What the concrete post and gravel board actually do
A concrete post is a slotted, solid upright set into the ground in a footing. It does not soak up water the way timber does, so it does not soften or rot at the point where it meets the soil. The panels slide down into the slots on either side, which holds them in line and keeps the run neat and straight along the whole boundary.
The gravel board is the plank that sits in the slots at the very bottom, under the panel. Its job is simple. It takes the splashing, the standing water and the contact with damp soil so the panel does not have to. When it eventually wears, you replace one board, not the whole panel.
Why timber posts rot where they meet the ground
Timber posts nearly always fail at ground level, not at the top. The part just above and just below the surface goes through repeated wetting and drying, and that is the exact condition fungus needs. Even a treated post can soften there over time. The top of the same post may still look fine, which is why a fence can lean without looking old.
On a boundary where the soil holds water, the problem arrives sooner. Water collects around the base of a timber post and stays. A concrete post removes that weak point altogether, and it is the reason many people choose it for the posts and keep timber for the panels, where it does its job well.
Dealing with changing levels around Dudley
Because parts of Dudley are hilly, a boundary may fall away from one end to the other or step up at a neighbour's wall. Concrete posts are set at the right depth and plumb, then the panels are stepped to follow the ground. The gravel boards help here, because you can use a taller board on the lower side and fill the gap neatly.
Where the ground drops sharply, we may use a shorter run of panels between each pair of posts and let each step follow the slope. It looks tidier than one long panel left hanging over a gap. If soil is banked up against the old fence, tell us when you ask, because it changes how the base is dealt with.
Quick tips
- Ask for the gravel board to sit clear of the soil so air can move underneath and the panel stays dry.
- Set concrete posts plumb before the footing hardens, because a post that is out of line cannot be corrected once the panels are in.
- Do not pile soil or compost against the gravel board, as that brings damp back to the panel above.
- If one timber post has rotted, check the neighbouring ones at ground level before you decide to repair only that single post.
If your fence in Dudley, in the DY1 area, is leaning or soft at the base, call us or send a photo with the fence location. We also work in Tipton, Brierley Hill, Sedgley and Netherton, and we will tell you plainly what we would do, with no pressure.
Frequently asked questions
Will concrete posts cope with the changing ground levels in Dudley?
Yes. Posts are set at the right depth and plumb, then the panels are stepped to follow the ground. Gravel boards help on the lower side, because a taller board can fill the gap neatly. Tell us if soil is banked against the old fence.
Why do timber posts go soft at ground level and not at the top?
The stretch just above and below the soil keeps getting wet and then drying, which is what fungus needs. The top of the post can still look fine, so a fence in Dudley may lean without appearing old. Concrete removes that weak point.
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