8 min read · Updated 29 August 2026
Concrete vs Timber Fencing: Which to Choose
Concrete posts with timber panels is the answer for most gardens, and this guide explains exactly why, with fitted costs for all three options.
Three options, not two
The choice is rarely all concrete against all timber. In practice there are three builds: full timber with timber posts, full concrete with concrete posts and concrete panels, and the hybrid of concrete posts and gravel boards with timber panels slotted between them.
The hybrid is what we install most, and for most gardens in Hampshire it is the right answer. It puts concrete where timber fails, which is at and just below ground level, and keeps timber where it looks better, which is everywhere you can see.
The comparison
Fitted 2026 prices for a standard 1.8m high garden boundary.
| Build | Fitted per m | Life | Maintenance | Look |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Timber posts and panels | £55 - £85 | 8 - 12 years | Treat every 2 - 3 yrs | Warmest |
| Concrete posts, timber panels | £70 - £110 | 20 - 25 yrs (posts) | Panels only | Good compromise |
| Concrete posts and panels | £95 - £140 | 30 years plus | None | Utilitarian |
| Closeboard on concrete posts | £80 - £120 | 20 - 25 years | Treat boards | Traditional, strong |
Why timber posts fail and concrete ones do not
A timber post rots at the soil line, where oxygen and moisture meet. Everything above and below can be sound while a 100mm band at ground level turns to fibre. That is why a fence blows down in a storm even though the panels are fine.
Pressure treated timber slows it. Setting posts in concrete without a drainage layer accelerates it, because the concrete collar holds water against the post. Concrete posts remove the failure mode entirely, which is why the panels become the only consumable in the fence.
The practical consequence is that a concrete post fence costs perhaps 25 percent more up front and typically lasts two to three times as long, because you replace £40 panels rather than rebuilding a whole run.
Wind, which decides more than looks
A solid 1.8m fence panel is a sail. In exposed positions, and there are plenty around Hawley, Elvetham Heath and the open estates north of Basingstoke, the wind load is what breaks fences, not age.
Three ways to deal with it. Use hit and miss or slatted panels that let air through, which cuts the load dramatically and looks contemporary. Reduce the height to 1.5m along the most exposed run. Or use concrete posts set at least 600mm deep on a 1.8m fence, with a proper concrete footing and a stone drainage layer at the base.
Where a garden is genuinely exposed, we specify all three together and the fence stops being a recurring expense.
Appearance and the neighbour question
Concrete gravel boards look industrial to some eyes. A single 150mm board below a timber panel is barely noticeable once planting is in front of it, and it keeps the timber out of wet soil.
On the boundary question: which side the posts face is a convention, not a legal rule. Ownership comes from your deeds and transfer plan. Before agreeing to share cost with a neighbour, check who actually owns the boundary, and agree the specification and the price in writing before anything is ordered.
What we recommend and what it costs
For a standard rear garden boundary in this area: concrete posts, concrete gravel boards, and either lap panels for value or closeboard for longevity. That is £70 to £120 per metre fitted including removal and disposal of the old fence.
For exposed or very windy positions: the same posts with hit and miss panels. For front boundaries under a metre where wind is not the issue, timber posts are perfectly reasonable and look better.
Call 07538 218723 with a rough length and we can usually give an indicative figure straight away.
Frequently asked questions
- Are concrete fence posts better than wooden ones?
- For durability, yes. Timber posts rot at the soil line and typically fail at 8 to 12 years, whereas concrete posts last 20 to 25 years or more and let you replace only the panels when they wear out.
- How much does fencing cost per metre in the UK?
- £55 to £85 per metre for full timber, £70 to £110 for concrete posts with timber panels, and £95 to £140 for concrete posts and panels, all fitted in 2026 including removing the old fence.
- What is the best fence for a windy garden?
- Hit and miss or slatted panels on concrete posts set at least 600mm deep. Air passing through the fence dramatically reduces the load that pushes posts over in a storm.
- Who owns the fence between two gardens?
- Ownership is set by your deeds and transfer plan, not by which side the posts face. Check the paperwork before agreeing to share costs or replace a boundary.