Garden fencing (gravel boards) and types of panels

[DJMK4]

Hi all.

Need to do some fencing in my mid terrace. The rear fence is already pretty decent featheredge pressure treated and is maintained by adjacent property.

To the left they have their own fence. Which isn't the best but I have my own fence intront which isn't the best (hence the replace)

It's a standard cheap (most likely dipped ) overlap fence with no gravel board at all and wooden posts rubbish untreated caps.

On the right it's a single lined fence Iby the looks maintened by right neighbor (overlap type with aged wooden gravel board)

I want to replace the fence but maintain a better look

List I have put together so far Is I know I need if possible to go pressure treated, I do prefer the look of featheredge but it would mean replacing neighbors also or put a fence Infront.

Concrete posts Vs wooden posts? Looking around everyone seems to have decent treated wooden posts. And gravel boards I'm going to go concrete, either standard concrete or rock face type.

Any opinions? I don't want to break the bank but at the same time don't want it to fall apart in a storm

 

[NoobCannon]

Cant you remove your fence all together, gain the extra room and leave the remaining fence for your neighbour to maintain

Could even offer to paint your side of it for them to make it look a bit better

 

[DJMK4]

Not really as they have a poor fence on the left. And it's a mixture of panels. Some interweaved. Some bamboo type things

Not an option if I want it looking neat(er)

 

[Thecaferacer]

How long do you plan to stay in the property?

Concrete posts and gravel boards will always be superior to wood. But if you'll be moving within the next 5-10 years then woods far cheaper before it starts to rot. I'd say what's more important is quality panels, as they are what will rot and warp 10x quicker than the posts.

 

[Duke]

Concrete posts are not that more expensive so would opt for those. I went for 4" wooden posts and regret it as some have twisted after putting them in about 3 years ago.

 

[DJMK4]

How long do you plan to stay in the property?


Concrete posts and gravel boards will always be superior to wood. But if you'll be moving within the next 5-10 years then woods far cheaper before it starts to rot. I'd say what's more important is quality panels, as they are what will rot and warp 10x quicker than the posts.

This is the thing I don't know. It's maybe not long term although im on a 5 year fixed..although the price has gone up £12k since moving last year and hoping Brexit doesn't do any damage. It's a 2 bed so may sell it as a project job make some money or stay.

There is an extra tenner per unit I think for the concrete so not a big difference. Maybe a bit less. Defenatly want the concrete boards.

Yeh I need to find some decent pressure treated panels

 

[DJMK4]

Just revisiting this as project is under way. Some of the help I'm getting from a family member is pointing me to pressure treated wooden gravel boards and posts..


I'm still undecided. Most of the neighbors seem.to have decent pressure treated wood timber posts and boards .

I have had a look round some suppliers but going to look at some on Friday morn.

Can you not have concrete gravel boards, pressure treated wooden posts?

I don't want anything to rot within 3 -5 year. Needs protection for 8+years

Im assuming I can lay a material and some.small gravel stones under the boards to sit on so it reduces the wet soggy ground it's sitting on if I'm going for pressure treated timber gravel boards .

 

[psd99]

just did 12 panels few weeks ago

go for:

- concrete posts
- Concrete gravel boards
- featheredge panels

selco do good materials

what dimensions does each panel need to be?

 

[DJMK4]

Probably 6x6 or 6x5 the thing is it's not a massive garden..I will possibly be having issues getting concrete posts in to.ground although iv been cleaning the area and will see how far I can go down.

Also it won't match the rear and the right..would at least like it to match the rear as they have a pressure treated high quality timber type with big wooden posts .

But I know concrete would be better.

With the concrete gravel boards I need to read up on how you situ them in the ground.

 

[psd99]

I got something like this.....

https://www.selcobw.com/closeboard-fence-panel-1829-x-1829mm-6-x-6-fscr

 

[area51]

If want concrete gravel boards need to go with posts also as they have a recess/slot of boards to fit into so held
Wooden posts don't have that so with them it's a screw/nail job.
The concrete always look far better and lasts well esp if put in properly!

The fence on your left as look out the back is yours so down to you to maintain why you see the back of the fence on your right.

 

[DJMK4]

It's a tough decision.

I think at the moment until i do some more digging and prepping i can't see what would be better to install.

 

[j.col]

Long term concrete posts and gravel boards are far better.
Wooden posts and gravel boards are a flase economy as they rot fairly quickly if not maintained.

Btw you can use concrete gravel boards with wood posts.
there are 2 options.
1. Just use the fence clips for the concrete gravel boards, as long as they are 4 to 5 inchs apart, you will have a clip supporting the bottom and top of the gravel board.
2. cut 4 pieces of baton 6 inches long, offer up the gravel board and nail or screw the baton front and back of the gravel board to the fence post, repeat the other end

also OP, you shoulkd dig the same depth holes for either concrete or wooden posts, ie. minimum 18 inches deep depending on the ground, if the grounf is clay or quite soft, then you should go 24 inches deep if using 6 foot panels and 6 inch boards.
And closeboard/fetheredge panels are way better quality and not much more expensive then overlap panels

 

[DJMK4]

I have been prepping the fence line . I don't have a pickaxe atm or post shovel but Iv sourced those. I have a normal shovel and a big Bosch sds drill with hammer chisel attachment so been able to remove old posts so far and some old concrete fragments etc.

I won't be going overlap. Will be featheredge by the looks . Still undecided on posts though.

If im.going with pressure treated 4x4 high quality timber
I'm looking at doing 16-18" holes lined with gravel and postcrete to the top with a sloping finish same sort of material for gravel boards

 

[Bickaxe]

We replaced our fencing on one side last weekend. The old one was falling apart so came out very easy and the previous owners had already put concrete posts in.

New pressure treated overlap panels (11) slotted straight in and because of the uneven ground, we used bricks instead of gravel boards to maintain an even height.
Had to dig 2 new holes for new posts which took a few hours and remove the old ones (SDS drill with chisel and stone disc grinder followed by a metal disc to cut the rebar inside) as the end of the fence had been bodged completely. 2 bags of postcrete and left for an hour to set and now all painted and looking a lot better (even though its not straight but thats mostly due to the well established neighbours garden but sod moving or buying 9 new posts).

The only difference between wooden posts and concrete is the price (£10 vs £22 on Wickes for example) and concrete looks better and will last a lot longer.

 

[DJMK4]

What about pressure treated tanalised 8' 4"x4" posts, feather boards, gravel boards, postcrete , peashingle, galvernised nails, wood batten

Only thing is thetanalised posts are £12, where as I think concrete posts are only about £1 more from Wicks.

I honestly dont know how long I would be in the property. Main things are

1) Not having to maintain it very frequently, although I dont mind if it will take a day every couple of years or a year to treat

2) Not rot fast or warp or twist

3) Easyish installation (I dont have specialist tools at the moment to cut concrete like disk cutters)



this is what they have at the bottom of the garden (the people are adjacent installed) for their garden

the thing is the prices on tantalised pressure treated posts are close to that of concrete

 

[Thecaferacer]

Just go with the concrete post and gravel board. A wooden post has to go down as far as a concrete one so there is no gain there. Cost wise, for 5 or so panels it's negilble (I've just done one side of my garden with 37 6x6 posts, boards and panels in concrete, try that for cost!)