Fence posts are an essential part of the structural integrity of your garden fence and they are available as a concrete or wooden post. Therefore, if you are in the market for a new fence, you’ll have to choose between the two and they each come with their own benefits and drawbacks.
After moving into a new house that required new fencing all-round the garden, we carried out hours of research. When it came to choosing between concrete or wooden fence posts, we went with a combination.
The reason for this is due to the fact that the neighbours wanted to keep the costs down with the joint fence. However, as the rear fence was my responsibility, I went with concrete fence posts because of their durability.
If you are sitting on the fence (quite literally!) when it comes to choosing between concrete or wooden fence posts, the below pros and cons of each will certainly help make your decision.
Why Choose Concrete Fence Posts?
Durability & Long-Term Use
One of the main advantages of using concrete fence posts is the fact that they are very robust. Unlike wooden posts, they aren’t a degradable material that rots and is subject to insect attacks. This means that they can easily last up to 25 years and with minimal maintenance too.
Strength
Unlike wooden posts, concrete is much stronger and can withstand more force from high winds and other forces that the garden fence may need to defend itself against.
Maintenance
Concrete fence posts require minimal maintenance when compared to the wooden alternative. If you are being fussy, you can give them a clean with soapy water but apart from that, you simply don’t need to do anything. If you use wooden fence posts, you will need to treat them every other year depending on the timber they are made from.
Why Choose Wooden Fence Posts?
Aesthetics
One of the main issues that many people have with concrete fence posts is their appearance. Unlike wooden fence posts that blend in much easier, concrete can often stand out between the trees and it can ruin the natural appearance of your garden.
Another benefit of choosing a wooden fence post is that you have the option to add decorative features such as fence post caps and post toppings.
However, it’s worth pointing out that if you wanted to improve the appearance of concrete fence posts, you could use masonry paint on the concrete. This helps them blend in better with the house or fence panels. You may also be able to purchase a matching colour to the fence paint that you intend to use on the panels too.
Some people associate concrete fence posts as something you see in industrial estates but for me personally, it really didn’t bother me and I wanted the durability over its appearance.
Ease of Installation
As you can imagine, a concrete fence post weighs far more than a wooden alternative. Therefore, installing a fence with wooden posts is far easier, which reduces labour costs and the time to put up the fence in the first place.
Cost
The budget that you have set aside for your new garden fence will be a big factor to consider. Wooden fence posts are much cheaper than their concrete counterparts and this includes the material itself as well as the installation.
Security
Although very unlikely to happen, it’s possible for someone to slide the fence panels out of position when using concrete fence posts. This is due to the fact that they aren’t affixed to the posts with screws. Wooden fence posts on the other hand have the panels screwed directly into them, which makes removing them far more difficult.
Conclusion
Hopefully the above guide will help your decision to choose between wooden or concrete fence posts. As mentioned above, we went for a combination but it really does come down to your personal preference. Many people don’t like the aesthetics of a concrete fence post but on the flipside, many people want the durability that they offer.
If you have been doing your research, you may have also come across DuraPost fence posts. They are made from steel and combine the benefits of both wooden and concrete fence posts. However, they aren’t as popular due to the fact they cost far more than the wooden or concrete fence post alternatives.
