Fencing materials and types of posts

User2050

Hi,

I am planning to put in some fencing in my garden. My only knowledge is there are two types of fencing materials: panels are cheaper, closeboards are more expensive.

Now I've got some quotes in. For 5 panels, all other contractors quote closeboard fencing about 200 - 300 quids more than the panel fencing. But one contractor quotes 450 quids more expensive.

I am now confused. Is there another type of panel which is cheaper than normal "panels", or is the closeboard panel a type more expensive than ordinary "closeboards"? Anyone out here can give me some expert advice?

Also, I would like to know if there are various types of posts? Is timber post good enough for garden fencing?

Thanks for any help

devildog

Can't offer any advice re fencing panels but re the posts you can either opt for wood, concrete or there are some that are made from reconstituted car tyres.

If you use a solid wood that has been treated with preservative they should last a fair few years (but should have a preservative reg ularly applied) but eventually will most likely rot away.

Both the concrete/reconstituted car tyres need no maintenance, however if it is a 6' high fence that is exposed to fairly windy conditions the latter will bend quite considerably and the panels themselves could come away.

Ebe_Scrooge

As above, properly treated timber posts will last a fair few years. However, for a proper job, I'd always go for the slotted concrete posts, with concrete gravel boards. Properly installed, they will last for ever - well, near as makes no difference. And when the odd panel inevitably gets damaged, it's a 5 minute job to slide the old one out and slide a new one in its place, no messing around with screws and brackets.

ic

I installed a timber fence at the front of my house with timber posts. It blew down during a strong storm last November after just three years - all the posts were rotten at the ground and all snapped cleanly. I've now had it replaced with the same panels, just concrete posts and gravel boards.

See this page for examples of the different styles of panels. Closeboard is a much stronger construction so should last a lot longer than the Wayneylap or Overlap styles.

MicJames

Depends if the panels are pre-bought or built on the job.

Building a closeboard fence will be more expensive than a panel as it requires a lot more labour to finish (Rails + Gravel Board + Featheredge)

ormus

i think youre confusing quality of fencing and the prices quoted by contractors.
whilst all types fencing have various differing quality grades and duties,
it doesnt follow that any price quoted means you are getting a higher quality fence.

contractors will quote the highest price they think the local market will bear.

User2050

ormus wrote: »

i think youre confusing quality of fencing and the prices quoted by contractors.
whilst all types fencing have various differing quality grades and duties,
it doesnt follow that any price quoted means you are getting a higher quality fence.

contractors will quote the highest price they think the local market will bear.

I agree with you on this. There are so many varieties that it is difficult to compare like for like. But the more I know about fencing, the better chance I can tell which quote is better than a rip-off.

Are you aware of any quick rules to choose a proper contractor (other than recommomendation as there are not many around)

Ebe_Scrooge

User2050 wrote: »

Are you aware of any quick rules to choose a proper contractor (other than recommomendation as there are not many around)

In a word - no :-) Personal recommendation is by far the best method. However, one way is to ask the contractor for the addresses of local people he's done work for before. Knock at their door and see what they thought of him. More difficult nowadays, what with data protection and all that malarky, but in essence a good tradesman will be happy for you to talk to previous clients, a dodgy dealer will go out of his way to prevent you from doing so.

Or, if you're lucky, whilst walking around your neighbourhood you may happen to notice someone who's recently had a fence put up, just ask them who did it and were they happy with the price / result.

I used this method just the other day, by coincidence. I needed a plumber, noticed a plumber's van oustside my neighbour's house whilst walking the kids to school, asked neighbour ...... Turned out this guy is quite well known locally for being honest, but he's just a small one-man band who doesn't even show up on a Google search or Yellow Pages ( yes, I still use Yellow Pages !! )