Nine out of ten garden fences are one of two things: a lap panel or a closeboard fence. They look similar from the car but they are built very differently, and the right choice depends on what the fence has to do.
Lap panels — quick and tidy
Lap (or overlap) panels are pre-made, light and fast to fit between posts. They are the value option and look neat from day one. The trade-off is strength: thin overlapping slats flex in wind and a single failure can mean replacing a whole panel.
Closeboard — built to last
Closeboard is built up on site from vertical feather-edge boards on horizontal rails. It is heavier, stronger and far more wind-resistant, and because it is made of individual parts you can replace a single board rather than a whole panel. It costs more and takes longer to fit.
So which?
For a sheltered boundary on a budget, lap panels are perfectly good. For an exposed, windy or security boundary — or anywhere you want a fence to last 20+ years — closeboard is worth the extra. We build closeboard to order at the yard.
Shop this project
We stock lap panels and build closeboard fencing to order — posts, rails, feather-edge and gravel boards. Bring your run length and we will price both up.