Composite fencing — the honest buyer’s guide

Short answer: composite fencing costs more than a timber panel fence to buy, but you never treat it, it doesn’t rot or warp, and it looks the same in fifteen years as the day it went up. If you’re fed up replacing storm-damaged, greying larch-lap panels every few years, it pays for itself. The one decision that matters most is board width — our wide boards build a full 1.8m fence bay in a single pack, the standard boards cover half a bay, so read the coverage before you order.

We sell composite fencing, so weigh that up. But the honest comparison against timber and metal is below.

What composite fencing actually is

Composite (WPC) fence boards are wood fibre and recycled plastic pressed into a solid board. They slot horizontally between composite or aluminium posts to build a fence, board by board, to whatever height you need. Because there’s no exposed timber, they don’t rot, warp, cup or need treating — and unlike a timber panel, a single damaged board can be swapped without replacing the whole bay.

The look is modern and horizontal — clean lines rather than traditional vertical featherboard. It suits contemporary gardens, and it’s become the default for people who want a low-maintenance, private, good-looking boundary.

Composite vs timber vs metal — the honest comparison

The headline: timber is cheapest to put up but you treat it every year and replace blown-out panels after the first big storm. Composite costs more up front and nothing after. Metal lasts longest but costs the most and rarely gives full privacy. For a private, low-maintenance garden boundary that still looks warm, composite is the middle path most people land on.

How many boards do I need? (read this before ordering)

A standard fence bay is the 1.8m gap between two posts, built up to 1.8m high. How many boards that takes depends on board width — and this is where people over- or under-order:

So the wide boards build a complete fence bay from a single pack — fewer boards, faster to install, and usually the better value once you do the maths. The standard boards give a finer, more detailed look but you need two packs per full-height bay. Either way, add one set of posts per bay, plus a post fitting kit if you’re fixing to a hard surface rather than concreting posts in.

Worked example — a 10m run at 1.8m high (about 5 bays): with wide boards, that’s 5 packs of boards + 6 posts. With standard boards, 10 packs + 6 posts. Add trims to finish the ends and post tops.

Colours

• Oak — warm, natural, the most popular. Works in almost any garden.
• Grey / Grey Oak — cool and modern, pairs with contemporary planting and paving.
• Dark Brown / Dark Oak — rich and traditional, recedes into a mature garden.
• Black — bold, architectural, a dramatic backdrop for green planting.
• Walnut / Khaki — softer natural tones for a less stark finish.

Installation basics

• Set posts 1.8m apart (centre to centre). Concrete them in, or use a post fitting kit to bolt them to an existing hard surface.
• Our three-way posts are grooved on up to three sides — for runs, corners and junctions.
• Slot boards horizontally into the post grooves, stacking to height.
• Finish exposed ends and post tops with colour-matched trim and caps.
• Add a lattice topper if you want extra height or a decorative finish.

Cost — the honest breakdown

For a 10m run at full 1.8m height using wide boards: 5 board packs at £109.99 (£550) + 6 posts (about £150) + fitting kits or concrete + trims. Call it £750–900 in materials for a private, no-maintenance 10m fence that lasts decades. A timber panel fence of the same run is cheaper to buy but you’ll re-treat it yearly and likely replace panels after a couple of bad winters.

What people actually ask us

Is composite fencing worth it over timber?

For a long-term boundary, yes. It costs more up front than timber panels but needs no treating, doesn’t rot or warp, survives storms better (individual boards rather than wind-catching panels), and lasts 20–30 years. Timber is cheaper to install but you re-treat it every year and replace blown-out or rotten panels far sooner. Over ten years composite usually works out cheaper to own.

How many composite fence boards do I need per bay?

It depends on board width and fence height. For a standard 1.8m-high bay: wide (30cm) boards need 6 (one pack) per bay; standard (15cm) boards need 12 (two packs) per bay. Always add one set of posts per 1.8m bay. Measure your run, divide by 1.8m to get the number of bays, then multiply.

Do composite fence boards need posts?

Yes — the boards slot horizontally between posts, so you need one post between each bay (plus one at each end). Our three-way composite posts are grooved to take the boards on up to three sides for runs, corners and junctions. Concrete them in, or bolt them to a hard surface with a post fitting kit.

Will composite fencing fade or warp?

It weathers very slightly in the first season then stays stable — it won’t grey, blotch, cup or warp the way untreated timber does. It’s UV-stable and dimensionally stable across temperature swings. No annual treatment needed.

Can I fit composite fencing myself?

Yes, it’s a competent-DIYer job. The trickiest part is getting the posts plumb and correctly spaced at 1.8m — after that, the boards simply slot in and stack to height. If you’re fixing to an existing patio or concrete rather than digging post holes, the post fitting kits make it a bolt-down job.

Is composite fencing private?

Yes — the boards are solid and stack with no gaps, giving full privacy to whatever height you build. That’s a difference from some slatted metal or aluminium fencing, which is often deliberately gappy. If full privacy matters, composite boards give it.

The fencing we actually recommend

Browse the full composite fencing range — standard and wide boards in every colour, plus posts, fitting kits, trims and lattice toppers. Add posts and trims straight from any board page.

Decking the garden too? See the composite decking buyer’s guide.