Choosing a timber garden fence is not something most people do on a regular basis. This is mainly because a timber fence, once in place, will last for a great many years before it needs replacing. Consequently, it’s quite difficult to know and understand the potential choices you can be faced with when it comes to replacing your existing fence.
The first thing to note is that most timber for garden fences can be pressure treated for long life using the tanalisation process. A series of chemicals will be vacuum absorbed into the timber at sawmill and this treatment will give your fencing a guaranteed rot free life for a minimum of 15 years. Tanalised timber , particularly sawn timber isn’t great at absorbing stains or preservatives, but tanalisation can be achieved using different color treatments. This timber will not take paints and glosses, so for some fences such as picket, if your looking for a high gloss white finish your going to need to use untreated planned timber for the application of paints.
In terms of choosing a style of fence, there are a great number to look at, but we will examine the the most popular choices. The style of fence you will choice will probably be down to your requirements for the fence. Do you want decoration, privacy or security or a little of all? The main choices you will have will be to go for a panel fence, picket fence or a close board fence.
Panel fencing has been around for a while, particularly in europe. Pre constructed fence panels of standard 6ft widths in a variety of standard heights and decorative styles are fitted between either concrete or timber posts depending on preference and budget. Heights range from 3ft through to 6ft. The panels tend to be made of overlapping boards, so as a result the fencing, depending on height option can offer a degree of privacy and decoration. The panels are often light weight in nature so security is low level, but due to weight and standard sizes they are cheap and easy to replace if they become damaged over time. They can be constructed from either tanalised materials or dip treated but are usually constructed from sawn timber .
Picket fencing is a great decorative fence but lacking in privacy or any real security. Picket fencing can be constructed in panel format where you just purchase a ready made 2m panel and attach to posts or you construct the fence form individual components. Pickets can be pointed topped, round top, square top or chisel top depending on the effect you best prefer. Heights tend to range from 3ft through to 6ft as standard. As mentioned for a top decorative effect this fencing looks particularly stunning if it is glossed white to finish, but this requires untreated planned timber which may not last as well as tanalised timbers .
Close board fencing can offer both privacy and a greater degree of security than picket or panel fencing. Closeboard fencing is the fencing you see where wedge profile boards are vertically overlapped along the length of the fence. The overlap is generally about 25mm. Close board fences tend to be available in heights from 3ft through to 10ft. Due to the height and lack of foot or hand holds this fencing offers the best security your likely to find from a timber fence. As boards overlap privacy is ensured. The fence can be erected on timber or concrete posts usually at 2.4m centres and has a good deal of inherent strength given by railings attached to the posts on the rear of the fence.
Choosing a garden timber fence is a one off event, but before you decide on type understand your requirements from the fencing and you won’t be disappointed.
