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Slatted screen fence advice
Hi all!
I was hoping someone might be able to offer any recommendations / advice on slatted screen fences. The dream (if budget was infinite) would be a clean western red cedar set up like in the below, but we just can't afford cedar

A fairly open question but has anyone had any experience getting a similar look without the hefty price tag?
The garden is sheltered, and we aren't likely to be in the house for years and years, so long term durability isn't so much of an issue. Thought possibly even larch or pine might work if it was stained. To give an idea of budget,
we would be hoping to spend up to around £80-100 per 6ft x 6ft panel. I have seen ones for £50 and under from the likes of B&Q that are too thin, warped and just look cheap - so ideally looking for something that's well cut.
Any advice welcome!
I was hoping someone might be able to offer any recommendations / advice on slatted screen fences. The dream (if budget was infinite) would be a clean western red cedar set up like in the below, but we just can't afford cedar


A fairly open question but has anyone had any experience getting a similar look without the hefty price tag?
The garden is sheltered, and we aren't likely to be in the house for years and years, so long term durability isn't so much of an issue. Thought possibly even larch or pine might work if it was stained. To give an idea of budget,
we would be hoping to spend up to around £80-100 per 6ft x 6ft panel. I have seen ones for £50 and under from the likes of B&Q that are too thin, warped and just look cheap - so ideally looking for something that's well cut.
Any advice welcome!
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Comments
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The wood in those slats looks as though it's been planed. Is that so?Our garden centre is selling red wood stakes but they would still be costly.There's a multitude of different colours in those panels. Staining like that to get the effect of different parts of the tree would also be costly unless you can scrounge bits of tins of different colours from people who have stained their fences.Got to say it does look lovely.
I can rise and shine - just not at the same time!
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The only normal people you know are the ones you don’t know very well
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Jackson's 1.83m Venetian style panels are about £125.The wood has to be planed to get that sort of finish. It might be slightly cheaper to have 1.65m panels + gravel board. There's also the cost of the posts to consider.You won't get that quality without paying those prices, but there are easily Googlable cheaper alternatives.
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Thanks both, very helpful! It sounds like planed would be my preference to get that look.
I'll keep an eye on the Jackson's panels to see if there are any deals.
The other idea I was exploring was to get a bulk delivery of slats and try to do it DIY. I wasn't impressed with the ready made B&Q panels, but do you think the quality of their slats would be better? Is the below
https://www.diy.com/departments/smooth-planed-square-edge-whitewood-spruce-stick-timber-l-2-4m-w-44mm-t-12mm/1798333_BQ.prd
This would work out at about £60 for 6x6 coverage, not including posts of course - but sounds tempting and could be an interesting project.
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You might get the best deal from a proper builders' merchant or timber supplier.When I built trellis panels a few weeks ago, the wood came to £88 and made me the equivalent of about 6 full sized panels around 6' x 6' allowing for some waste and the odd dodgy batten. My local builders' merchant carries the appropriate size of batten and would have delivered, but I have a van and they let me collect under lockdown rules.PSE won't be tanalised, but off the ground that won't matter too much, especially if you're not concerned with great longevity.
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If you're going to buy your own slats you really need to choose them yourself. Surprising how many bent or knotted ones there are.I've found builders merchants helpful if you go when they aren't busy and show the picture and what you want to do. They carefully pick stuff out though I'd still want to see.What sort of wood are you thinking of getting? If you use pine you are going to have knots and that won't look good for long.You're giving me ideas now. I fancy a panel or two like that in my garden.
I can rise and shine - just not at the same time!
viral kindness .....kindness is contageous pass it on
The only normal people you know are the ones you don’t know very well
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That's a good shout about going to a timber merchant, and I think I am actually leaning towards making it. It will be fun if nothing elseIt's a decent enough size, a three sided fence - one wall which will be about 6m x 1.8m with the posts attached to the face of a brick wall (but still off the ground). And then two 5m x 0.9 fences with posts on top of a brick wall on either side. So the main factor in choice of wood will really be the best we can afford.
I'll make some enquires and see if I can find anywhere that can do larch or douglas fir within our budget. Failing that we might just need to settle with pine or spruce and try not to notice the knots!0 -
Bringing this thread back as I've decided on splashing out for the cedar slats
Has anyone any experience of bolting fenceposts on top of a wall in a way that a) the slats can still flush with the wall and go as far down to the wall?
I guess what I mean is that I'd like the fence to look a bit like this sitting on top of a rendered wall. Many fencepost holders have too large a base that would stop the fence from being flush. We want it to be as close to flush as possible to stop the pesky cats in the area from walking along the ledge. It also seems hard to find ones that have enough space to have slats attach where the fence post holder is, rather than having to start from say 15cm above the wall to give enough space for the fence post holders.
I've found this - which seems like it could work at around £71 for 10. Though I'm worried the spacing of the holes for attaching the slats might be limiting. Has anyone encountered an issue like this before, or is aware of a fence post holder that's better for attaching slats to get a 'to the wall' and 'flush fit' vibe?
Thanks!0
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