We get it. You’ve just moved into a new place in Downend or Bedminster, you’ve spent a fortune on solicitors and movers, and now the garden fence looks like it’s about to collapse.
You head to a big DIY store and see panels for £25. Then you get a quote from a professional fencer for a custom install. The difference seems huge. Why pay more for "just a fence"?
The truth is, you aren't paying for the same product. In the fencing world, "cheap" is expensive. Here is the maths that proves it.
The "Buy Nice or Buy Twice" Equation
Let’s look at a standard 10-meter run of fencing over a 12-year period.
Scenario A: The "Bargain" Deal
You buy budget "Waney Lap" panels and standard 3-inch wooden posts.
- Year 1 Cost: £ Low.
- Year 4: The "dip-treated" orange coating fades. Rot sets in at the bottom.
- Year 5 (Winter): A storm hits. Because the panels are thin slats (approx. 4mm), two of them blow out. Repair cost: £150.
- Year 7: The wooden posts rot at ground level due to Bristol’s wet clay soil. The whole fence starts leaning.
- Year 8: Total replacement needed. You also have to pay a waste carrier to take the rotten wood away. Disposal cost: £180. New Fence: £800+ (inflation).
TOTAL COST OVER 12 YEARS: The price of two fences + Stress + An Ugly Garden
Scenario B: The Professional Install
You choose Pressure-Treated Featheredge with Concrete Posts.
- Year 1 Cost: £ Medium/High.
- Year 5: Storm hits. The featheredge boards (13mm thick) don’t budge. The wind passes through slightly, reducing drag. Repair cost: £0.
- Year 8: The timber has turned a silvery grey but is structurally sound. Concrete posts are as good as new.
- Year 12: Still standing strong.
TOTAL COST OVER 12 YEARS: The initial price + Zero Stress
The Technical Secrets: What You Can't See
Why did Scenario A fail? It comes down to two hidden factors that DIY stores rarely advertise.
1. Slat Thickness (The "Wafer" Effect)
If you measure a budget panel, the slats are often only 3mm to 5mm thick. They are essentially veneers of wood. When wet, they warp. When windy, they snap.
Our Standard: We use trade-grade featheredge boards that are 11mm to 13mm thick. That is nearly triple the timber volume per meter. That is where your money is going—into actual wood, not air.
2. The "Dip" vs. "Pressure" Lie
Most budget panels are "Dip Treated." This means they were dunked in a bath of orange dye and preservative for a few minutes. It looks nice on the shelf, but the chemical only coats the surface.
Professional timber is "Pressure Treated" (Tanalised). The wood is put in a vacuum chamber, and preservatives are forced deep into the core under high pressure. This is why our fences have a 15-year rot resistance, while budget panels turn into mulch.
The Hidden Cost: Disposal
Here is the kicker nobody thinks about: It costs money to throw a fence away.
Wood treated with preservatives is classified as treated waste. You can't just burn it (it releases toxic fumes), and you can't always dump it for free. When your cheap fence fails in 6 years, you will likely pay a "removal fee" of £100–£200 just to get it off your property before you can even start building the new one.
The Verdict
If you are selling your house next month, buy the cheap panels. They look tidy for a viewing.
But if this is your home, the "cheap" option is a debt you will have to pay with interest in a few years. Do it once, do it right with concrete posts and heavy-duty timber.
Want a quote for a "Forever Fence"?
We only install fencing that we would be happy to put in our own mothers' gardens.