Fence Guide - Steel vs Concrete vs Wood: Ultimate Guide To Fence Posts

Durability

The longevity of a fence must be taken into consideration. A fence post system that’s prone to wear and tear just isn’t cost-effective in the long run. Another thing to note, damaged fence posts can bring health and safety risks to your outdoor space - a rotting fence won’t stand for long in strong winds, so consider this when deciding on your new fence.

Concrete is a durable building material and can last for around 20 years with minimal maintenance. Sounds promising doesn’t it? Surprisingly, concrete isn’t immune to wear and tear. Excessive wind and rain can cause concrete posts to chip and crack. This often leads to the interior wire reinforcements becoming exposed, weakening the structure.

In comparison, the lifespan of timber fence posts can vary depending on the type of wood used. While treated timber posts can last from anywhere between 10-15 years, untreated timber may need replacing in under 5 years. What's more, rotting, splitting and warping (where the post expands upon water absorption) are all very common occurrences for wooden fence post systems.

DuraPost® is stronger than both concrete and wood fence posts and is guaranteed to last up to 25 years. Made from galvanised steel, DuraPost® doesn’t rot, split, warp, crack or chip and can even withstand winds of up to 110mph! It’s a no brainer if you ask us.

Sustainability

With the ever growing concern for our environment, opting for an environmentally friendly fence is a priority amongst many homeowners and contractors.

Concrete fence posts have the biggest impact on the health of our environment over any other fence post. The material has even been labelled ‘the most destructive on earth’ and is said to be responsible for 4-8% of the worlds CO2. In short, if sustainability is something you value, we wouldn’t recommend concrete.

While some timber is obtained from sustainable sources, the process still involves the felling of trees. This releases carbon into the atmosphere, which contributes to global warming. Furthermore, the treatment of timber can be harmful to plants and animals. Why? The chemicals used to preserve the wood are used to protect the fence posts from insects, as well as fungi that cause rotting. These chemicals can seep into the ground and contaminate soil or groundwater, harming the surrounding life.

A far more sustainable fence post is DuraPost®. Its endless recyclability (due to the fact it’s made of steel), low energy manufacturing process and long-life span offers an environmentally-friendly option for everyone. Furthermore, DuraPost® is both manufactured and stocked in the UK. This means transportation miles are cut significantly, reducing emissions and impact on the planet. So, if you’re passionate about the environment, we suggest DuraPost® is the fence for you.

Costs

When it comes to pricing, you can’t focus solely on the short term costs. Initially, a cheaper fence might seem appealing. However, it may need replacing 3 or 4 times, and by then, a more expensive option would have been more cost-effective – this goes for wooden fence post systems.

Although cost-effective in the short term, due to rotting, splitting and warping, opting for wood fence posts often means a high lifetime cost. While concrete is also cheap to buy, the vulnerability to wear and tear also means a high lifetime cost. Now, let’s see how DuraPost® compares.

Although DuraPost® requires a greater upfront cost than concrete and timber fence posts, the long term cost-effectiveness puts all competition in the shade. The 25-year warranty, strength and durability offers a fence system that won’t need replacing any time soon. Ultimately, DuraPost® requires a bigger upfront investment, but it's an investment worth making. Trust us.

Conclusion

Having covered installation, aesthetics, durability, sustainability and costs, we have a clear winner. And we think you can agree. Concrete and timber fence posts are simply no match for DuraPost®. But it comes in various colour options too to complement your garden, to match windows to suit your style whether contemporary or traditional.

Want to find out more about DuraPost®? Contact us today, we’d love to chat!