Most residential homes in the UK use timber fencing in the rear garden, the front garden or both and apart from expensive houses in upmarket areas where you usually find brick being used along with wrought iron timber will never be replaced as the most common material used for boundary fencing, but is all timber fencing the same?
No, all timber fencing is not the same and there are various types and styles of fencing used for UK properties and which is best for your home depends on your location, house style and type and your budget.
Picket Fencing
Picket fencing was once the most common type of fencing found in residential homes all across the UK. It was designed to keep costs down by using the least amount of wood because for every vertical panel of wood there is and equal space. The drawback of Picket fencing is that it is not very private and passers by can see straight through to your garden, this is also a security risk too as potential # thieves can see what you have in your garden as they casually walk by during the day then they can return at night to relieve you of your expensive garden furniture, fire pit, lawn swing, barbeque etc.
Because of the privacy and security issues picket fencing is now only used to mark out internal boundaries along paths and patio or it is used at the front of properties only where the fencing is simply decorative and nothing else.
Closeboard Fencing
Next we have what is known as Closeboard fencing with is literally the same design as picket fencing yet without the gaps, hence closed board. With Closeboard fencing privacy isn’t an issue because they are no gaps so this type of fencing is quite often used at the rear of properties where privacy and security is more important.
Closeboard fencing can be quite expensive due to its bespoke nature but can be long lasting if quality timber is used and can be as high as needed.
Panel Fencing
Panel Fencing is at present the most common type of fencing currently being uses in residential homes across the UK. Panel fencing is generally use in conjunction with concrete posts and concrete bases, which once in place will last 20, 30 years or more meaning that all you need to worry about are the timber fence panels that slot in between the concrete posts.
Panel Fencing has become popular due to its cost saving design where you can simply replace individual panels yourself when they become old, rotten or get damaged in some way rather than having to employ a tradesman to repair or even replace the entire fence, however, not all fence panels are the same and some panels are more robust that others.
At the cheap end of the scale your have what are generally known as waney lap panels or overlay panels and these are in fact the most common type of panel found in UK homes, but only due to the fact that house builders will use then in new builds and DIY stores stock them in their budget fencing ranges.
Waney lap panels are thin, cheaply made and generally only last 6 to 12 months before they will need replacing. To be honest it’s false economy because after a few years the money you spent replacing theses panels all the time could have bought you more expensive panels that would have lasted much, much longer, more expensive panel being vertical boarded panel which are simply panels of Closeboard Fencing.
Vertical boarded panels can vary but a good quality vertical boarded panel that has been treated with a high grade wood preservative can last up to 5 years, sometimes longer in certain climates and locations, before it will need replacing or repairing making these panels the most cost effective fencing panels you can buy.
Rasburn Fencing are Leigh’s premier fencing company and have been in the fencing industry for over 40 years. They offer top quality panel fencing including vertical boarded panel and also supply timber gates, concrete posts and other fencing products at very competitive prices.