DDaniel Taylor
Excellent outfit! Extremely efficient and professional eith very high standards of workmanship. Communication excellent with updates at important points. Nothing was a problem and the project was completed on time and on budget
Guide
Concrete vs Timber Fence Posts: Which Should You Choose?
When a fence needs new posts, the first decision is concrete or timber. Both work well in the right place. Here's a plain-English comparison to help you choose.
Free, no-obligation quote · Local to Southampton · Send photos for a quick price
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Customer reviews
SShaun Fairclough
Sc maintenance, great guys worked flat out non stop an got the job done. Really pleased with results. Will 100% use again.
GGreg Baldock
William Holmes SC and his gang did a very professional job on our rear garden fence and side gate. Our neighbours were so impressed they’ve been asking for business cards!!
CCoral Rees
Very punctual. Really good job of fencing and tidied up each day after work.
Thoroughly recommend
JJosh
Can’t thank SC Maintenance enough for the great job they done on my fence! Professional and easy to deal with would definitely recommend to anyone requiring any maintenance.
SS
Great job, had a spur put in to save the whole fence coming down. Short notice, good value and nice solid tidy job. Thanks William
MMichael Jones
Absolutely would definitely use SC maintenance again and have already inquired about a second job . Couldn’t thank William enough for coming out in the pouring rain to complete the job . Thank you so much and such a lovely gentleman with a lot of knowledge. Would highly recommend. .
RRussell Croutear
Contacted SC Maintenance for fence repairs. William was friendly and communicated well throughout. The work was scheduled quickly, and I’m very happy with the results. Would recommend.
BB
Very fast efficient communication and service. Replaced two rotten timber fence posts with new concrete ones to stop a fence from falling down. Texted to say they were on their way, arrived on time, cleared up afterwards and the cost was very reasonable. I will use them again and recommend them to others.
DDominic Collicott
Found this company as my mum needed her garden cleared out, great communication, good prices and got the job done very quickly - would highly recommend!
MMartyn Rummey
We used SC Maintenance to carry out some fencing repairs. They were easy to communicate with good price prompt and nice end product highly recommend.
SSabir Malik
William did a fantastic job fixing our backyard fence, which was in poor condition. Even though the work wasn’t completed on the first day, he came back promptly and finished it exactly as required. I would gladly hire him again.
JJames Cassar
Excellent service - fast, reliable and reasonably priced. Couldn't be happier.
AAmanda Cathcart
We have had a full 12 metre fence, posts and a new custom fit gate replaced by SC Maintenance. William's speed of communication was great, keeping me informed each step of the way. The work was scheduled within a two week period from the initial enquiry. A huge shout out to Dustin, who completed the work ahead of expectation. He was polite, tidy, efficient and carried out the job to a superb quality. We are thrilled with the job and would thoroughly recommend the team. Will definitely use them again.
Ggeorgia Graham
Efficient, great communication, quick but quality repair. Thank you so much!
DDaryl Kellett
"I recently used SCM for some repairs around the house, and I couldn't be happier with the results. The team were professional, punctual, and finished the job in record time. They even took the time to explain the process and cleaned up the entire work area before leaving. Their pricing was fair and transparent. I highly recommend them for any maintenance needs!
MMelissa Haddock
He did an amazing job on our lawn!
AAdam C
Excellent work carried out by SC MAINTENANCE in my garden this week !
And in particular, first class , friendly service by Jonathan, for preparing and installing my new garden gate, and installing concrete spur/ post to my fence to straighten it out.
I do, on this particular occasion knock off one star, purely as nobody turned up to start work on the original date planned , due to staff issues.
This wouldn't normally have been a problem, but would have liked to have been notified that morning , rather than be sat around waiting to find nobody would show up.
Apart from that one gripe, can I recommend Williams team???
ABSOLUTELY! 👍
The work was complete today, and communication was there when needed.
CCarl Green
Very happy with the work William carried out on the replacement of my garden gate, it looks great thank you.
HHeather Stoyles
The team came to replace a fence for my mother, to remove the old one and take it away. I couldn’t be there that day and mum is 87 so I was keen to be contacted if need be. I need not have worried mum reported a respectful team of men who did an excellent job from start to finish. I was asked by phone at points of the work if I wanted this done or the fence in a particular place. Very professional job and ‘lovely people ‘ mum said. She is delighted with the job and the way in which it was done. Thank you so much you come highly recommended.
LLaura Federanko
William and his guys have done an amazing job & I am very pleased with the finished result. Have already asked for further quotes for other jobs . Definitely recommend
JJanet Arrowmsmith
Would thoroughly recommend Will and team.
Put a new fence up in my back garden .
Very happy. Thank you
MMandy Clifford
This is the second time that I have used Will, this time for the outside of my pond and to relay the slabs. They had just started when they came upon a problem meaning they couldn't do what was originally planned. However, Will came up with a solution, got more materials and by the end of the day, I had a great surround on my pond & slabs that didn't move.
I am so pleased with it, and if anything it looks better than what was originally there.
If you want reliable, polite and reasonable prices then I would highly recommend Will.
Concrete posts
Slotted concrete posts have a channel down each side that panels slide into. They don't rot, and they suit wet or exposed gardens.
- Pros: won't rot, very stable, panels slide in and out for easy replacement, and they work well with concrete gravel boards.
- Cons: heavy to handle, a more utilitarian look, harder to fix things like trellis or plant supports to, and if one snaps, the panels either side have to come out to replace it.
Timber posts
Pressure-treated timber posts (commonly 75mm or 100mm square) are fixed into the ground and panels are fixed to them with clips or brackets.
- Pros: natural look that matches timber panels, lighter to handle, easy to fix trellis, gates and accessories to, and can be cut to height on site.
- Cons: even treated timber eventually rots at ground level, where it's wet and airless, and it can twist or split over time.
Why timber posts rot at the base
The section of post just above and below the soil stays damp but gets enough air for fungi to thrive. That's why so many fences fail at ground level while the post is still fine higher up, which is exactly the situation a concrete spur repair is designed for.
A popular middle ground
Many people choose concrete posts and concrete gravel boards with timber panels. The parts in contact with the ground can't rot, and the panels can be swapped easily when they eventually need it.
Which should you choose?
- Wet, low-lying or exposed garden: concrete posts are usually the safer bet.
- You want a fully timber look or plan to fix trellis: timber posts, ideally with gravel boards to keep panels off the soil.
- Replacing one or two posts: it's usually best to match what's already there so the panels fit.
Frequently asked questions
Can I mix concrete and timber posts on one fence?
It's possible, but panels fit differently (slotted vs clipped), so it's usually neater to stick with one type per run.
Do timber posts need to be concreted in?
They're commonly set in concrete or post mix. Some installers use other methods. Either way, good drainage at the base helps the post last.
Are concrete posts ugly?
It's a matter of taste. Once panels and planting are in, many people barely notice them, and some are available in lighter or smoother finishes.
Can you replace a rotten timber post with concrete?
Yes, although the panel fixings change. We'll explain the options when we quote.
Want a price for your job?
Send a few photos and rough measurements and we'll get you a price quickly.
Free, no-obligation quote · Local to Southampton · Send photos for a quick price