With so many fencing options available, it's easy to make the wrong choice. Here's a practical guide to panels, posts and materials to help you pick a fence that looks good and lasts.
Start With the Purpose
Before choosing a style, be clear on what you need your fence to do. Privacy fencing needs to be close-boarded and tall enough to screen sight lines. A boundary marker between properties can be lighter and more decorative. A fence containing pets or children needs to be solid at the base with no gaps. A front garden fence often benefits from a more open, attractive design. Matching the fence to its purpose avoids replacing it too soon.
Panel Styles Explained
Lap panels are the most common and affordable option — overlapping horizontal slats create a solid screen but they are the least durable style. Closeboard or featherboard fencing uses vertical boards nailed to arris rails and is significantly stronger and longer-lasting than lap panels. Slatted or hit-and-miss panels offer a contemporary look with partial privacy and better wind resistance. Picket fencing is open and decorative, suited to front gardens. Trellis panels are lightweight and best used as a topper rather than a full fence.
Post Materials: Concrete vs Timber vs Metal
Posts are the foundation of any fence and failing posts are the most common reason fences fall down prematurely. Concrete posts last significantly longer than timber and are worth the extra cost in most situations — particularly for closeboard fencing. Softwood timber posts should be pressure-treated to ground contact specification (UC4 rated) and will typically last 10–15 years if installed correctly. Steel or aluminium posts are used with contemporary panel systems and offer excellent longevity with minimal maintenance.
Height Considerations
Standard fence panels are available in heights from 0.9 metres to 1.8 metres. A 1.8-metre fence provides good privacy for most rear gardens. On sloped ground, panels are typically stepped down in stages — a professional installer will account for the gradient so posts and panels align correctly. Note that fences over 2 metres high require planning permission, and front garden fences adjoining a highway are limited to 1 metre without permission.
Gravel Boards — Worth the Investment
A gravel board is a horizontal board fitted at the base of a fence between the posts, keeping the main fence panel off the ground. This is one of the most cost-effective ways to extend fence life — ground contact rots timber panels quickly, particularly at the base. Concrete gravel boards are the most durable and highly recommended. Timber gravel boards are a reasonable alternative if pressure-treated to UC4 standard.
What Does Professional Fence Installation Cost?
In the Hertfordshire area, professional fence installation typically costs from £80–£120 per metre supply and install for standard lap or closeboard fencing, depending on height and ground conditions. Concrete posts and gravel boards add to the cost but significantly extend the fence's life. Rocky ground, removal of an old fence or access difficulties will affect the final price. Always get a written quote that specifies post type, panel style, gravel boards and any groundwork included.