Avoid Fence Failure

Avoid Fence Failure – A Simple Checklist

Fence failure can be caused by a variety of factors including rot or insect attack, harsh weather conditions such as storms or high winds. Fence failure usually results in leaning fence panels and posts and fallen panels but can cause considerable damage to nearby property.  

Harsh weather and ground conditions can cause fencing considerable damage and, in some cases, bring the entire fence down.  

Read our advice to minimise any damage that can be caused.

Fence posts 

Posts hold the fence upright, so without a solid foundation they have no hope in keeping the fence in the same position as it was installed.  Posts should be at least 600mm in the ground, but deeper for coastal and marshland areas. Every post should be fixed in place with adequate quantities of post fixing mix. 

When buying fence posts, you should always choose ones with a long guarantee. If timber starts to rot, the strength deteriorates quickly. All our timber fencing, including the posts, comes with a 25-year guarantee, so you will have peace of mind that your fence will last for an exceptionally long time.

Avoid concrete fence posts. Many people have probably been put off using timber posts due to the misconception that they will rot, or have had experience of this. This can be the case, but only if the timber has not been properly treated for in-ground use. This is also the reason we developed our unique Jakcure® timber preservation process, and we guarantee our posts against rot and insect attack for 25 years! There are many flaws with concrete fence posts – they don’t look attractive, concrete as a material is highly destructive to the environment, and they lack security. Always opt for timber fence posts, as fence panels can be secured to the posts, unlike when using concrete. High winds can lift the fence panel out of the posts if not secured properly, and panels will also rattle in the posts in the wind, which is why opting for timber will be more suitable for high wind areas.

An alternative to concrete posts, are metal posts. We manufacture Mi-T garden fence posts a ‘T’ shaped post that it suitable for use with any other a framed fence panel. Mi-T posts are just a strong as concrete and are a much more sustainable option.

Fence design

Some fence panel designs suit being in harsher weather conditions than others. Semi-solid fence panels that allow wind to easily pass through will offer less resistance against the wind and put less strain on the fence panel and posts, making it more durable. 

Posts and rails should be weathered meaning their design allows rain to run off. Water should not be able to stay on the panel as this could cause rot.

Installation

A fence is only as good as its installation. Skilled, experienced professionals should install fencing as otherwise you could install it wrong and damage the integrity of the fencing and cause the fence to fail.