Fence Post Spacing

[Damian30]

Hi,

I’ve had some wooden fence posts snap and now midway through replacing with dry cast concrete posts (Strongcast).

Plan is to refit the existing panels which are on their last legs but buy some decent ones in the Spring.

I’ve seen various sizes of widths quoted from 180cm to 183cm. Thought the compromise was to allow 183.5cm spacing and use a timber batten to maintain the distance (previously learned a lesson that a long spirit level can still be 5mm out when the bubble seems pretty central).

Having a slight crisis of confidence now that should have left 184cm wiggle room, last thing I want to do is start trimming panels especially if getting some decent ones win decent pressure treatment (e.g Forest Garden panels). Dropping some of the old panels back in have been a bit tight, not helped as they are still holding a bit of moisture from recent rain,

Have I cut it too fine and should I perhaps increase the gap to 184cm for the remaining posts / bays?

Thought would be a straightforward job this one but been a slog, especially breaking the original posts out even with a decent breaker.

Many thanks,

Damian

 

[Deluks]

You can buy the top sloping rail of the panel separately, get one of these and use it as a guide. They are usually 183cm.

Trimming a panel is no big deal. The treatment goes well into the timber, and you can always buy a paint on preservative for cut sections.

Are you not using a gravel board? A concrete gravel board is the best protection for a fence panel, as it raises it off of the damp ground.

 

[foxhole]

Fencing still uses imperial sizes, hence 6ft panels are a fraction under 183cm.

 

[Tigercubrider]

5mm is nothing anyway, a panel will swell a bit when wet so leave a decent gap
Fence panels always go in easier after a heat wave

I recently changed my 20 year old panels for new ones from the same small company and all but one slid in. I had to use a planer to shave one panel down. The posts were concrete with concrete gravel boards. There will always be slight differences.
Too big a gap and they rattle. You can get clips for antitattle