Concrete or Wooden Fence Posts?

When planning to install a garden fence, selecting the right type of fence posts is crucial for the fence's durability, appearance, and maintenance requirements. The two primary options are concrete and wooden posts, each with its own set of advantages and disadvantages. This comprehensive guide will help you make an informed decision based on various factors.

Both types of Fence Post have their advantages. These are highlighted below:

Concrete Posts

• Concrete Posts will not rot unlike Wooden Posts that are not adequately treated.

Wooden Fence Posts

Cracked Concrete Posts

• A Wooden Post will not rot if it has long guarantees (like a Jackure treated post) and Installed with adequate drainage. How to install a timber Fence Post by Jacksons.

• Wooden Posts will match wooden fencing or fence panels and are more aesthetically pleasing than concrete posts.

• Wooden Posts will not Chip or Crack like Concrete Posts.  If a small crack or chip appears on the concrete fence post, water can get into the post. If the water in the post freezes, this can cause the damage to worsen over time eventually exposing the metal reinforcing wires.  When water comes into contact with metal reinforcing wires, they then rust which is a recipe for disaster.

• Wooden Posts are not as heavy as Concrete posts, so they are not as difficult to install. Typically a concrete post for a 1.8m high fence is twice the safe weight for one person to lift.
This weight difference can also save on transport costs especially if you are towing a trailer full of them back home from the local fencing shop.

• Wooden Fence Posts allow the fence panel to be screwed to the fence posts. This in turn can stop the annoying noise that occurs when panels rattle in the wind.

Screwing Fence Panels into the posts can also make the fence more secure. One of the most common ways items or pets are stolen from a fenced garden is the removal of a Fence Panel. This is a simple and reasonably quiet task if fence panels are slotted into slotted fence posts. Thieves will lift the panel out of the posts and then have full access to the targeted property. A simple a effective solution to this problem is a torx head screw through the posts and into the rails of a fence panel from inside of the property.   A potential thief is unlikely to climb the fence, use a torx head screw driver to remove Six screws (Three screws in each post per rail) from a standard panel and then lift the panel out of the posts.

A torx head screw through the post and into the rail on the Fence Panel

• Wooden posts also allow the addition of Fence Post Caps. Fence posts caps and post toppings for example an acorn can add an elegant finishing touch to any fence. They are also another step for a thief to remove the post caps if they want to remove a fence panel out of a slotted post.

Alternative Option: Metal Fence Posts In addition to concrete and wooden posts, metal fence posts, such as those made from galvanized steel, offer another viable option. Products like DuraPost® are designed to be lighter than concrete while providing comparable strength and durability. They are resistant to rot, warping, and cracking, and can withstand high wind speeds. Metal posts are also compatible with various types of fence panels and can be powder-coated in different colors to match aesthetic preferences. Their longevity and low maintenance requirements make them an increasingly popular choice among homeowners. So in answer to the question, Concrete or Wooden Fence Posts...

Jakcure treated Wooden Fence Posts have many more advantages over Concrete Fence Posts and we wouldnt be suprised if a concrete fence post is soon a thing of the past.

Also read our blog on Fence Foam vs Postcrete