What is a timber fence post?
A timber fence post is used with fence components such as timber rails and timber fence panels, when installing a run of timber fencing. Driven into the ground, timber fence posts give a fence its structural support and stability. At Witham Timber, our wooden fence posts are manufactured from pressure treated timber for durability, longevity, and protection against rot and disease.
Installing wooden fence posts
Installing fence posts correctly is a vital step in ensuring your fence will be strong and stable and it is worth spending time to get this right. As with everything, correct preparation is key and making sure you dig a hole big enough for the post is essential. Our step by step guide to erecting a fence recommends the post hole is 2 feet deep as a minimum, or a third of the height of the post, and it should be three times wider than the post. Add an aggregate such as gravel to the hole and tamper it down well before positioning the post. You can use postcrete or concrete to secure the posts in place – pour it into the hole to above ground level, sloping it away from the post so that water can run off easily.
How long will timber fence posts last?
The lifespan of a timber fence post depends on many factors including the variety of timber used and whether it has been subjected to any preserving treatments. However, a pressure treated wooden fence post will last on average around 10 years with regular maintenance.
Reinforcing and repairing wooden fence posts
Inevitably, over time your fence posts will deteriorate, perhaps becoming wobbly or even splitting and breaking. While you may choose simply to replace them, there are steps that can be taken to reinforce and/or repair them. With wobbly fence posts, remove the post and as much of the concrete as possible from the post hole before replacing the post and adding new postcrete to secure the post in place.
If a post has broken, it still may not need to be replaced but simply repaired. Concrete repair spurs used with galvanised bolts, or metal repair spurs are both effective ways to repair a broken post – learn more in How to repair a broken fence.
Are all fence posts wooden?
The short answer is ‘no’, fence posts are not all made from timber and if the time has come to replace your posts, you may want to consider the alternative, concrete posts. There is much to weigh up when deciding between the two, from the price and ease of installation to the aesthetic and longevity of each. The choice ultimately comes down to personal preference but our blog post Concrete fence posts Vs timber fence posts will help you to decide.
Timber fence posts from Witham Timber
Available sawn or planed (planed posts have a choice of dome or pyramid top), all our timber fence posts are pressure treated. For traditional post and rail fencing, we also supply pointed posts.
If you would like to discuss your fencing requirements with a member of our experienced sales team, please send us an email to sales@withamtimber.co.uk or call us on 01205 359188 today.