Fence post material and height - need advice

Section62

AC20 said:

Does anyone know what max height can a fence with neighbouring property be (non pavement / highway facing). the fence is in front garden.

Answered (as best we can) already -

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/81722186/#Comment_81722186

'Facing' isn't a factor.  If the fence is 'adjacent' to a highway used by vehicular traffic then the maximum under permitted development rules is 1m.  This assumes the property has PD rights and these haven't been removed, and isn't in a conservation area or listed.

Some councils regard all front garden fences (including between neighbouring properties) as being 'adjacent' to the highway, even though they go some distance away from the highway.  You won't know for sure without asking your local council what rules apply to your specific property.

WalshSall

I may be a concrete hater but there's really no need for it. It looks ugly, doesn't match the wooden fence panels, bad for the environment etc etc.

I would go with wood specifically Jacksons as it has a 25 year guarantee, doesn't need painting/treating (I know this from experience, got it in my own garden)
The other alternative is metal - colour fence also has a 25 year guarantee 
I haven't looked at composite as I wasn't keen after hearing about fire spread risks

Yes to gravel board, that is key, they are treated longer/different wood to the panels. 

I lots of research because I really didn't want to be replacing it ever again if I could help it and so many houses near me have concrete posts and loads of them the panels have blown out and did I mention it looks ugly?? sorry!

MUCH nicer than concrete 

I think there are fence calculators online

Eldi_Dos

@WalshSall

Do not know if I can agree with your supposition that concrete posts are more harmful to the environment than wooden one's that have been treated to last 25 years. Concrete may have a bigger carbon footprint and even if the concrete blows and the rebar rusts out I do not think that is particularly toxic.

Albermarle

Eldi_Dos said:

@WalshSall

Do not know if I can agree with your supposition that concrete posts are more harmful to the environment than wooden one's that have been treated to last 25 years. Concrete may have a bigger carbon footprint and even if the concrete blows and the rebar rusts out I do not think that is particularly toxic.

You are right that it is very difficult to be sure about the comparative lifetime environmental impact of any product.

Section62

Eldi_Dos said:

@WalshSall

Do not know if I can agree with your supposition that concrete posts are more harmful to the environment than wooden one's that have been treated to last 25 years. Concrete may have a bigger carbon footprint and even if the concrete blows and the rebar rusts out I do not think that is particularly toxic.

Also has to be remembered that the quoted carbon footprint for cement/concrete often includes a generous allowance for wastage - which on site can be quite an issue.  Whereas the factory conditions where concrete products like fence posts are manufactured will typically operate to a higher degree of efficiency and less wastage.

AC20

WalshSall said:

I may be a concrete hater but there's really no need for it. It looks ugly, doesn't match the wooden fence panels, bad for the environment etc etc.

I would go with wood specifically Jacksons as it has a 25 year guarantee, doesn't need painting/treating (I know this from experience, got it in my own garden)
The other alternative is metal - colour fence also has a 25 year guarantee 
I haven't looked at composite as I wasn't keen after hearing about fire spread risks

Yes to gravel board, that is key, they are treated longer/different wood to the panels. 

I lots of research because I really didn't want to be replacing it ever again if I could help it and so many houses near me have concrete posts and loads of them the panels have blown out and did I mention it looks ugly?? sorry!

MUCH nicer than concrete 

I think there are fence calculators online

What about Durapost, anyone has experience of installing them vs concrete?

WIAWSNB

AC20 said:

WalshSall said:

I may be a concrete hater but there's really no need for it. It looks ugly, doesn't match the wooden fence panels, bad for the environment etc etc.

I would go with wood specifically Jacksons as it has a 25 year guarantee, doesn't need painting/treating (I know this from experience, got it in my own garden)
The other alternative is metal - colour fence also has a 25 year guarantee 
I haven't looked at composite as I wasn't keen after hearing about fire spread risks

Yes to gravel board, that is key, they are treated longer/different wood to the panels. 

I lots of research because I really didn't want to be replacing it ever again if I could help it and so many houses near me have concrete posts and loads of them the panels have blown out and did I mention it looks ugly?? sorry!

MUCH nicer than concrete 

I think there are fence calculators online

What about Durapost, anyone has experience of installing them vs concrete?

These are steel?
I guess the 'flush' look will be desired by some - I quite like posts!
I wonder, realistically, how easy they'd be to anchor in concrete without breaching the galv coating? And how this could affect it.
I'm pretty sure I'll be going 'concrete' next time, unless there's an affordable composite alternative. They look perfectly good to me - parallel sides, decent finish, and a pyramid tip - What's not to like? The could? They take masonry paint perfectly, or - as I've noticed to my cost - fence paint too. 
I have concrete spurs on one front border, and they were in place when I moved in. I've had to re-anchor them as they'd moved a bit, but are still doing their job, keeping the timber posts away from the ground. Even tho' they add an extra thickness for a couple of feet, they are painted the same black as the wooden posts and, with some shrubbery in place, they aren't remotely a visual issue. 

GDB2222

I had 3 wooden posts that rotted through at the base. I replaced one and used the still okay top half to make spurs for the other two. 

It is light sandy soil that drains well, and I was a bit surprised how fast the posts rotted. About 10 years. 

AC20

WIAWSNB said:

AC20 said:

WalshSall said:

I may be a concrete hater but there's really no need for it. It looks ugly, doesn't match the wooden fence panels, bad for the environment etc etc.

I would go with wood specifically Jacksons as it has a 25 year guarantee, doesn't need painting/treating (I know this from experience, got it in my own garden)
The other alternative is metal - colour fence also has a 25 year guarantee 
I haven't looked at composite as I wasn't keen after hearing about fire spread risks

Yes to gravel board, that is key, they are treated longer/different wood to the panels. 

I lots of research because I really didn't want to be replacing it ever again if I could help it and so many houses near me have concrete posts and loads of them the panels have blown out and did I mention it looks ugly?? sorry!

MUCH nicer than concrete 

I think there are fence calculators online

What about Durapost, anyone has experience of installing them vs concrete?

These are steel?
I guess the 'flush' look will be desired by some - I quite like posts!
I wonder, realistically, how easy they'd be to anchor in concrete without breaching the galv coating? And how this could affect it.
I'm pretty sure I'll be going 'concrete' next time, unless there's an affordable composite alternative. They look perfectly good to me - parallel sides, decent finish, and a pyramid tip - What's not to like? The could? They take masonry paint perfectly, or - as I've noticed to my cost - fence paint too. 
I have concrete spurs on one front border, and they were in place when I moved in. I've had to re-anchor them as they'd moved a bit, but are still doing their job, keeping the timber posts away from the ground. Even tho' they add an extra thickness for a couple of feet, they are painted the same black as the wooden posts and, with some shrubbery in place, they aren't remotely a visual issue. 

yes, my gardener is advising it is a pain to install without impacting the galv coating.

diveunderthebonnet

AC20 said:

WIAWSNB said:

AC20 said:

WalshSall said:

I may be a concrete hater but there's really no need for it. It looks ugly, doesn't match the wooden fence panels, bad for the environment etc etc.

I would go with wood specifically Jacksons as it has a 25 year guarantee, doesn't need painting/treating (I know this from experience, got it in my own garden)
The other alternative is metal - colour fence also has a 25 year guarantee 
I haven't looked at composite as I wasn't keen after hearing about fire spread risks

Yes to gravel board, that is key, they are treated longer/different wood to the panels. 

I lots of research because I really didn't want to be replacing it ever again if I could help it and so many houses near me have concrete posts and loads of them the panels have blown out and did I mention it looks ugly?? sorry!

MUCH nicer than concrete 

I think there are fence calculators online

What about Durapost, anyone has experience of installing them vs concrete?

These are steel?
I guess the 'flush' look will be desired by some - I quite like posts!
I wonder, realistically, how easy they'd be to anchor in concrete without breaching the galv coating? And how this could affect it.
I'm pretty sure I'll be going 'concrete' next time, unless there's an affordable composite alternative. They look perfectly good to me - parallel sides, decent finish, and a pyramid tip - What's not to like? The could? They take masonry paint perfectly, or - as I've noticed to my cost - fence paint too. 
I have concrete spurs on one front border, and they were in place when I moved in. I've had to re-anchor them as they'd moved a bit, but are still doing their job, keeping the timber posts away from the ground. Even tho' they add an extra thickness for a couple of feet, they are painted the same black as the wooden posts and, with some shrubbery in place, they aren't remotely a visual issue. 

yes, my gardener is advising it is a pain to install without impacting the galv coating.

Can you not wrap the posts in plastic to protect them when concreting them in place.