What are the best fence panels
Choosing the right fence for your property will help you determine whether you will have the time to maintain it and the budget to install it. Now that we have been given guidance that the lockdown will be lifted in time for Summer, it really is the best time to get your fence in shipshape condition. After the multitude of storms across the UK this year, now is a good time to invest in a more sturdy garden fence.
If you need to replace panels or the complete structure, now is the time to research exactly what are the best fence panels.
We installed scaffold board fencing quite a few years back and they have stood the test of time through each winter.
When looking to replace your garden fence, you need to decide the following first:
- What is your budget?
- Can you do it yourself or do you need a contractor to do it?
- How high can you go? To find out what fence heights are acceptable in your area, find your Local Authority’s website here and search for planning and permissions. As a general rule, fences around your property are allowed to be up to 2 metres high except where it adjoins a road or footpath it is restricted to 1 metre.
- Where does your garden face (north, south, east or west)? This is particularly important if you have a south-facing garden. If you build a high fence, it may place parts of your garden heavily in the shade for different parts of the day.
- How will you maintain it? If you work long hours or are elderly, do you have the time and energy to maintain it? The upkeep and regular maintenance of a fence can be quite time-consuming and costly.
- If you have cats in your garden or your neighbours have cats, you will need to install a hard-wearing and durable fence. The constant jumping on the fence can weaken it if the concrete posts are not installed correctly.
Here are our favourites:
1. Scaffold board fencing:
Designed and built by PRHenryBuilder.
Scaffold boards are the best heavy-duty fence panels and are effectively one of THE strongest fence panels for windy areas. Long-lasting and durable, they will not need much maintenance. You can paint or apply a good quality wood preserver if desired, but the best effect is when left to nature. All that is required is concrete posts to be put in place, insert a concrete gravel board at the base of each section and slot the scaffold boards into place above the gravel board.
If you like the design above, you could ask your builder to design something shown in the photograph above. Concrete posts cost around £25 each. You can pick up reclaimed scaffold boards for approximately £17 board or brand new at £24 per board. For this design, 80 scaffold boards and 15 concrete posts were used for a 90ft garden. We highly recommend them!
If you want to place a wall planter, place shelves or even attach outdoor festoon lighting to a scaffold board fence, it is so durable that it can withstand fixtures being attached to it.
2. Closeboard fences:
A close board fence is ideal for giving your back garden much-needed privacy from overlooking neighbours. These fences are strong and can be purchased up to 6 feet tall. You can purchase a kit that comes with ready-made panels for approximately £150. All that is required is concrete posts to be put in place, insert a concrete gravel board at the base of each section and slot the fence panels into place above the gravel board. Concrete posts cost around £20 each. If you use a good quality wood preserver, this type of fence will last for many years.
3. Lap Panel Fences:
This lap panel fence can be purchased from your local DIY store or Amazon and is easy to install if you are doing this yourself. All that is required is concrete posts to be put in place, insert a concrete gravel board at the base of each section and slot the fence panels into place above the gravel board. Concrete posts cost around £20 each. The panels will require regular application of a good quality wood preserver coating or a colour stain to keep them in good condition. Price per panel varies, but you can pick them up for approximately £20 per panel.
4. Picket fence:
A picket fence does not offer much privacy, but it can be a much cheaper option if funds are limited. Picket fences are available in wood, composite and PVC.
Wood
If you choose a wooden picket fence, you will need to apply a good quality colour stain once installed or a good quality wood preserver.
PVC
If you choose a PVC picket fence, it would not require much maintenance, only a simple wipe down with a damp cloth each year.
Composite
You could also invest in a plastic composite picket fence, which again would not require much maintenance, only a simple wipe down with a damp cloth each year.
