Fence Panels - Advice Sought.....

[smokeysmoo]

I need to replace the fence panels at the bottom of our garden as they've rotted along their bottoms.

What I'm hoping for is a solution to stop, or at least slow down the rotting process.

Is there anything I can put between the concrete gravel board and the fence panel to help prevent/reduce water from holding there as I presume this is why they've rotted.

Presently there's a single 1 foot gravel board under each fence panel, and I'll be adding another 1 foot gravel board under the new panels as well and the new fence panels will be 1 foot shorter than the current ones.

The reason for the additional gravel boards is because our dog runs to the fence and puts his paws on the bottom of the fence panels, which has probably not helped their longevity TBH, but I don't get why they've rotted to the extent they have when they've always been on a gravel board and have been treated.

Any tips welcome

 

[Vapin' Joe]

A brick wall.

 

[Garethgas]

A pic would help.
As far as I'm aware, the gravel boards are a consumable item. Their purpose is to act as a barrier from the ground to the main part of the fence.
When they rot, you just replace them, saving you having to replace any other part of the fence.
Of course, I could be wrong but that's my understanding.

 

[smokeysmoo]

A brick wall.

Would be brilliant but sadly not an affordable option right now

As far as I'm aware, the gravel boards are a consumable item.

I didn't specify, but the gravel boards I'm referring too are made from CONCRETE so definitely not a consumable item.

Their purpose is to prevent the fence panel being in contact with the ground, yet mine have still rotted.

I know wood is always going to rot eventually, but the rest of the panels are perfect, it's just the bottom few inches on each that are FUBAR

What I'm wondering is if there is something that can go where the red line is on this pic to very slightly raise the fence panel, (not noticeably), but so it helps reduce water from collecting between the gravel board and fence panel.



No such thing may exist, or no ideas may be forthcoming, but I need to try something as I hate working in the garden and don't want to have to do this job again for as long as possible

 

[MikeG]

Air.

Leave a gap for air to circulate, and for the water to drip off the boards, and you'll double their lifespan at least.

 

[stephec]

So would sticking some screws into the base of the panel so that about 6-7mm is left protruding for them to stand on be a good idea? @MikeG

 

[stephec]

So would sticking some screws into the base of the panel so that about 6-7mm is left protruding for them to stand on be a good idea? @MikeG

 

[smokeysmoo]

Air. Leave a gap for air to circulate, and for the water to drip off the boards, and you'll double their lifespan at least.

Precisely, but it's how best to achieve the air gap as the fence panels left to their own devices will obviously just sit atop the gravel boards.

 

[smokeysmoo]

So would sticking some screws into the base of the panel so that about 6-7mm is left protruding for them to stand on be a good idea? @MikeG

This had crossed my mind as an option too

 

[stephec]

Are you going to knock some kind of wedges down the sides of the panels to prevent any thieving vermin lifting them out?

 

[smokeysmoo]

Are you going to knock some kind of wedges down the sides of the panels to prevent any thieving vermin lifting them out?

The panels are actually taller than the posts already and have ply panels between the gaps and bolted together, so all 4 panels are basically in one

 

[KEEF]

Stop the dog peeing on them

 

[sittingbull]

Put cat spikes on the bottom of each panel????

 

[raleighnut]

Paint the panels with preservative UPSIDE DOWN before installing (all surfaces and edges) then paint again after installation.

 

[Garethgas]

Ah, I didn't realise they were concrete.
I agree with a previous poster regarding an air gap underneath.