Closeboard Fence Panels

Make your garden somewhere you can settle into, with a solid timber boundary that screens everyday views and gives the space a neat, consistent finish.

Our pressure-treated closeboard fence panels combine overlapping vertical featheredge boards with supporting rails to create practical garden fencing. Choose from nominal 3ft, 4ft, 5ft and 6ft panel heights for everything from a low garden division to a taller privacy fence.

At Cave Fencing, we help you plan the complete boundary: panels, posts, gravel boards and gates. Order materials for your own installation, or speak to our team about supplying and fitting your fence across Kent.

Ask us about your fencing project or choose your panels above.

What are closeboard fence panels?

Closeboard panels are made with upright, overlapping timber boards fixed to horizontal backing rails. The individual boards have a tapered profile, which is why this style is also commonly called feather edge fencing.

The overlap creates a solid-looking face without the deliberate openings found in picket or slatted fencing. This makes closeboard a useful choice for screening gardens, separating neighbouring outdoor spaces and creating a backdrop for planting.

Ready-made closeboard panels are supplied as complete sections for fitting between suitable posts. They offer a repeatable layout for a new fence and can also be used to replace individual panels where the existing supports remain suitable.

Choose the right closeboard panel height

Start with the finished boundary you want, then select the panel and any gravel board together.

Use the actual measurements in the product listing when ordering. Nominal feet-and-inch sizes are useful for comparing options, but they are not always exact conversions.

For example, our listed 6ft × 6ft panel measures 1830mm wide × 1800mm high.

Look behind the panel: construction matters

Two panels can look similar from the front while having different backing rails, framing and fixings.

When comparing closeboard fencing, look at the rail dimensions and layout, the featheredge boards, the connections and the overall panel thickness. These details help you assess what you are buying.

Our listed 6ft × 6ft closeboard panel has four 75 × 32mm backing rails, a listed depth of 45mm and a weather cap along the top. Check each product’s specification when comparing heights.

The panel is one part of the structure. Sound posts, suitable foundations and correct fixings are equally important to the performance of the finished fence.

Closeboard or lap panels?

Both can create a solid garden boundary, but their appearance and construction differ.

Closeboard is worth considering when you prefer the vertical finish and want a substantial panel construction. Assess the specifications of the products themselves when comparing strength and value.

If you are unsure which style suits your garden, send us photographs of the boundary and tell us what matters most: privacy, appearance, budget or replacing an existing fence.

Plan privacy around where you use the garden

A taller fence can screen views at garden level, but its position matters as much as its height.

Consider the patio, dining area and doors into the house. Look at the direction of the view you want to reduce and whether the neighbouring ground is higher or lower.

A closeboard fence may provide useful screening from an adjoining garden while doing little to interrupt a view from an upstairs window. Raising the entire boundary is not always the most effective answer.

We can help you consider the fence line and height around the space you want to use, so the finished result serves a clear purpose.

Include gravel boards in the height calculation

A gravel board separates the timber panel from direct ground contact and forms the base of the fence. Its exposed height adds to the panel height.

Using an 1800mm-high panel as an example:

These examples assume the panel sits directly above the gravel board. Ground levels and fitting details affect the final installed height.

Choose the overall height before ordering, including any proposed trellis. Check the requirements for your property if you are creating or increasing a boundary.

Explore our concrete gravel boards and wooden gravel boards to compare the appearance and installation options.

Concrete or timber fence posts?

The choice affects the appearance of the fence and how the panels are fitted.

Slotted concrete posts provide a contrasting frame around the timber and can allow compatible panels to be lifted out for replacement where overhead access permits. The panel thickness, slot dimensions and gravel boards need to work together.

Timber posts create a more consistent wooden appearance. They require suitable fixings and should be specified for their intended ground-contact use.

For either option, post size and foundation requirements depend on the fence height, ground conditions and exposure. A gate also needs supports suited to its weight and movement.

Plan the posts around the complete fence rather than choosing them solely by the panel’s nominal height.

Replacing panels between existing posts

Before ordering replacements, measure every opening and inspect the supports.

Check the width at the top, middle and bottom. Posts may have moved, and different sections of the same fence can have different dimensions.

For slotted posts, allow for the panel ends fitting inside the slots. The visible gap between the posts is not the full panel width. Check the slot width against the replacement panel’s thickness too.

Look for cracked concrete, loose posts, deteriorated timber and damaged gravel boards. Replacing a panel will not correct movement in its supports.

Finally, check the route into the garden and the space above the fence. A panel that fits the opening still needs to be manoeuvred into position.

Closeboard panels on sloping ground

Ready-made panels normally remain rectangular, so a fence on a slope may need to step down between posts.

This affects the top line and can create changing gaps beneath the panels. The gravel boards and post heights should be planned around each section.

Closeboard fencing built on site from individual boards and rails can offer a different way to follow the ground. It is a separate installation approach from fitting prefabricated panels.

If the boundary slopes or the ground is higher on one side, send us photographs looking along the fence line. We can discuss a suitable layout before materials are ordered.

What about windy gardens?

A solid fence catches wind, so the whole installation needs to suit its position.

Closeboard panel construction matters, but so do the posts, foundations, fixings and condition of neighbouring sections. A heavier panel alone will not resolve an unsuitable support arrangement.

Tell us if your garden faces open fields, occupies an exposed corner or has suffered repeated fence damage. If a previous fence failed, understanding where it gave way helps identify what the replacement needs to address.

We can discuss the boundary and whether closeboard or another fencing style is appropriate for the setting.

Pressure-treated timber and ongoing care

Pressure treatment helps protect timber against biological decay. It does not make a fence waterproof or remove the need for maintenance.

Keep soil, leaves and compost from building up against the panels. Check for loose fixings and movement, particularly after strong winds, and address damaged components before the problem spreads.

Timber can change colour and move as it takes up and loses moisture. If you want to apply a stain or paint, choose a compatible exterior timber product and follow its preparation and drying instructions.

The green treatment colour is a timber finish, not an opaque coat of green paint.

Complete the boundary with a suitable gate

A gate should be planned with the fence so the opening, supports and finished heights work together.

Think about what needs to pass through it: bins, bicycles, a wheelbarrow or garden machinery. Allow room to manoeuvre, especially where a narrow passage meets the entrance.

Our closeboard garden gate provides a similar featheredge appearance. Confirm the dimensions, hinge side, fittings and support requirements before ordering.

What affects the cost of closeboard fencing?

Your total depends on the panel height and quantity, posts, gravel boards, fixings and any gates.

For installation, ground conditions, access and removal of existing materials also influence the work. A straightforward panel replacement between sound posts is a different job from clearing and rebuilding an entire boundary.

When comparing quotes, check the panel specifications and what is included. Confirm whether the price covers delivery, removal and disposal, new supports and the complete installation.

For help with an estimate, send us the approximate boundary length, preferred height, postcode and photographs.

Closeboard fencing supplied and installed across Kent

Cave Fencing supplies homeowners and trade customers from our base in Monkton, with delivery across Kent and collection available from our yard.

Order panels alongside the supporting materials for your project, or speak to our team about professional installation.

Let us know about narrow passages, steps, restricted parking and anything that could affect bringing materials into the garden. These details help us plan the work and delivery around your property.

View delivery information or ask for an installation quote.

Closeboard fence panel questions

Are closeboard and feather edge panels the same thing?

The terms commonly describe the same style of panel: overlapping vertical featheredge boards fixed to backing rails. “Closeboard fencing” can also describe a fence assembled on site from individual components, so check whether you are buying complete panels or loose materials.

Are your 6ft panels exactly six feet high?

Use the listed metric dimensions. Our nominal 6ft × 6ft closeboard panel is listed at 1830mm wide and 1800mm high. Check the specification for each size before ordering.

How many posts will I need?

A simple, independent straight run of five panel bays normally needs six posts. Gates, corners, existing supports and other layout details can change the requirement.

Can closeboard panels be cut to width?

Some panels can be shortened and reframed, but the backing rails and edge support need to remain suitable. Check before cutting and follow the relevant instructions for treating exposed cut timber.

Can I put trellis above closeboard panels?

Yes, where the supports and fixing arrangement are suitable. Include the trellis in the finished height and plan for any climbing plants it will carry. Explore our fence topper trellis and discuss the arrangement before fitting.

Do closeboard panels look the same on both sides?

Standard closeboard panels have a boarded face and a rear face where the backing rails are visible. Check the product photographs and decide the orientation before installation.

Will new panels match an older fence?

Fresh timber often differs from weathered timber in colour and appearance. The treatment, age and any previous coatings all affect the match. For a partial replacement, expect some initial variation.

Build a boundary that works for your garden

The right closeboard fence brings privacy, a consistent finish and a clear edge to your outdoor space.

Whether you are replacing one damaged panel or planning a complete garden boundary, Cave Fencing can help you choose the materials and arrange the installation.

Call 01843 821584 or send us your measurements and photographs.