits that run right through, or soft wood at the base, are a different matter.