It’s a smart idea to attach gravel boards to fencing because it helps prevent rot and decay and extends the fence’s life. Learn how to attach gravel boards to concrete or wood fence posts and the various fasteners that can be utilized and when.
A gravel board might be wood, concrete, or composite. To shield your fence from mud and insect damage, place them underneath the panels and on top of the ground. In essence, gravel boards extend the life of your fence.
A gravel board is often built of concrete or wood, with pressure treatment applied to the wood version to ensure it will not decay. Although it is unnecessary to do so because the fence will still function as intended, adding a gravel board to a run of fencing is a good idea because any fence panels will last much longer.
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Gravel Board: An Overview
Fitting gravel boards between fence posts and under fence panels will prevent any gravel, dirt, or other material at ground level from damaging the real fence by keeping it from sitting on soggy and damp ground.
Since gravel boards can be screwed to each fence post and essentially bind a run of fencing together, adding one can also give your fence a bit more structural stability. This is especially true of timber gravel boards.
Gravel boards can be attached to the front, back, or in between fence posts; however, this will typically depend on the type of material used to construct your fence. Depending on the material, a gravel board will be composed of either pre-cast concrete or wood.
To prevent rotting, you must ensure that the wooden gravel boards have undergone pressure treatment. Except for their materials, there is virtually no distinction between the two.
Why Are Gravel Boards Essential?
Your fence will last longer if you install gravel planks. Therefore, even though they cost more upfront, you will save money using them. Gravel boards help make your fence look neater and cleaner by filling in any ugly gaps at the bottom and guarantee total privacy.
Concrete gravel boards are often only used with concrete fence posts because they slide easily into the grooves in each post, whereas timber gravel boards are typically used with timber fence posts but can also be used with concrete fence posts.
The gravel board to choose is a personal one that depends on your aesthetic preferences or financial situation. If the gravel board is made of untreated wood, the best you can hope for is probably a few years before it needs to be replaced.
You can reasonably expect anything if their construction used high-quality pressure-treated wood. It’s a completely different situation when dealing with concrete gravel boards. Concrete is relatively resistant to moisture and dampness, so as long as the boards are not damaged, they should last a lifetime.
Ways To Fix Gravel Boards To Concrete Posts
The presence of slots in slotted concrete fence posts is one of its outstanding qualities. With no need to drill holes or secure anything, a fence panel may be fitted into the post once it is in place to hold it securely.
Any fence panel installation is very quick. Once the challenging post installation is finished, raise the panels to the top of each post and lower them down. The situation with gravel boards is the same. Slot each gravel board into position before installing any fence panels, and then raise the panel over the gravel board.
If the concrete fence posts you’re using don’t have slots, you’ll need to use clips or cleats. This is almost always the best, quickest, and most preferred method to choose if your posts have slots.
When using clips, place one against the post where it will be secured, mark through each hole with a pen or pencil, and then set the clip aside. Now that you have the marks, you can precisely pinpoint where your fixing holes should be drilled.
To do this, use your drill and a masonry drill bit that is the right size for the fixes or inserts you plan to use. Once the holes have been drilled, you may either insert wall plugs if you’re using them or, if you’re going to use concrete screws or another similar sort of fixing, set your cleat or clip in place and tighten the screw.
Types Of Gravel Boards
Concrete Gravel Boards
Concrete gravel boards outlast timber because they don’t rot or deteriorate. They also provide your fencing posts with a solid foundation and are simple to maintain.
Many people don’t like the aesthetics or, better still, the lack thereof. Installation might be challenging because concrete gravel boards are frequently heavy and awkward to move.
Composite Boards
Both worlds benefit from composite gravel boards. They are durable, don’t rust, warp, or break, and have a pleasing aesthetic quality. Additionally, they are available in various colors and finishes, lightweight, and simple to install.
Composite gravel boards are constructed of actual wood, generally recycled, with a plastic blend. While the plastic maintains remarkable strength to enable a longer-lasting, more robust solution, the wood gives a natural and authentic-looking finish.
Wooden Gravel Boards
Especially when ornate fence panels are included, wooden boards are frequently employed by people who want to retain a traditional-looking fence. Wooden gravel boards are vulnerable to decay, just like wood fence posts.
Conclusion
If you already have them installed, replacing a gravel board is a rather straightforward task. If gravel boards are fastened to fence posts with cleats or clips, undo the fasteners, remove the old gravel board, trim the new board if necessary, and then fasten it again.
Before attaching any boards, replace any gravel board cleats and clips not made of galvanized steel or similar material or wood.
