Composite decking boards for fencing

Arsenal2019

Hi all

Does anyone know if you can use composite decking boards as fencing?

I have a wooden Fence and wooden post at current but they need replacing.

does anyone know if I can attach composite decking boards to the existing wooden posts and use the composite decking as the fence / panels?

thanks

ThisIsWeird

No obvious reason why not.

It'll likely be heavy, tho', so your posts would need to be very secure and solid.

Also, comp cladding will likely move a lot with heat, so if you screw them directly to the posts; expect some quite strong forces to take place - either moving posts, or bending cladding. (If mounted horizontally. Vertically might be ok)

When mounted as decking, it's common to use clips which allow lengthways movement, so use them if poss.

Albermarle

Presume decking is more expensive than typical wood fence material.

Arsenal2019

ThisIsWeird said:

No obvious reason why not.

It'll likely be heavy, tho', so your posts would need to be very secure and solid.

Also, comp cladding will likely move a lot with heat, so if you screw them directly to the posts; expect some quite strong forces to take place - either moving posts, or bending cladding. (If mounted horizontally. Vertically might be ok)

When mounted as decking, it's common to use clips which allow lengthways movement, so use them if poss.

Oh okay!! Thank you for clearing that up

onky reason I asked was because I’ve been offered some compare decking for free, rather than forking out £1500 for 6metre by 2 high for fencing!

FreeBear

Wooden fence panels should last quite well. good quality ones, 25 years or more. It is usually the fence posts that rot, so I'd suggest installing concrete ones. Use concrete gravel boards to keep the panels away from damp soil, and you'll have a fence that should last a lifetime.

Composite decking material is likely to end up costing you more money than concrete posts & gravel boards and half decent panels.

Arsenal2019

FreeBear said:

Wooden fence panels should last quite well. good quality ones, 25 years or more. It is usually the fence posts that rot, so I'd suggest installing concrete ones. Use concrete gravel boards to keep the panels away from damp soil, and you'll have a fence that should last a lifetime.

Composite decking material is likely to end up costing you more money than concrete posts & gravel boards and half decent panels.

Perfect. Thanh you 

ThisIsWeird

Arsenal2019 said:

ThisIsWeird said:

No obvious reason why not.

It'll likely be heavy, tho', so your posts would need to be very secure and solid.

Also, comp cladding will likely move a lot with heat, so if you screw them directly to the posts; expect some quite strong forces to take place - either moving posts, or bending cladding. (If mounted horizontally. Vertically might be ok)

When mounted as decking, it's common to use clips which allow lengthways movement, so use them if poss.

Oh okay!! Thank you for clearing that up

onky reason I asked was because I’ve been offered some compare decking for free, rather than forking out £1500 for 6metre by 2 high for fencing!

You're welcome.

How do you plan to install it - vert or horiz?

twopenny

Are you thinking of mounting it as a solid block?

Just considering the high winds we get not it will be a lot of force against a solid heavy block.set into soft wood posts. Also the problem of nailing correctly to fix.

But if you're getting them for free I'd think about what else you might use them for

Arsenal2019

ThisIsWeird said:

Arsenal2019 said:

ThisIsWeird said:

No obvious reason why not.

It'll likely be heavy, tho', so your posts would need to be very secure and solid.

Also, comp cladding will likely move a lot with heat, so if you screw them directly to the posts; expect some quite strong forces to take place - either moving posts, or bending cladding. (If mounted horizontally. Vertically might be ok)

When mounted as decking, it's common to use clips which allow lengthways movement, so use them if poss.

Oh okay!! Thank you for clearing that up

onky reason I asked was because I’ve been offered some compare decking for free, rather than forking out £1500 for 6metre by 2 high for fencing!

You're welcome.

How do you plan to install it - vert or horiz?

I planned on nailing it to some solid wood posts with some large screws. But from what I’ve read on this forum, i think I may avoid this and pay for wooden fence posts. I live on the hills too so it can get very windy up here too

Arsenal2019

twopenny said:

Are you thinking of mounting it as a solid block?

Just considering the high winds we get not it will be a lot of force against a solid heavy block.set into soft wood posts. Also the problem of nailing correctly to fix.

But if you're getting them for free I'd think about what else you might use them for

Yeah - a person I know was getting rid of them and replacing his decking so offered them to myself. I live on the hills so as you can imagine it is windy up here. I may politely decline them after reading comments on here haha

ThisIsWeird

Whatever fence you put up will have wind issues - barp.

You just need to allow for air passage - 'hit-and-miss' style fencing, for example.

Another issue is weight, but solid board fencing will also be heavy, so you just need firm posts, well bedded.

And finally - and unlike timber - there will be the constant expansion and contraction. I can't see that being an issue if installed vertically, but very much so if horizontal in long lengths. The answer is to use the correct decking clips which allow sliding movement, or to fit them in 6' sections.

If these boards will look good as a fence, then there is no real reason for not using them. And not having to paint them every few years would be a big plus.