Choosing the right fence panels can be a complicated task. You need to balance privacy with style, calculate the right size, and figure out which posts and fixings you need. When you decide to buy fence panels, you want a straightforward process that guarantees quality and durability without the guesswork. This guide removes the confusion. Here, you will find clear, practical advice on selecting the best panels for your garden, from traditional closeboard to decorative styles.
Learn how to measure correctly, understand what makes a panel resistant to rot, and get a complete list of everything required for your project. As your one-stop shop for quality garden fencing, we make it simple to order everything you need with one fast, reliable delivery across Essex and East London. Get your project done right, the first time.
Key Takeaways
-
Identify the perfect fence panel style for your garden, from traditional closeboard to contemporary slatted designs.
-
Learn how to measure correctly for your new fence, ensuring you order the right size and quantity to avoid waste.
-
Discover all the essential components for a complete installation, including the correct posts, gravel boards, and fixings.
-
Before you buy fence panels, understand the key signs of a quality, durable product and a reliable local supplier.
Table of Contents
Find Your Perfect Fence Panel: A Quick Guide to Styles
Choosing the right style is the first step when you decide to buy fence panels for your Essex garden. The best choice depends on balancing your specific needs for privacy, durability, and aesthetics. We stock a complete range of traditional and contemporary panels to meet any requirement. From robust boundary fences to stylish garden dividers, all our products are manufactured from high-quality, pressure-treated timber built to last. This straightforward guide covers the most popular options we supply.
Closeboard Panels: For Strength and Privacy
Also known as featheredge fencing, Closeboard panels are the UK's most popular choice for creating strong, secure boundaries. They offer an excellent combination of performance and a classic appearance that suits almost any garden.
-
Maximum Privacy: Constructed with overlapping vertical timber boards, leaving no gaps.
-
Exceptional Durability: Their robust build makes them extremely resilient and ideal for windy, exposed areas.
-
Timeless Look: A traditional and smart finish that provides a solid backdrop for your garden.
Lap Panels: The Traditional, Cost-Effective Option
Lap panels are a traditional and budget-friendly fencing solution, perfect for straightforward boundary projects where cost is a key consideration. They provide good privacy and a classic look without a premium price tag.
-
Great Value: An economical choice for marking boundaries on larger properties or garden projects.
-
Good Privacy: Made with horizontal overlapping slats fitted neatly within a frame.
-
Easy to Install: Their simple design makes them a popular option for both trade and DIY customers.
Decorative and Slatted Panels: For a Modern Look
For a modern garden design, decorative and slatted panels offer a stylish alternative. These panels create a contemporary feel, with designs like horizontal slats or integrated trellis tops that allow more light and air to pass through. This makes them perfect for zoning different areas within a garden-such as a patio or seating area-or for use as a feature screen. With a wide variety of different types of fencing designs available, from Venetian slats to lattice tops, you can find a panel that enhances your outdoor space and adds a touch of architectural flair.
Measuring Up: How to Buy the Right Size and Quantity
Getting your measurements right is the first step to a successful fencing project. Before you focus on details like choosing the right wood, you must calculate the exact size and quantity you need. This simple process ensures you order correctly the first time, avoiding the waste and extra delivery costs of a miscalculation. When you are ready to buy fence panels for your Essex home, follow our straightforward three-step guide to get it right.
Step 1: Measure Your Total Fencing Run
To determine the number of panels required, measure the entire length of the area you plan to fence. Use a standard tape measure for an accurate reading in either feet or metres. Standard UK fence panels are 6ft (1.83m) wide, making the calculation simple.
- Total Length (in feet) ÷ 6 feet = Number of Panels Needed
For example, a total run of 60 feet will require 10 fence panels (60 ÷ 6 = 10). Always round up to the nearest whole number to ensure you have enough coverage.
Step 2: Choose Your Panel Height
The height of your fence depends on its purpose. For back garden privacy and security, the most common choice is 6ft (1.83m). For front gardens, where aesthetics are often the priority, lower heights of 3ft (0.9m) or 4ft (1.2m) are typical.
Remember to factor in a gravel board. A 6-inch (150mm) concrete or timber gravel board sits beneath the panel to prevent rot and add height. If you want a total fence height of 6ft, you would pair a 5ft 6in panel with a 6in gravel board.
Step 3: Calculate Your Posts
The calculation for fence posts is straightforward: you need one post for every panel, plus one extra post to finish the run. This ensures every panel is supported on both sides.
-
Formula: Number of Panels + 1 = Total Posts Needed
-
Example: For 10 fence panels, you will need 11 posts.
Crucially, your posts must be taller than your fence. For a 6ft high fence, we recommend using 8ft posts. This allows for approximately 2ft of the post to be securely fixed into the ground with concrete, providing essential stability for your new fence.
Complete Your Project: Posts, Gravel Boards & Fixings
A quality fence is more than just the panels. To build a structure that lasts, you need the right foundations and fixings. As your one-stop shop for all fencing supplies, we make it easy to get everything for your Essex project in one order. When you buy fence panels, remember that protecting your investment starts with choosing the correct accessories from the ground up.
Wooden vs. Concrete Posts: Which to Choose?
The posts are the backbone of your fence, and your choice impacts both its look and lifespan. Consider the key benefits of each material:
-
Concrete Posts: For maximum durability, choose concrete. They are completely rot-proof, immune to insect damage, and will last for decades with no maintenance. They are the practical, long-term solution.
-
Wooden Posts: For a seamless, traditional aesthetic, timber posts are the ideal choice. All our wooden posts are fully pressure-treated to protect against rot and decay, ensuring a long service life.
When selecting post length, remember to account for the portion that goes into the ground plus the height of your panel and gravel board. It is also vital to be aware of local regulations; you can find official guidance on planning permission for fences from the Planning Portal.
Why You Need Gravel Boards
A gravel board is one of the most important parts of any fence. This board-either timber or concrete-sits on the ground directly beneath your fence panel. Its sole purpose is to create a protective barrier, preventing the panel from having direct contact with damp soil. This simple addition is the single most effective way to stop premature rot and decay, significantly extending the life of your fencing. We stock both concrete and pressure-treated wooden gravel boards to perfectly match your choice of posts.
Essential Fixings and Finishes
The final details are what secure your fence and give it a professional finish. We stock all the ironmongery and extras you need to complete the job properly.
-
Panel Fixings: Use our durable fence clips or brackets to securely attach panels to your posts.
-
Post Mix: Our fast-setting Post Mix makes setting posts in the ground quick and easy, creating a solid, stable foundation.
-
Post Caps: Add a post cap to protect the vulnerable end grain of your wooden posts from rainwater, preventing rot while adding a smart, finished look.
By ensuring you have the right posts, gravel boards, and fixings, you're not just building a fence-you're making a long-term investment in your property. You can find all these essential items in our online store.
Why Buy From Us? Quality Fencing, Delivered Fast
When you need to buy fence panels, you want a supplier that offers quality products, competitive prices, and a service you can rely on. As a trusted local fencing supplier for both trade and public customers across Essex, we deliver on all fronts. Our focus is simple: provide superior fencing materials and practical advice, making your project straightforward and successful. Ordering from us online is fast, secure, and built for your convenience.
Quality You Can Trust
We believe a fence is a long-term investment. That’s why we source high-grade timber for all our panels, ensuring strength and durability from the start. Most of our fence panels are pressure-treated (Tanalised), a process that forces preservatives deep into the wood grain. This provides robust protection against rot and insect attack, giving our panels a much longer lifespan than inferior, dip-treated alternatives. We stand by the quality of every product we sell.
Fast, Reliable Local Delivery
Forget the long waiting times and high costs of national chains. We operate a dedicated delivery service across Essex and East London, ensuring you get your materials quickly and affordably. Our local team can handle all bulky items, from heavy panels to concrete posts, delivering them directly to your door or site. This means less hassle for you and a faster start for your project. You can easily check our delivery areas and options on our website.
Your One-Stop Fencing Shop
Save time and effort by finding everything you need for your fencing project in one place. We are your one-stop-shop for everything fencing, offering a complete range of products to finish the job properly.
-
Fence Panels (Closeboard, Lap, and Decorative)
-
Timber and Concrete Fence Posts
-
Gravel Boards
-
Garden Gates
-
Railway Sleepers and Fixings
Our expert team is always on hand to help with questions or advice. You can browse our full range of fence panels on our website.
Buy Fence Panels with Confidence Today
Securing the perfect garden fence is a straightforward process. By selecting the right style for your home, measuring your space accurately, and ensuring you have all the essential posts and fixings, you can guarantee a professional and durable result. This guide has equipped you with the knowledge to plan your project from start to finish with confidence.
When you are ready to buy fence panels, choosing a reliable supplier is crucial. As Romford's trusted local fencing expert, we pride ourselves on providing high-quality materials and exceptional service, backed by our 5-star customer reviews. We make the entire process simple and efficient, from ordering online to fast delivery across Essex and East London.
We are your one-stop-shop for everything fencing. Don't wait to complete your garden transformation. Shop Our Full Range of Fence Panels Now and get your project started with a supplier you can depend on.
Frequently Asked Questions
What's the difference between dip-treated and pressure-treated fence panels?
Dip-treated panels are submerged in a preservative, providing a surface-level coat. This is a cost-effective option but requires annual retreatment to maintain protection against rot. Pressure-treated panels have preservative forced deep into the timber under vacuum pressure. This method offers superior, long-lasting protection from the inside out and typically comes with a 10-15 year anti-rot guarantee, making it the more durable choice for your garden.
Do you sell fence panels to the public as well as trade?
Yes, we supply our full range of quality fence panels to both the public and trade customers. Whether you are a homeowner undertaking a DIY project or a professional landscaper, you can access our trade prices and exceptional service. We are your one-stop-shop for all fencing supplies, ensuring everyone gets the best value and product for their specific requirements across Essex and East London.
How much does delivery cost in Essex and East London?
We offer free local delivery on orders over £150 to many postcodes across Essex and East London, including Romford, Ilford, and Dagenham. For orders under this value, or for postcodes outside our free delivery zone, a competitive delivery charge will be calculated at checkout. Simply enter your postcode when you place your order to see the exact delivery cost for your location before you pay.
Can I install fence panels myself or do I need a professional?
Installing fence panels can be a straightforward DIY project for those with the right tools and experience. You will need a spirit level, post hole digger, and concrete mix. However, for a guaranteed professional finish and to ensure your fence is secure and level, we recommend hiring a professional installer. A professional ensures the posts are correctly set, which is crucial for the fence's longevity and stability against the elements.
How do I fit wooden fence panels into concrete posts?
Fitting wooden fence panels into slotted concrete posts is a simple process. First, place a concrete gravelboard into the slot at the base to protect the panel from ground moisture. Then, the wooden fence panel simply slides down into the vertical grooves on either side of the posts. No brackets or fixings are required, making this a quick and secure installation method for your garden boundary.
What is the most durable and long-lasting type of fence panel?
For maximum durability and lifespan, we recommend pressure-treated closeboard fence panels. These are constructed with overlapping vertical featheredge boards fixed to a heavy-duty frame, providing exceptional strength and privacy. When you buy fence panels that are pressure-treated, you are investing in a product with a long-term guarantee against rot and insect damage, ensuring it withstands the UK weather for years with minimal maintenance.