Standing in a garden centre in Hampshire trying to choose between close board and panel fencing is a genuinely tricky decision, because the cheaper option is not always the better value. Here is a plain comparison of how each performs on our local soil, in our weather, and over ten to twenty years.
Panel fencing arrives as pre-made sections, usually 6ft wide, that drop between posts. It goes up fast and looks tidy on day one. Overlap (waney edge) panels are the budget choice, while feather edge or tongue-and-groove panels cost more but last longer.
Close board is built on site: vertical feather edge boards nailed one at a time onto horizontal rails, over a gravel board at the base. It takes longer to install and costs more, but you end up with a far sturdier, taller-feeling barrier that can follow a sloping garden neatly.
Winchester sits on chalk and clay in places, and gardens that back onto open ground near the South Downs catch real wind. This is where the two differ most. A solid panel acts like a sail, so in an exposed spot a run of overlap panels is the first thing to blow flat in a January gale.
Close board handles wind better because it is fixed board by board to a solid frame, with fewer weak points. If your garden is sheltered by houses on all sides, a panel will usually be fine. If you are on the edge of a development or near farmland, close board or a slotted concrete post system is money well spent.
As a rough guide for supply and fit in the Winchester area, expect overlap panel fencing to fall somewhere around 60 to 90 pounds per metre, and close board nearer 90 to 140 pounds per metre, depending on height, ground conditions and access. Concrete posts and gravel boards add cost up front but save you replacing rotten timber posts in a few years.
The real saving is over time. A cheap overlap panel fence might need boards or whole panels replaced within 8 to 12 years, whereas well-built close board on concrete posts often lasts 15 to 20 years with basic care. If you plan to move soon, panels make sense. If this is your long-term home, close board usually works out cheaper per year.
Choose panels if you want a smart result quickly, have a sheltered garden, are working to a tighter budget, or might want to change the look again in a few years. Choose close board if you want maximum privacy and security, your ground slopes, you are in an exposed position, or you simply want to fit it once and forget about it.
Whichever you pick, the posts and base matter more than most people expect. Concrete posts with a gravel board keep the timber clear of damp ground and are worth the extra on either type of fence.
If your garden is exposed to wind or you want it to last 15 years or more, yes, because the stronger frame and longer lifespan usually outweigh the higher upfront price. In a sheltered garden on a budget, good panels can be perfectly sensible.
Most rear garden fences up to 2 metres are permitted development and need no permission, but front boundaries next to a road are limited to 1 metre. If you are in a conservation area or near a listed building, check with Winchester City Council first.
Usually yes, as overlap, feather edge and close board are all widely available, though exact board profiles and weathered colour can be hard to match perfectly. It is often worth replacing a full run so the finish looks consistent.
Tell us about your fencing or gate job and we’ll get straight back to you with a clear, no-obligation quote.