Replacing fence panels - how to fix?

[D.M.Chapman]

Now I've finally managed to escape Egypt and miss the ash cloud, I'm back to sorting out the garden.

During my extended holiday, it seems the fence panels have given up. No surprise, they were past their best a couple of years ago.

Posts are still solid so I'm planning on just sticking new panels in and new trellis on top (4ft panel, 1ft trellis). What's the best way to fit these? Wickes seem to do some galv clips that look handy, but I'd need

8 per fence bay (4 for panel, 4 for trellis) which I think would look a bit odd.

I suspect just nailing it is as good as anything (and it what the old one seemed to be) - given I'm using cheapo panels for this, what nails or screws are least likely to split the crap wood that these things are made from?

any tips to reduce the amount of swearing?

Cheers,

Darren

[Cicero]

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Use oval nails - slightly less chance of splitting. If you want to be very particular you can pre-drill holes but it's rarely necessary.

Cic,

[Rod]

I have used two basic approaches. The fence clips are great but they can indeed be a bit obvious. (Though much better when weathered and covered in whatever treatment you put on the fence.) And in some circumstances you can set it up to make it easy to slide the panel in or out. You can get clips in several different sizes. And you can probably use just one at each end of the trellis. Or if you are getting panels with trellis tops, just the four per panel.

And I have also used long screws (usually with hex heads) through drilled holes in the panels sides into the posts - at an angle to make it easy to tighten them. Not sure how good that would be through cheapo panels - I have done this on panels with solid sides.

Finally, I have also tried slapping up a simple 25mmx25mm strip onto the posts and screwing straight through the panel into them. Worked fine.

I always use either stainless or specialist outdoor screws as the rust streaks that always seem to occur with ordinary zinc plated screws are horrible. Never had a problem with splitting.

The first time I replaced panels without also doing the posts I found the new panels about 10mm too wide to fit (although nominally the same size). A quick whizz with an electric planer did the job (careful to avoid nails).

[Steve Walker]

Cheap & simple. Screw them to the posts, 2 or 3 on each side, and then slide the panel in from above.

[D.M.Chapman]

Seperate panels and trellis. As you say, the fence clips look a bit "obvious". Probably fine but they'll annoy me :)

Yeah, that's the worry. Finding something solid enough on the cheap panels :-) I think I'll go with the Wickes ones. They seem to be the best of a crap bunch (struggled to find 6 unbroken ones in B&Q!).

Ah! Excellent idea (and bloody obvious now you've mentioned it!). That sounds like it might be a winner - the posts are 4" deep as well so it'll be easy. Ta.

Yep

Gah. Fingers crossed this won't be the case :-/

Darren

[stuart noble]

Not easy to slide the panel down from above unless you're Tarzan. Easier to hammer one side of the clip flat and put it in from the front. The clips hammer back to the original shape ok without breaking IME. Unusual for the panels to rot before the posts.....

[D.M.Chapman]

Posts were decent 3x4 inch treated - couldn't afford decent panels at the time but was careful not to skimp on the posts. They are fine.

Panels were cheap and crap - and in contact with the ground. They have lasted 10 years without any treatment (yes yes, I know :-)) so I can't complain. Planning on sticking pressure treated gravel board in the bottom if poss this time as well. If I get another 10 years I'll be very happy :-).

Ideally, I'd go for pressure treated crappy panels, but they don't seem to exist. It's either shed crap dipped ones, or heavyweight expensive pressure treated.

cheap will do me fine - all the fences externally I've had built in decent jacksons fencing :)

Darren

[John]

Easier if you only use one screw in the top clip and leave it just loose enough to rotate. Then with the top clip at about 30 degrees angle from the vertical - slide the panel in, rotate it to vertical and then slide it down into the bottom clips.

Easier done than explained! I once had to show a "professional Handyman" how to do it after he told me he could use clips if he was working on his own as he couldn't lift the panel high enough to slide it in.

I hope you can follow my description.

[John]

The word "NOT" was missed in my earlier response!

enough to rotate. Then with the top clip at about 30 degrees angle from the vertical - slide the panel in, rotate it to vertical and then slide it down into the bottom clips.

Easier done than explained! I once had to show a "professional Handyman" how to do it after he told me he could NOT use clips if he was working on his own as he couldn't lift the panel high enough to slide it in.

I hope you can follow my description.

[Rod]

Glad you wrote that up - otherwise I would have had to. Spot on.

Of course, in the OP's situation, have to fit main panels like this before the trellises.

[terry]

Suggestion: Use screws????? Less impact on and less shaking of the structure than pounding in nails? We are tending to use screws rather than nails these days; relative used several hundred screws last week to build a substantial storage platform in an attached garage. Didn't disturb the tenants in the adjacent apartment/flat at all. For a fence use the screws coated for outdoor work. We are also using them as we repair our 30+ year old heavy wooden outdoor deck/patio.