Close-Board vs Concrete Post Fencing: Which Actually Lasts Longer?

What people usually mean when they ask

The real choice is the post - concrete or pressure-treated timber. You can hang exactly the same close-board panels off either. So the honest comparison is timber-post close-board vs concrete-post close-board.

Lifespan (the number that matters)

Pressure-treated timber post at ground contact: 8-14 years before the base rots at the soil line and the post snaps in the next storm.

Concrete slotted post: 25-40 years. The post effectively outlives the panels.

Cost per linear metre (2026)

Close-board on 100x100mm treated timber posts: £95-£130/m fitted.

Close-board on concrete slotted posts with gravel boards: £115-£155/m fitted.

The £20-£25/m extra buys you a fence system that never needs a post replaced. Over 25 years that's the cheaper fence by a wide margin.

Wind and storm behaviour

Concrete posts don't snap - the panels break out first, which is actually what you want. It means a repair is a panel swap, not a full run replacement. Timber posts snap at ground level and take the panels with them.

When timber posts still win

Short runs (under 6m) inside enclosed courtyards, decorative screen fences with feature caps, and boundaries where you know you'll change the look in 8-10 years. Otherwise, concrete posts every time.

What we spec by default

Exposed corner plots (Farnborough, Aldershot, Fleet): concrete posts with rock-faced gravel boards, non-negotiable. Sheltered mid-terrace side returns: timber post is a fair choice if budget is tight.