Composite Fencing

SentineL-X

SentineL-X

SentineL-X

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Cardiff
We're looking to have the garden done this year and as part of this, are seriously considering composite fencing as opposed to 'traditional' wood fence.

We know the cost for this is going to be more expensive, but the tradeoff for me personally is that we won't need to replace in X amount of years and that it's pretty much zero maintenance aside from the old wash down every now and again.

Has anyone ever had any experience with composite fencing and in particular, this from Wickes? https://www.wickes.co.uk/WBM-Wood-P...ence-Slat---1800-x-150mm---Pack-of-2/p/284755

Any advice would be appreciated or even alternate suggestions :)
 
Until they sort out U/V fading they are never going to be all their advrtising people claim they're cracked up to be. There are few places with extensive use of them around here, 2 to 3 years sees them whiten. Nor have they got the individuality of wooden panels either, not that modern wood fencing panels are anything other than made from far too early felled timber, which without arsenic based rot reducers fall apart in no time.

The proper arsenic based dips seem to be the only stuff that actually worked, apart from "proper" creosote, which is also banned, but still available from the nod and a wink suppliers it seems.
 
thanks for the feedback so far.

Defo made me reconsider and like the look of the double slatted wooden panels with some concrete slotted posts to make the maintenance far easier in years to come.
 
yeah as been said they fade something awful
my last job had them installed looked lovely when new after no more than 6 months and there was a clear difference in the planks in the sun compared to the ones in the shade
plus side is they will not rot :)
 
Sod that, best thing i did was put plastic fencing in better than any cheap ass wooden panel you need to paint every 2-3 years and rots no matter what people say.
 
FishThrower said:
are they really that bad?? one of my friends has composite fencing and it looks fantastic
Click to expand...
Reuben klang said:
I agree, my neighbour - around 4 doors up has it and i think it looks amazing.

So much cleaner. I hate with a passion painting so I’d be going down that route as well.
Click to expand...
They fade over time, are completely unrecyclable, and look like someone's trying to make outside look like inside. If you don't like painting then don't paint it.
 
Having recently had to replace the fencing at the bottom of my garden, the composite equivalent to the wood variant I went with (concrete posts + gravel boards) actually looks to be quite good value..

I was put off colour degrading overtime particularly with the bottom end of the garden getting south facing rays when the british weather allows.
 
I have 6ft concrete posts and gravel boards. Just at start of the pandemic we had a good storm and one of my panels ended up over next doors garden.
Due to my old age I said to wife we will get those plastic ones. So bought enough for the 5ft fence along side of the house and was very pleased with them - These cost £10 a panel - One panel was 6ft x 1ft so £50 per full panel.
I was pleased with them so did the lot about 18 panels or fence posts - By then due to pandemic the price went up to £17 a panel so the 5ft ones were £50 a panel but 6ft ones were £102 per full panel - in all it cost good part of £1k -
Do they fade - yes -did they look good when done - I think so - am I still happy -yes.

I can sit here with a raging storm outside and know they will still be there in morning as you can get clips that go over the top and you screw them on. - We did think of washing them but at our age not a chance.

One thing I did do was buy 44mm waste pipe and put that on top of gravel board then panel on top - it seemed to me that the half moon base of panel sitting on edges of gravel boards would or could get damaged.
The main thing you must do is make sure your gravel boards are level and all line up.

Another good thing is if you damage one you just lift them out -put new panel in then replace the others. No rusty nails -rotton posts - yes its easy when you are young and fit but later in life when you sell up and buy somewhere else you will wish it had plastic panels.

I watched next door paint all his 19 fence panels and thought thank god I don't have to do that.
These are the ones I bought - by the way mine are brown.

www.eurocell.co.uk

Eco Composite Fencing Boards

Transform gardens with stylish, low maintenance composite fencing.
www.eurocell.co.uk www.eurocell.co.uk
 
Awesome, thanks for the replies here. All good food for thought and I'm still pretty much sold on the 'no maintenance' option of composite at the minute. Will check out the link you've shared @DXP55 , much appreciated!
 
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