Fencing Project Estimator
Panels or feather edge — complete fencing materials from your run length. Posts, rails, boards, gravel boards, post caps and postcrete all calculated together. 2026 UK pricing.
Measure the total length of all fence runs combined. Add extra for corners.
Gravel boards sit at the base of the fence, keeping posts and panels clear of soil. Highly recommended — they significantly extend fence life.
Each gate requires 2 heavy-duty gate posts (125×125mm timber or double concrete) not included in the standard post count.
Installation Guide
Fence Panels vs Feather Edge
Fence panels — the fast option
Set posts 600mm in the ground at exactly panel-width centres (1.83m for standard panels). Use a string line to keep posts aligned. Mix Postcrete in the hole — dry pour around the post, add water, brace in position for 5–10 minutes until set. Concrete posts are slotted — slide panels in from the top. Timber posts need bracket clips or pre-cut slots.
Fit gravel boards first — they sit at ground level in the post slots and keep the main panels lifted off the soil. This single step can double the life of a timber fence by preventing ground contact rot.
Feather edge — the strong option
Set posts at 2.4m centres. Fix arris rails between posts — 2 rails for fences up to 1.5m, 3 rails for 1.8m and above. Nail the first feather edge board plumb at one end. Each subsequent board overlaps the previous by 12–15mm (the thin edge of the board hides behind the thick edge of the next). Work along the fence knocking each board with a mallet to maintain consistent overlap before nailing.
The key advantage on sloping ground: you can "rack" feather edge boards to follow the slope while keeping posts vertical. Panels cannot do this — they have to step-down in fixed increments which leaves triangular gaps at the bottom.
Timber vs concrete posts
Timber: UC4 pressure-treated posts. Lighter (15–20kg), easier for one person to handle, can be cut to exact length on site. Typical lifespan 10–15 years before ground-line rot. Post spurs (metal shoes driven into the ground) allow timber posts to be replaced without disturbing the concrete, extending the system's life significantly.
Concrete: Slotted H-posts. Very heavy (40–50kg each — two-person job). Rot-proof, warp-proof, 25–30 year lifespan. Panels simply slot in from the top — no nailing or brackets needed. More expensive upfront but lower lifetime cost. Cannot be cut to length on site.
FAQ
Common Questions
For panel fencing: panels + 1. So 10 panels = 11 posts. For feather edge at 2.4m spacing: ceil(run ÷ 2.4) + 1. A 20m run = ceil(20/2.4) + 1 = 9 + 1 = 10 posts. Always add an extra post at each corner and for each gate.
Yes, highly recommended. Gravel boards sit at ground level between posts, keeping the main fence panels or boards 150mm above soil. This prevents the rot that starts when timber sits in contact with wet ground. Concrete gravel boards are maintenance-free; timber ones are cheaper but need periodic treatment. The cost is small relative to the life extension they provide.
In England: up to 1m adjacent to a highway (front garden bordering a road or footpath), and up to 2m elsewhere (rear and side gardens). The standard 6ft (1.8m) garden fence is within PD limits for side and rear boundaries. Listed buildings and Conservation Areas may have lower limits. Scotland and Wales have slightly different rules.
Boundary ownership is determined by your title deeds — look for a 'T' mark on the boundary, which shows the owner (the T points toward the owner's property). You can erect a fence on your own land without your neighbour's permission, but it must be positioned just inside your boundary, not on it. If you share a boundary (party boundary), you need agreement from your neighbour.