Close board vs panel fencing: which to choose
Part of our fencing guides
The choice between close board and panel fencing is mostly a choice about exposure and how long you want the fence to last. Both work; they fail in different ways and at different speeds.
Close board (featheredge)
Close board is built in place: posts, arris rails, then overlapping featheredge boards nailed on, with a gravel board at the bottom and a capping rail on top. It is heavier, stronger in wind, and individual boards can be replaced without touching the rest of the fence. It costs more and takes longer to build, and it is the right answer on exposed boundaries and where the ground runs downhill, because it can be stepped or raked to follow the fall.
Panel fencing
Lap, waney-edge and closeboard-effect panels are pre-made and drop between posts, which makes them quicker and cheaper to install and easy to swap out later. Thin lap panels are the weakest option in wind. Heavier framed panels are much closer to close board in performance. Panels cannot follow a slope, so on falling ground the fence steps and gaps appear under each panel unless gravel boards are used.
Posts and gravel boards
Posts do most of the work. Concrete posts and concrete gravel boards last far longer than timber and keep the panel or boards clear of wet soil, which is where rot always starts. Timber posts look better and can be used with either system, but they should be pressure treated, set in concrete with a haunch that sheds water, and never sat in a hole full of standing water.
- Concrete posts with concrete gravel boards — longest life, lowest maintenance
- Timber posts with concrete gravel boards — better appearance, protected base
- Timber posts throughout — best appearance, shortest life at ground level
- Post depth normally around a quarter to a third of the above-ground height, more on exposed sites
Height and boundary rules
In England, a fence up to two metres high is generally permitted development, dropping to one metre where it adjoins a highway used by vehicles. Listed buildings and some conservation areas have tighter rules. Boundary ownership is a matter for your deeds, and it is always worth speaking to a neighbour before replacing a shared boundary.
Frequently asked
How long does a fence last?
It depends far more on the posts and the base detail than on the boards. Concrete posts and gravel boards with treated timber above them commonly outlast a panel fence set on timber posts by many years, because the timber is never sitting in wet ground.
Can a fence follow a sloping garden?
Close board can be raked or stepped to follow the ground. Rigid panels cannot — they step, and the triangular gaps under each panel are filled with gravel boards or masonry.