Advice on 1.8m vs 1.83m (6 foot) wide fence panels

[stuart799]

Hello, I can't find any advice anywhere. I have new 1.8m wide fence panels to put in the back garden. The panels are exactly 1.8 meters wide but the gravel boards are 1.83. should I pack out panels to 1.83 or cut gravel boards down to 1.8? I am using durapost system so could easily cut down the composite gravel boards. I am just worried about post spacing and replacing panels in the future- especially post Brexit I would imagine we will move away from European panel sizes (kind of joking). I have seen some specialist fence suppliers selling packing strips for this purpose. https://www.oakdalefencing.co.uk/product/packing-strip-euro-panels/
Thank you, Stuart

 

[Diver Fred]

Are your gavel boards timber or concrete?
if concrete either take the panels back and buy 6 ft ones or widen. Don't cut as you could break one.
if timber really it's your choice cause timber gavel boards are sacrificial items.

 

[stuart799]

Are your gavel boards timber or concrete?

Thanks for the reply. They're actually composite ones so easy to cut - I'm using this durapost system which has steel posts and composite gravel boards. So you think I just cut them to 1.8 and go for it.

 

[Captain Nemesis]

... composite gravel boards ...

Are your gavel boards timber or concrete?

 

[stuart799]

Explain the joke.

 

[Captain Nemesis]

You said composite boards.

The first thing wgt52 asked was are they timber or concrete.

 

[stuart799]

You said composite boards.

The first thing wgt52 asked was are they timber or concrete.

Oh yeah I did say that up front. I guess they're not mainstream yet like concrete and wood ones

 

[Captain Nemesis]

NM

 

[Keithmac]

I'd use the packing strips, at least then you can fit a 6' panel if needed later on.

 

[stuart799]

I ended up spacing the fence 1.8m and not using packing strips. The reason was I needed the post holes to be far enough away from the trees that are planted along the fence line. It meant that I needed an additional panel to cut down to 54cm at the end as the slightly smaller panels plus the durapost posts not taking up hardly any room like 75 or 100mm wood post would.

 

[Keithmac]

Nice tidy job there.