Composite or Timber? Fencing and Decking for a Welsh Garden
How Welsh rain and wind change the choice between timber and composite fencing, decking and gates.
Wales gets more rain and stronger winds than most of the UK, and a garden in Cardiff, Penarth or the Vale has to put up with both. When it comes to fencing and decking, that weather is the main reason more homeowners are weighing up composite against traditional timber.
Timber: lower cost, more upkeep
Featheredge fencing on concrete posts with gravel boards remains the most popular garden fence in Cardiff, and for good reason: it is strong, affordable and easy to repair. The trade-off is maintenance. Softwood needs treating every few years, and both timber fences and timber decks turn green with algae after a wet winter if they are left alone.
Composite: more upfront, almost no maintenance
Composite panels and boards combine recycled plastics with wood fibres. They do not rot, warp or splinter, and they do not need treating. Specialists in composite fencing in Cardiff usually fit the panels to aluminium or steel posts, and where existing concrete posts are sound, some ranges can slot straight into them, saving the cost of new posts.
Decking that copes with the weather
A deck is often the best answer on a sloping garden, as building a level frame is far easier than digging out tonnes of soil. Good decking installers will talk through timber, composite and raised options, and fit a balustrade where a raised deck needs one. Whatever the boards, the frame underneath needs to be built properly, because a weak subframe will flex and fail long before the surface wears out.
Do not forget the gate
A new fence often shows up a tired gate. Because the gap between houses varies so much, a made-to-measure side gate is usually built on site, hung on rigid posts and finished to match the new fence, whether that is timber or composite.
Quick comparison
- Cost on the day: timber is cheaper
- Maintenance: composite needs only an occasional wash
- Lifespan: composite products typically carry 20 to 25 year guarantees
- Look: timber is traditional; composite comes in greys, anthracite and wood effects
- Repairs: single timber boards are easy to replace
The right choice depends on your budget and how much time you want to spend looking after the garden. For more on landscaping, fencing and garden structures, see our landscaping category.
