New Fence Installation: Solid Board Fencing with Concrete Posts on a Windy Site

When a customer came to us needing a brand-new fence on land that had never had one before, the first thing we had to think about was the conditions. This is an exposed, windy site — and that changes everything about how you specify a fence.

Here’s what we put in and why.

The Challenge: A Windy, Exposed Location

A fully closed, solid fence on a windy site is asking for trouble. Wind hits a sealed surface like a sail, building up pressure and putting enormous strain on posts, rails, and fixings. Over time — sometimes not very long at all — something moves, leans, or fails.

The solution isn’t to build lighter. It’s to build smarter.

The Boarding: 125mm x 16mm Solid Boards with a Slight Gap

We used 125mm x 16mm solid timber boards at 1.8m height, fixed to one side with a slight gap between each board. This is a deliberate choice for this type of site.

That gap does two things:

• Relieves wind pressure — air passes through rather than loading up against a sealed surface, significantly reducing strain on the whole structure
• Allows the timber to move naturally — timber expands and contracts with moisture and temperature changes; a small gap between boards accommodates this without boards pushing against each other or cupping over time

You still get a strong, solid-looking boundary and good privacy — but the fence is working with the wind rather than against it.

The Framework: 3×2 Timber Arris Rail and Concrete Posts

The boarding is only as good as what it’s fixed to. For this installation we used:

3 x 2 Timber Arris Rail — slots securely into the posts and gives the boards a firm, consistent fixing line along their length. Using 3 x 2 arris rail gives a solid, robust backing for boards of this size and weight — nothing flimsy about this build.

Concrete fence posts — on an exposed, windy site, concrete posts are the right call. They won’t twist, won’t rot, and won’t shift. Set in concrete haunching at the correct depth, these posts will outlast the timber boarding many times over. When the boards eventually need refreshing, the posts stay exactly where they are.

Together, the concrete posts and 3 x 2 arris rail give this fence a framework that’s built to last.

Two Bespoke Gates

The installation included two bespoke gates, built to match the fencing and sized exactly to each opening.

Off-the-shelf gates rarely fit well — they’re slightly too narrow, or too wide, and end up either rattling or binding from day one. These gates were made to measure using the same solid boarding, hung on heavy-duty hinges, and set up for a clean, easy swing.

The result is gates that look like they belong, because they were built specifically for the job.

The Result

A fence that’s properly specified for a challenging, windy site. Concrete posts, 3 x 2 arris rail, solid 125mm boards with a working gap, and two bespoke gates — everything chosen with the conditions in mind.

For a customer who had never had a fence on this land before, it was important to do it once and do it right.

Need a fence on a tricky or exposed site? We’ll come out, assess the conditions, and tell you exactly what we’d recommend. Get in touch for a free, no-obligation quote.