A recent customer wrote: "May I take this opportunity to thank you and your team
for a wonderful service. We are both pleased with the fence and the entire service
provided by Timbersteel Ltd."
© Timbersteel Ltd Co No. 5673393
There are choices to be made about what sort of post you want and what you want between
the posts. Wooden posts do not last as long as concrete ones, but they are cheaper
and some people prefer the look, but concrete posts with a good quality panel between
can look superb – and we would always recommend concrete posts with close-board fence,
for strength and durability. If you buy wooden posts, make sure they have been pressure
treated, not just dipped in preservative – and consider 100mm square (4”) not 75mm
(3”) for strength. You should always concrete posts into place as this stops the
wind from rocking and breaking them, and keep soil away from the base of wooden posts
as soil causes them to rot more quickly.
Gravel boards go horizontally along the ground below the panel or close-board. They
can be wooden or concrete, but as with most things, concrete will last longer as
wood close to the ground is liable to soak up moisture and rot. Choose the gravel
boards to go with the look you are trying to create and to suit your garden conditions.
Take care when choosing your panels, a there is a wide variation in quality available.
Fit the panels which suit your style of garden, flat-top or bow-top are available,
as are panels with trellis on the top section if you want it.
If you intend growing climbers on the panels, consider strength rather than looks
because they will need to support the weight of the plants and will soon be hidden
from view. If they are heavy climbers, consider the much stronger close-board fence.
If you have a steep slope, close-board fencing can look very attractive.
Ideally, special concrete posts should be used, concreted securely into the ground
with good quality cross-rails bolted to them using galvanised bolts. Always ensure
that the bolts are cut to the correct length after fitting, and a galvanising paint
put on the cut end to stop them rusting. Uncut bolts look unsightly and can cause
injury to people as they are often at eye height. The boards should be nailed onto
the rails individually by hand, using galvanised nails – not with a nail gun, which
uses standard nails. Close-board fence is an investment, so don’t spoil it with poorly
nailed boards.
Panels fit between the posts, whereas close-board fits onto horizontal rails, which
themselves fit onto posts. This means that close-board fence takes up more of the
garden than panels. Panels are often cheaper than close-board, and you can have panels
that look like close-board if you wish. Panels also look similar from both sides,
whereas close-board does not, so they may be ideal for the boundary between you and
your neighbour. On the other hand close-board fencing is much stronger than panels
and is always recommended for fences alongside roads, pavements or public rights
of way.
