what kind of fence panels

motomoto_2

Hi

I have a long narrow garden and need fencing ( 6 foot ) either side but I'm not sure what kind of fencing. Am I right in thinking that the panels that slot into concrete posts are cheaper but are easy to replace but the overlap style ones seem to last longer but are more expensive ?

Any words of advice for me ?

Thanks in advance

daveyjp

A handmade "shadowbox" fence will last years. it may cost more, but you won't be replacing panels after every gale as the slats let wind through.

http://www.mossyoakfences.com/ribbotech/images/products/mof_ea23e184dd6d143f8b911496c65afbaf.jpg

richy999

In my experience, the overlap (horizontal pattern) panels are cheaper but not as robust as the vertilap (vertical pattern) ones.


The hit and miss fences are good for windy areas and can possibly last a lifetime as the pickets can be replaced individually. I think they look rather nice too.The continuous feather edge fencing is an alternative and like hit and miss fencing, can be done at your leisure as a DIY project.


After replacing just about every panel in my wooden post and overlap fence, I facing yet more replacements, I decided to get concrete posts, plinths and wooden panels. The panels do rattle in the wind which can be annoying at night but are off the ground so will not rot so quickly. The concrete plinths do offer some degree of border retention as well... my neighbors garden is slightly higher than mine.
The posts are bloody heavy so unless you have a few strong mates to help out, don't attempt as a DIY job.

Ebe_Scrooge

I agree with all of the above - I've had concrete posts in the past, my current house has the "hit and miss" type. These are good in that they allow the wind through, so tend to stand up to strong winds better. But if the posts are wood, these will rot eventually and need replacing.

With the slotted concrete posts, the posts themselves will last pretty much forever, and if you've got concrete gravel boards as well then this keeps the panels off the ground and stops them rotting. Strong winds can break the panels, however it's dead easy to just remove the broken panel and slot a new one in.

So both have their advantages, it's down to personal preference and cost.

Davesnave

People don't have to use concrete panels or posts if they're prepared to find and then fork out for really decent wooden ones.

The panels and posts made by Jacksons that I erected around 1990 are still there.

OTOH some 8' locally-sourced, 'treated' fencing posts, about 5" diameter, which I put in my field around 2010, have already snapped.

richy999

Davesnave wrote: »

some 8' locally-sourced, 'treated' fencing posts, about 5" diameter, which I put in my field around 2010, have already snapped.

I suspect that the effectiveness of modern preservatives is a contributing factor.


When my dad built his fence about 20 years ago, he used a mixture of used engine oil and proper creosote. Most of the fence is still original.

Davesnave

richy999 wrote: »

I suspect that the effectiveness of modern preservatives is a contributing factor.


When my dad built his fence about 20 years ago, he used a mixture of used engine oil and proper creosote. Most of the fence is still original.

You will find a number of farm fencing products are now guaranteed not to rot or fail within 15 years, and my local supplier gives a written warranty on purchase for these.

Jacksons have always guaranteed their products for at least 20 years.

I suspect my local sawmill lacks the facility to do more than dip.

motomoto_2

thanks for replies , I'm not doing DIY but getting someone in


one guy recommended putting in new concrete posts and slotting in panels the other guy piggybacking onto the concrete posts already in situ....there's £250 difference in price but I'm really not sure which is the best option ?

So first option the benefit is they are easy to replace if they get broken but also more likely to get broken easily and the second option if they break more expensive to repair but less likely to break ? i'm not sure how to make a decision !

would really appreciate some advice

Ebe_Scrooge

It's really down to personal choice. If you've already got concrete posts in, then using them would be fine. I'm guessing they're not the slotted type, but the ones where the panels are bolted on to them ?

If I was doing a fence from scratch, or completely replacing an old one, I'd go for the slotted concrete posts + concrete gravel boards every time. Yes, it's a lot of labour - those things are bloomin' heavy, I've done it before in the past. And the labour is what's going to cost if you get someone in to do it ( it's not difficult to DIY, just hard physical work ). But once they're in, that's it pretty much forever if they're put in properly. From then on, panels are a piece of whatsit to replace - literally just slot in a new one. And don't forget, it's not like you're going to be replacing all the panels every year - realistically it's once in a blue moon when we get really strong winds, you may lose a couple. Ten or twenty quid a piece or so, it's no big deal. Replacing posts is the biggest headache, digging out the old ones, especially if they're concreted in, putting in new ones, making sure they're lined up ..... Once your concrete posts are in, that's pretty much it, never need to worry about them again.

One other thing to consider - the concrete posts can look quite "industrial", whereas wooden posts look a bit nicer. But for the long-term hassle factor, concrete is the way to go.

As a previous poster said, it wasn't such a problem in the good old days when we could buy real creosote to treat wooden posts

Anyhow, that's my take on it. Hope it's of some help, but other people will no doubt have different views !

motomoto_2

maybe a silly question but....do both types of fencing need to be treated ?

Ebe_Scrooge

The actual panels need treating, yes. They're almost always factory treated when you buy them, but they'll need re-coating every few years.

Concrete posts don't need treating, wooden ones will. Again, most fence posts come pre-treated, but personally I like to slap some more on to start with, especially the parts that are going to be buried in the ground. Obviously, once they're in you can't re-treat the buried part, and as I mentioned earlier, replacing posts when they rot ( and take a couple of panels with them ) is a pain. So it pays to give them as much protection as you can from the outset.