A fence usually fails at the post rather than the panel. The timber at ground level rots, the post loosens, and the next strong wind takes the panel with it. Replacing a single panel is a short job, but if two or three posts are already soft it is worth pricing the run properly rather than paying twice.
Work out what has actually failed
Push the post firmly at shoulder height. If it moves at the base, the post is the problem. If the post is solid and only the boards have broken, a panel swap is all you need.
Concrete posts almost never rot, which is why a run with concrete posts and timber panels is the cheapest fence to maintain over twenty years.
Panels, posts and gravel boards
Prices vary mainly by panel type and post material.
- Waney lap panels are the cheapest and the shortest lived
- Feather edge closeboard costs more and lasts considerably longer
- Concrete posts cost more to install but outlast timber several times over
- A gravel board keeps panel timber out of wet soil and is always worth adding
Check the boundary before anything comes down
Ownership of a boundary is not always where people assume, and taking down a fence that belongs to next door creates an argument that no amount of good workmanship fixes. A quick look at your deeds plan, and a word with the neighbour, sorts it out beforehand.
It is also good manners to mention the work if access to their side is needed to fit panels or dig out an old post.
Old concrete is the hidden cost
Digging out a large lump of old concrete around a failed post can take longer than fitting the new post. Where the old footing is sound and correctly positioned, a repair spur can sometimes be used instead, which is quicker and cheaper.
Typical costs
| Item | Typical range | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Single panel replaced | 70 to 140 pounds fitted | Existing post reused where sound |
| Panel and timber post | 140 to 240 pounds fitted | Includes digging out and concreting in |
| Concrete post upgrade | Priced per post | Best long term value on an exposed run |
| Gravel board added | 25 to 50 pounds per bay | Keeps panel timber clear of wet soil |
Guidance for domestic fencing around Medway, based on straightforward access.