Gravel boards
A gravel board is the plank along the bottom of a fence that keeps the boards or panels above it off the soil. It is cheap, it is easy to replace, and it does more for the life of the fence than any other single part.
About gravel boards
Timber rots fastest where it stays wet, and the wettest part of a garden fence is the bottom few inches, in contact with soil, leaves and splash-back. A gravel board takes that position. When it eventually wears out, it is replaced on its own and the fence above is untouched.
Concrete gravel boards do not rot at all. With concrete posts and a concrete gravel board, the only timber in the fence is well clear of the ground, which is the combination that makes a fence last decades rather than years.
- What it isA board at soil level
- TypesTimber or concrete
- Usual heights150mm or 300mm
- Its jobKeep timber off wet ground
The options
Timber gravel boards
Pressure-treated boards fixed to the posts. Economical and easy to cut to awkward lengths. They will need replacing one day, but that is a small job.
Concrete gravel boards
Slot into concrete posts, or fix to timber posts with brackets. Heavier and dearer than timber, and they do not rot.
Where the ground is higher on one side
Where one garden sits higher than the next, soil presses against the bottom of the fence. A concrete gravel board copes with a small difference; a larger one needs a proper retaining structure, and we will tell you if that is what you are looking at.
Adding them afterwards
On many fences a gravel board can be added underneath later, by trimming the bottom of the boards or lifting the panels. It is often worth doing when rotten boards are being replaced anyway.
Is it the right choice?
We would rather point you to the right job than the bigger one. This is how we would advise on site.
Choose concrete when
- The ground stays wet or the fence is in shade
- You have, or are fitting, concrete posts
- You want the fence to last as long as possible
Timber is fine when
- Budget matters more than the longest life
- The run has awkward lengths or angles to cut around
- The posts are timber and brackets would look out of place
Gravel boards, answered
On most fences, yes. They do not rot, and they protect the timber above them for the whole life of the fence. Timber gravel boards are fine where budget matters more, and they are cheap to replace when they go.
Only a little. Concrete gravel boards cope with a modest difference in ground level; they are not designed as a retaining wall. If one garden is much higher than the other, the soil needs retaining separately or it will push the fence over time.
Often, yes. Panels can be lifted or boards trimmed to make room. Whether it is worth doing depends on the condition of the posts, which we check at the same time.
Related work
We work across London, with local pages for Barnet, Enfield, Finchley, Muswell Hill, Wood Green, Haringey, Camden, Hackney, Clapham, Wimbledon. See all areas we cover.
Get a written estimate
We measure the run, check the posts, the ground and the access, then put an itemised figure in writing. The visit and the estimate are free, and we reply within 24 hours.