Timber or Concrete Fence Posts

When erecting a fence, it’s important to use fence posts to help support and hold your fencing panels in place. There are many advantages and disadvantages of using either a wooden or concrete fence post and if you’re not sure which one to pick for your brand new fencing project, then have a read of this article to help you decide whether you would go for wooden fence posts or concrete posts.  

What is a Fence Post?

In short terms, a fence post is a post which is set in the ground as a supporting component of a fence. Fence posts come in either metal or timber variants.

Concrete Fence Posts:

The Pros:

1. Concrete is a durable material and will not rot or be infested by insects like timber. These qualities allow concrete posts to be extremely durable, strong and long lasting, making them a suitable choice.
2. Concrete is easy to maintain! Concrete is waterproof, mould and damp cannot easily damage concrete. The key benefit here is that no nasties can get past the material and it will most likely lay on the outer layer.
3. Concrete posts are strong enough to survive bad weather conditions such as high winds and continue to serve its purpose to support the fence.   

The Cons

1. Concrete fence posts are generally more expensive than timber fence posts.
2. Installing concrete posts might be harder as concrete is heavier. It will take more time and require more than one person for installation.
3. Concrete is not a sustainable material, so if you’re looking for a more sustainable garden, then stay away from concrete posts!
4. Concrete posts do pose a security threat to your home because fence panels are not fastened onto concrete posts and they can easily be lifted.  
5. Whilst concrete is impermeable, it is open to damage through cracks and chips. Its important to remember that during freezing temperatures if your post has a crack or chip, the water inside the post may freeze and make the crack worse. Concrete is also prone to rusting, therefore this is something to consider.   

Timber Fence Posts:

The Pros:

1. Timber fence posts can last as long as concrete ones if you purchase treated timber posts. Here at Lawsons, we supply UC4 treated timber fence posts which means they are the right product for the job, being kiln dried and treated with timber preservative to ensure a long service life.
2. Timber posts will certainly compliment your overall fencing, as your fence panels are timber, opting for timber posts will give your garden a better finish in comparison to concrete posts. In addition to looking great, you can even add a decorative fence post cap to enhance the look and feel of your garden.
3. Unlike concrete posts, wooden posts are a lot lighter and easier to install.
4. All Lawsons timber posts are environmentally and ethically sourced and certified by the FSC.  So, you can be assured that if you’re looking for ways to make your garden more sustainable, our timber fence posts will help tick that box.
5. Timber posts are secure and provide your home with security as the post is directly fixed onto the panel.

The Cons:

1. If untreated, timber fence posts will not last you a long time and before you know it, you will need to replace the post. It’s always good from time to time to check if your timber posts have rotted.
2. If you purchase timber fence posts, just bear in mind they will need treating every 1 - 2 years, depending on the type of timber they’re made from. Maintenance is key for timber fence posts.
3. Whilst timber posts are cheaper to buy, you should consider the treatment and maintenance costs to enhance durability and this can all add up.

We hope our advice helped you decide to choose between a concrete or timber fence posts. Why not view our installation guide advising how to install a fence post and how deep you should dig a fence post by clicking here.

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