How to attach fence panels to posts

Fence panels are nothing without the posts they attach to. Without fence posts, a fence panel cannot stand up correctly, therefore choosing the right fence post and installing it correctly is paramount to a fence system’s’ success.

How you attach a fence panel to a post depends on which type of fence panel and posts you are using and the material they are made from.

To explore the different types of fence posts in more depth visit our types of fence post page

Attaching Panels to Slotted Wooden Fence Posts

To attach a fence panel to a slotted post, which is the most commonly used fence post, the panel is inserted into the slots within the fence post. It’s advised to check the depth of the panel and the slots prior to installation, as the width of a slot in a slotted fence post may vary. If you are ordering new fence panels alongside slotted posts, then they are usually designed to be used together. Issues may arise when using different manufacturers. If you are using concrete slotted posts, unfortunately this is where the installation stops, as timber fence panels and concrete posts cannot be fixed together.

Once panels are inserted into the posts, panels can be screwed to the posts. Attaching panels to the posts with fixings increases the level of security as the panel can’t be easily lifted out. This is a huge disadvantage of concrete posts; there is no way of screwing a timber fence panel into concrete. When selecting screws, make sure that they are stainless steel to prevent rust marks. Using quality stainless steel screws ensures the screw itself won’t degrade and can be used again if any adjustments or changes are needed. Jacksons supplies post-to-panel screws that have a torx head, which are self-drilling and made from stainless steel. You can order everything you need for your fence installation directly from us.

For a standard 1.83m fence panel, we advise that you use 6 screws per post, 3 on each side in equal distances along the post length, to attach the panel to the post securely. If this is in the middle of a run of panels, with fence panels in either ends of the slotted posts, the total amount of screws per post becomes 12 (6 per panel).

When purchasing new slotted posts, make sure that the post is covered by a long guarantee, like our 25-year Jakcure® guarantee. Usually when a fence system fails, it is because the post that is installed into the ground has rotted, causing the fence to fail. Investing in quality timber posts with the correct level of timber treatment will prevent rotting. Rotten timber posts is one of the many reasons people switch to concrete posts, but with our guarantee, you can try timber posts with confidence.

Attaching Panels to Square Fence Posts

Square timber fence posts are also an option. Square posts do not have slots and therefore require an additional bracket or clip to be able to attach panels to posts. We call this product a Jakclip. The clip is screwed in the post, leaving a fixing for the panel to be attached to. Panels can then be screwed to the Jakclip. We advise 2 clips per side of the panel.

Our Jakclips are substantial, but we do find that apart from rotted posts, the other most common reason for fence failure is the brackets that attach the panels to posts failing. Clips are not the strongest method of attaching a panel to a post and we would advise using a slotted post instead.

Attaching Panels to Metal Fence Posts

Metal fence posts are relatively new to the residential fencing market but offer a strong, sustainable alternative to concrete posts.

Due to their material, manufacturers predrill holes for installation, as it won’t be easy to drill through on site. Fixings are usually provided by the manufacturer to match the post, and from a premium quality manufacturer these will be stainless steel to ensure longevity. Fixings should be inserted into the predrilled holes and screwed into the frame of the panel. This is the case with our Mi-T® metal fence posts.

Attaching Panels to Concrete posts

Concrete posts for panels are only supplied in slotted form. This is due to the inability of screwing panels into concrete. It would cause the concrete to crack and become instable.

To attach a fence panel to a concrete post, the panel is simply inserted into the slots within the post. Unfortunately, the panels cannot be screwed into the posts therefore resulting in an increased risk of wind damage, being stolen, or rattling in winds. It is possible to reduce rattling with a small piece of timber that can be used to wedge panels into the slots to stop movement.

For a detailed installation tutorial on how to install a fence post and garden fencing, refer to our installation instructions or YouTube channel