fencing: gravel boards

[Stephen]

Hello,

We have some closeboard fence panels that just sit on the ground. I'm thinking that they might get wet and rot where they meet the soil, so I was wondering about lifting the panels out, cutting off the bottom six inches and fitting a six inch gravel board underneath. I would need to nail a new batten along the new bottom of the board. Does this sound a good idea?

How heavy are six inch concrete gravel boards? I see that you can get

12 inch boards but is it easier to use two sixes rather than lift one heavy 12 inch board?

Thanks.

[Peter Andrews]

I put 32mm black plastic waste pipe at the bottom of mine - smaller than a gravel board but just enough to keep them off the ground.

Peter

[The Wanderer]

Umm, may be a daft question, but if you're planning a six inch gravel board, why would you want to put in 2 x 6 inches of concrete? Also concrete gravel boards are intended to be used with concrete posts.

[John]

It is

He is asking about using two 6" boards as opposed to one 12" board as 6" ones will obviously be lighter to pick up and use.

When did the OP say that he hasn't got concrete posts, that is an assumption on your side! The OP said "I was wondering about lifting the panels out,...." by which I assume he has concrete (or plastic) posts enabling him to lift out the panels

HTH

John

[Stephen]

I was planning on using one 6 inch gravel board when I started to type but then it dawned on me that my neighbour's garden is lower than mine, so I would need 12 inches of gravel board: all visible on the lower side but only six inches visible on the higher side.

I already have concrete posts with the fence panels slotted between but whoever fitted them never fitted gravel boards. I presume I have to lift and lower the garvelboards into the slot and that is why I wondered whether it would be easier to lift two smaller boards than one big one.

Thanks.

[TheScullster]

"Stephen" wrote

The key question I suppose is how strong are you? Being an ageing office boy (46) I may not be representative of the DIY fraternity, but I find one 12" gravel board hard work to move around at ground level (have to turn them end over end in fact). For 2 strong fit youger examples then 12" might just be doable but you would need seriously sturdy steps to a good height to over lift them. Maybe there's a lightweight option available? Recommend that you go down a builder's yard to check the weight before committing to the final choice.

Phil

[The Wanderer]

I refer you to the OP

That makes my question perfectly reasonable, and your puerile response look quite silly.

Oh, so you can make assumptions but others can't? All I made was an observation on the use of concrete gravel boards. It's a pity you can't see beyond your own inflated sense of importance.

[meow2222]

Its a whole lot easier to just raise the panels by 2" and leave it at that. No new panels, no cutting.

NT

[The Wanderer]

Can't see any reason why not, except that possibly 2 x 6" boards will cost more than one 12" board.

The local garden centre has a bank held back by a line of fencing with several 12" gravel boards up to 4 boards deep.

I have concrete gravel boards on a fairly lengthy fence line where my garden borders onto a field embankment. I used 12" boards and set the top about 2-3" above the garden level, and that works fine. Field side the level varies between 3" below the top of the boards to 9" below the top of the boards. I also allowed a line of 6" boards laid horizontally inside and tight up against the vertical boards, IYSWIM. Gives a nice clean line and firm edge for grass cutting.

[The Wanderer]

And weeds, unwanted plant growth coming under the bottom of the fence?

[Man at B&Q]

Chop it off and chuck it back over the fence.

MBQ

[Mike Barnes]

ISTM that you might have nothing to lose by waiting and seeing if they do actually rot. If/when that happens, cut the rotten part off, etc.

[Stuart Noble]

Might be easier to just lower the soil level next to the fence, presumably back to where it was when the fence was built. Or dig a trench and fill it with gravel. I guess that's why they're called gravel boards

[The Medway Handyman]

It does, especially with close boarded panels because the end grain is in contact with the soil.

Very :-) Just about a one man lift IMO. Bear in mind that you don't need to lift them to the top of the posts, lift them in diagonally then straighten them up.

Yes. Don't even try a 12" board single handed.

Worth thinking about 'sacrificial' timber gravel boards. A third of the price, much easier to handle & esy to replace if they do rot - they will still protect your fence panels.

[meow2222]

That happens whether you've got a 2" gap or not.

NT

[Trevor Smith]

I don't think your "lift them in diagonally then straighten them up." idea would work as the diagonal will be longer than the opening and concrete boards are not the best thing to struggle with but I recon the sacrificial wooden board is the way to go especially with a good soaking in preservative they should last quite a few years. Trevor Smith

[The Medway Handyman]

It does work Trevor, I've done it several times :-)