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Right. Let me guess what happened here.
You opened your back door this morning, coffee in hand, ready to enjoy a peaceful moment—and instead, you locked eyes with next door’s new trampoline. Or maybe you spotted that one fence panel now leaning at a concerning 45-degree angle, held together by nothing but hope and last summer’s cobwebs.
And now you’re here. Googling. Trying to figure out which of the millions of fence panels on the market won’t let you down again.
I’ve been there. Actually, scratch that—I was there. Three years ago, I bought six cheap panels on a Sunday afternoon, convinced I’d bagged a bargain. By Christmas, one had blown over and another looked like a xylophone.
So take this from someone who learned the hard way: not all fence panels are the same. Not even close.
Let me walk you through what I wish I’d known back then.
Let’s Start With Why You’re Probably Confused
You pop into a garden centre, or start scrolling online, and suddenly you're drowning in options. Overlap. Close board. Feather-edge. Waney lap. Composite. Trellis. Gravel boards. Pressure-treated. Dip-treated. Untreated.
Honestly? It’s enough to make you want to just move house.
But here’s the thing. Once you strip away all the fancy names and marketing fluff, most fence panels fall into one of a few clear categories. And once you know what those categories actually mean for your garden—your budget, your patience levels, your tolerance for future DIY—the choice gets a whole lot easier.
So let’s walk through them. No jargon. No sales scripts. Just the stuff I’d tell my own mate over the fence.
Overlap Panels: The One Everyone Buys First
If you’ve ever bought a fence before, you’ve probably owned these. They’re everywhere. Every builders’ merchant has a stack of them out front. And yes, they’re cheap.
The design is simple: horizontal slats nailed across a frame, overlapping slightly so you can’t see straight through. Does the job. Mostly.
What works:
Light enough to carry under one arm
You can fit them in a normal car
The price tag is gentle on the wallet
What doesn’t:
Wind absolutely hates them. Gets under the slats and shakes the whole thing.
Those staples? They rust. They pull out. It’s basically guaranteed.
Realistically, you’re looking at maybe five years before they start looking tired.
Who actually wants these?
Someone fencing a rental property. Someone who needs a quick fix before selling. Someone who knows they’ll upgrade later and just needs a placeholder.
I’m not saying don’t buy them. I’m just saying… manage your expectations.
Close board: The One That Doesn’t Embarrass You
This is what I swapped my cheap panels for, and honestly? I should’ve done it years earlier.
Close board fencing is vertical. Feather-edge boards nailed to horizontal rails, overlapping just enough to block every gap. It looks solid because it is solid.
What works:
Wind runs right over it. No rattling, no shaking.
A board gets damaged? Swap that single board. Not the whole panel.
It looks like you mean business.
What doesn’t:
It’s heavier. You’ll want a mate to help install it.
Costs more upfront—but lasts twice as long.
If it’s not pressure-treated, you’ll need to stain it yourself.
Who actually wants these?
Homeowners who are done messing about. People with dogs. Anyone whose garden faces the prevailing wind.
Honestly? These are the fence panels I recommend most often. They just… work.
Waney Edge: The One With Personality
Okay, these are divisive. Some people love them, some people think they look unfinished. Me? I’ve got a soft spot.
The slats still overlap, like standard overlap panels. But the edges keep the original bark line—wavy, rustic, like something from a woodland edge rather than a factory line.
What works:
Blends beautifully with plants and greenery
Cheaper than closeboard
That rustic look is genuinely charming
What doesn’t:
Still lets wind through the overlaps
Bark holds moisture. Moisture invites insects.
Not sleek. Not modern. This is cottage-core fencing.
Who actually wants these?
If your garden is all lavender and winding paths and bird feeders, these are your panels. If you’ve got a minimalist grey patio and geometric planters… maybe not.
Premium Lap: Overlap’s Glow-Up
This is what happens when overlap panels go to the gym, buy better clothes, and start a skincare routine.
Same basic idea—horizontal slats, overlapping construction—but everything’s upgraded. The timber is planed smooth. The edges are clean. Sometimes there are decorative grooves or scalloped tops.
What works:
Looks far more expensive than it is
Clean, contemporary finish
Still reasonably lightweight
What doesn’t:
Underneath the pretty face, it’s still fundamentally overlap construction
Won’t outlast close board
Sometimes the “premium” price tag creeps up toward close board territory anyway
Who actually wants these?
Someone who wants a modern look on a mid-range budget. Someone who cares about curb appeal but doesn’t need fortress-level durability.
Composite: The One You Never Think About Again
Right. Deep breath. These aren’t cheap.
Composite fence panels are made from recycled plastic and wood fibre. No timber grain. No natural variation. Just smooth, consistent, maintenance-free sections that lock together like they mean it.
What works:
Zero. Maintenance. Not painting. Not staining. Not even thinking about it.
Won’t rot. Won’t warp. Won’t splinter.
Twenty-five years. Minimum.
Hidden fixings—no exposed screws or nail heads
What doesn’t:
You will notice the upfront cost. It stings a bit.
Some people find the uniform look a bit… sterile.
If a section does get damaged, it’s not a quick DIY fix
Who actually wants these?
Anyone who’s spent one too many weekends with a paintbrush. Anyone who wants to future-proof their property. Anyone who can afford the upfront cost and values their free time more than their cash.
I’ll be honest: I don’t own these. I couldn’t justify the spend. But my neighbour installed them two years ago and his still look brand new. Mine? I’ve already re-stained twice.
Trellis Panels: Not A Fence, But Let’s Mention Them Anyway
These aren’t fence panels in the privacy sense. They’re decorative. They’re for plants. They’re for adding height without adding weight.
What works:
Beautiful with climbers
Cheap
Lets light through
What doesn’t:
Zero privacy
Flimsy on their own
Needs a solid fence behind it to actually enclose anything
Who actually wants these?
People who garden. People who want to soften a brick wall. People topping an existing fence for extra screening.
So… Which One’s Actually Best?
You knew this was coming, right? It depends.
But let me give you something more useful than that.
If you’re skint but need a fence this weekend: Overlap. Get the job done, replace them in five years.
If you want to install it once and forget about it: Closeboard. Or composite if your budget stretches.
If you’re selling soon: Overlap or premium lap. Make it look tidy, let the next owner worry about longevity.
If you care about aesthetics first: Waney edge for rustic, premium lap for modern, closeboard for timeless.
If you want my honest, no-nonsense, I’ve-been-there recommendation:
Closeboard. Every time. It’s not the cheapest, but it’s the best value over ten years. And there’s something genuinely satisfying about a fence that doesn’t wobble when you lean against it.
The Thing Nobody Tells You About Fence Panels
Here it is. The uncomfortable truth.
You can buy the best fence panels on the market. Top-of-the-line, pressure-treated, guaranteed-for-fifteen-years panels. And if you stick them on rotting fence posts, they’ll still fall over.
The posts matter. The gravel boards matter. The concrete matters.
So many people—myself included, that first time—fixate on the panels themselves and forget everything else. Don’t be that person. Buy good panels, yes. But buy good posts too. Treat them. Install them properly. Because a fence is only as strong as its weakest post, and I’ve learned that lesson in the most frustrating way possible.
FAQs – The Questions You Haven’t Asked Yet
How long should fence panels actually last?
Cheap overlap? Maybe five or six years if the British weather’s feeling merciful. Good closeboard with annual treatment? Fifteen, easy. Composite? Twenty-five plus, apparently—mine are still in the neighbour’s garden, smugly not rotting.
Can I replace just one panel?
Yes. But measure it first. Not all panels are the same size, and garden centre stock changes. Take a tape measure. Trust me on this.
What’s a gravel board and do I need one?
It’s a horizontal board at the bottom, between the soil and the panel. Stops the timber sitting in damp earth. Stops it rotting from the bottom up. Yes, you need one.
Should I paint or stain the panels before fitting?
If they’re pressure-treated, you can wait. If they’re not, do it before installation. Much easier to paint flat on the ground than balancing on a ladder.
My fence keeps blowing over. What am I doing wrong?
Either the posts aren’t set deep enough, or you’re using overlap panels in an exposed spot. Closeboard is far more wind-resistant. Also, check your concrete mix.
One Last Thing
Choosing fence panels shouldn’t feel like gambling. You shouldn’t have to cross your fingers every time the wind picks up, wondering if this storm is the one that finally finishes off number three.
You want a fence that just… exists. That does its job quietly. That keeps your garden yours, and keeps next door’s trampoline out of sight.
That fence is out there. Whether it’s closeboard or composite, overlap or premium lap, you now know enough to pick it with confidence.
And when you’re leaning against it next summer, cold drink in hand, no wobble, no gaps, no regrets?
That’s the good stuff.
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