Choose the style of fencing you want to install based on function, form, and fit. A fence will give you a lot of privacy from the street and help coordinate wind resistance in your garden. The three main types of fence panels are closeboard, lap, and hit-and-miss. Here’s how they compare.
Closeboard: strong and long-lasting
Closeboard Fencing consists of vertical featheredge boards nailed to horizontal rails. Each board overlaps the next. Because of this, Closeboard Fencing offers better privacy and strength compared to others. It is typically constructed on site, but panels are also available. It is among the sturdiest options due to the thick, tightly overlapped boards. Closeboard fencing can obstruct views and offer a high degree of privacy.
That solidity has a downside when fully closed fences are exposed to wind on external boundaries. The posts should be set at least one third of their length in the ground. Concrete or gravel boards can help keep the lower ends of the posts out of the ground. A standard fence panel is 1.83m wide, and 1.8m is the standard height for a fence before the need for planning permission becomes an issue.
Lap panels: affordable and simple
They are made up of overlapping horizontal slats set in a frame. They are the cheapest and quickest to install. They have full privacy, and because of the nature of the design they look uniform and neat. This makes them suitable to most suburban back yards.
The weak point is thickness. The slats are thin and lap panels can split or bow after a couple winters, especially if they’re untreated. Look for panels with a sturdy frame, and if available, pressure treated wood. Also, check that the slats are fitted tightly. Paint or stain panels soon after installation. The most important thing to help panels last is to keep the bottom edge off the ground.
Hit-and-miss: privacy with airflow
Hit-and-Miss panels use vertical boards fixed alternately on either side of the rail, leaving small gaps. When looking at the fence from the front it appears to be a solid fence. Using this design reduces the strain on the fence posts and is better suited for windy locations or fences in open areas.
While privacy is still decent at normal view angles, someone at a sharp angle along the fence may be able to see through. The design looks nice and has a more modern look, and works well when painted dark grey or black as a backdrop to plant along. Expect this to cost more than basic lap, but it is usually worth the price in more exposed locations.
Choosing and fitting
First, consider wind, then privacy and finally your budget. Urban windbreaks can use lap panels, but hit-and-miss is better for privacy and sound control on boundary fencing. For lasting boundary fences, closeboard is ideal, and use it anywhere additional security is needed. Check the deeds before beginning work and discuss with your neighbour who owns the boundary.
whichever posts you use, the fence will only last as long as the posts. Concrete posts outlast timber in the ground, and for timber posts to be effective, they should be pressure treated and set in well compacted gravel or concrete with a sloped top to shed water. Fix gravel boards along the bottom, leave a small gap above soil, and treat any cut ends of timber with a preservative.
A little planning at the start saves arguments later on. Measure the run and allow for slope by stepping the panels down. Order a couple extra gravel boards and caps. Caps on the ends of posts protect the posts from rain, which causes rot. All of this is relatively inexpensive and noticeably improve the life of the fence.
Fences can deteriorate quickly and do need some maintenance to keep them looking good. Staining the timber every two to three years helps to preserve the timber as well as change the look of the fence if you want a change. Darker stains really make your plants stand out and lighter stains give the illusion of a bigger garden. A new fence can really change the way your garden looks and can be a really good investment.