Fence that won't blow down - Is DH right?

[puginamug]

We live in a normal detached house with a normal sized garden. On one side the fence panels have blown down a couple of times in heavy wind. Each time he and his Dad have put new ones back up, only for them to fall down a few years later. We don't live on top of a hill or anything, our garden is about 15m x 15m.

Really the whole fence needs replacing. We've had some quotes but DH is insisting that we need those super expensive slatted panels that will let the wind through, rather than standard panels. Every contractor has said that, if they are installed properly with concrete posts they'll be absolutely fine.

DH says they are all wrong! and 'he's the one that has to fix them'

Could it possibly be that he is right?

We can't get hold of the slatted panels anyway as there's a shortage, but also they are three times the price.

In my experience, your DH is right (sorry). Every panel fence we’ve had has blown down, and our expensive slatted ones are still standing. West coast of scotland, so windy here.

He’s right. The less resistance from the boards for the wind, the less pressure they will be under and will stand for longer. It’s not just the wind blowing the actual board down that’s a problem, the wind pressing on the boards weakens the joints too which makes fence collapse more likely.

dammit!!!!

In my view the strongest fence isn't built from pre-made panels at all, it's built in situ from rails and boards.

Yes, we have the slatted panels on one side of our garden. The fences on the other two sides have been replaced twice while they've stayed up. Occasionally a slat or two comes lose, but they're easily nailed back.

@safariboot

In my view the strongest fence isn't built from pre-made panels at all, it's built in situ from rails and boards.

Yy. Definitely this.

Yes, he's right, you need a fence which allows the wind to filter through. We live in a windy area and panel fences always blow down. We now have slatted panels in one area, and picket fence in another.

also, plant trees or shrubs against your fence to act as a wind break. that will help.

Having recently replaced our back fence with composite fencing, I'd highly recommend them. Wouldn't ever use anything else.
They look clean and tidy, don't have any annoying little bits coming off them like you get with wood, can be wiped down/sprayed with a hose, and don't move at all in the wind.
Well worth the extra expense. We got ours from a company called Cocklestorm

Long (so deep) concrete posts are the solution. Panels that allow wind through help.

Concrete posts are a must IME

Plant a native mixed hedge instead - panel fences are an abomination that look hideous, have no wildlife value, make a garden look small and dark and require constant maintenance.

A native hedge, comprised of a good mix of flowering, pollen bearing species is the way to go - and only trim it between August and February, ie outside nesting season. Low maintenance, wildlife friendly, far more asthetically pleasing = win, win

We live on a hill and the wind whips sideways through our garden so we lost fence panels all the time. Concrete posts and gravel boards, and decent fence panels (just the normal ones where the slats are vertical, not the ones with gaps) and we haven't had an issue for the last 3 years. Even in really strong winds they barely move

Decent quality "normal" panels are fine. Just make sure you put them in the right way (with the supports facing away from the wind direction). If the horizontal supports are on the opposite side to which way the harshest winds blow and are soundly in place between the concrete posts (so no movement), they'll last many years.

The problem ones are the cheap ones you buy from the likes of B&Q etc for £20 each. The horizontal support woods are too flimsy and snap in heavy winds. They snap even quicker if you put in the fence panels the wrong way around, i.e. with the support woods on the same side as the wind blows.

Wind going through a panel means the energy is dissipated.
Think of a sail on a boat, it's the wind catching the sail that pushes against it and forces it forwards. If you get a rip in the sail that lets the wind through you don't get the propulsion/ energy of that wind.

It's the same principle for either hedges or slatted fencing they let the force of the wind through so the fence isn't battling against the wind.

If you do go for a fence please please consider putting in hedgehog holes. They need all the help they can get.

I have close board fencing. It does cost a lot but it looks lovely and lasts for many years. All the pieces can be replaced individually but get lots of quotes.

We are just replacing our standard fence posts (wood) and fence panels.

We are going for 8 foot concrete posts, 6 inch concrete gravel boards and 5.5 foot close board fence panels and they should last a good long time. This will equal about a 6 foot fence when all installed. It's costs us £2300 all in but will be worth it when we don't have to replace panels and just paint it every couple of years.

Your husband is right.

we had same problem, fence was replaced this year.

There are several ways to do it:

1. concrete posts and panels
2. slatted panels to let wind through
3. rails and board.
4. lower height fence with trellis on top (cheap way to do slatted fence!
5. plant bushes along the fence line on the side the wind comes from to break the wind up.

The new one (it is neighbours not ours) is rails and board, the posts are much bigger and stronger than the standard fence. It is rock solid looks great.

Thank you - we've gone for slatted fence panels, concrete posts and 12 inch gravel boards so we can plant along the fence too.

Those buggers are not coming down!