Fencing Supplies Near Me: Panels, Posts & Gravel Boards, Northampton
If you've typed "fencing supplies near me" into your phone with a measuring tape still in your other hand, this guide is for you. We're a family-run builders merchant on Ashburnham Road in Northampton, and fencing is one of the jobs we help people plan every week. Below is how to work out a run, what to buy, and how to get it home.
Planning a fence run: panels and post spacing
Most standard fence panels are 6ft wide, which is roughly 1.83m. Heights vary, with 6ft (1.8m) the usual choice for back gardens and lower panels for fronts and dividers.
To work out a run:
- Measure the full length of the boundary in metres.
- Divide by 1.83 to get the number of panels, and round up. You can cut a timber panel down for the last bay if you need to.
- You need one more post than panels: a run of 6 panels needs 7 posts.
- Remember the post itself takes up width. With 75mm posts, the centre of one post to the centre of the next is about 1.83m plus 75mm, so roughly 1.9m.
Set out a string line between the two end posts before you dig anything. It keeps the run straight.
Measure twice before you buy. Bring your measurements and a rough sketch to the counter and we'll go through the panel, post and gravel board count with you.
Concrete vs timber fence posts
This is the big decision, and both have their place.
Timber posts are lighter, easier to cut, and simple to fix panels to with clips or brackets. Look for posts treated for ground contact. We stock Sawn UC4 Treated Fence Posts 75mm x 75mm: the 1.8m post at £7.99 and the 2.4m post at £10.49. UC4 means the timber has been treated for use in contact with the ground, which is what you want for anything going in a hole.
Concrete posts are slotted, so panels drop in from above. They're heavy and harder to handle, but they won't rot, and a panel can be lifted out and replaced without disturbing the post.
As a rough guide, about a quarter of the post should be in the ground. For a 1.8m (6ft) fence with a gravel board underneath, a 2.4m post is the usual choice.
Gravel boards: keep panels off the ground
A gravel board is a board that sits along the bottom of each bay, between the posts, so the panel itself never touches the soil. It's one of the cheapest ways to make a fence last longer. Wet soil against the bottom of a panel is the main reason panels rot from the bottom up, and when a gravel board does eventually wear out you replace a board, not a whole panel.
Remember to add the height of the gravel board to the panel height when you work out post lengths.
What to buy for a typical fence
Here's a shopping list for most garden runs:
- Fence panels. For example, the Grange featheredge panel 6x6 is £58 in store.
- Posts: one more than the number of panels.
- Gravel boards: one per bay.
- Post fixing: postcrete for setting posts quickly, or ballast and cement if you prefer to mix your own. Both are in our aggregates, sand and cement range. Check the bag for how many to allow per post.
- Clips, brackets and screws to suit your posts.
- Post caps and a timber treatment for any cut ends.
You can browse panels, posts and accessories on our fencing supplies page.
Fence panels in Northampton: getting it home
Fence panels and posts are long, heavy and awkward, so they're collection-only or local van delivery. They don't go out by courier.
Our own van covers addresses within 10 miles of the shop, which takes in places like Kingsthorpe, Duston, Abington and Weston Favell. Van delivery is £19.99 on orders over £100, and you pick a one-hour slot in the basket. Delivery days are Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday and Friday. The full details are on our delivery page.
Prefer to collect? In-stock items are usually ready for Click & Collect within 1 to 2 hours.
Saving on your fencing order
Our fence posts are in the 5% Mix & Match & Save group. Buy any 2 or more items from that group and the 5% comes off automatically, with no code needed. Different products in the same group mix freely, so posts can go in with other items from the 5% range. If your order doesn't qualify, use code ROCK5 for 5% off the whole order instead. The two don't combine, so it's one or the other.
Fencing FAQs
How many posts do I need for my fence?
One more than the number of panels. Six panels need seven posts.
How deep should a fence post go?
As a rule of thumb, about a quarter of its length, which is why a 2.4m post is the usual choice for a 1.8m fence.
Do I need gravel boards?
They aren't essential, but they keep the panel off wet ground and make the fence last longer. We recommend them.
Is there a height limit for garden fences?
There can be. Planning rules cover fence heights, especially next to roads. Check the Planning Portal before building anything tall.
Can you deliver fence panels in Northampton?
Yes. Our own van delivers within 10 miles of the shop, £19.99 on orders over £100, on a one-hour slot you choose.
Visit us
You'll find RockBottom Northampton at 2 Ashburnham Road, Northampton NN1 4QY. We're open Monday to Friday 8am to 5:30pm and Saturday 9am to 5:30pm (closed Sunday). Call us on 01604 720272, or get in touch online and we'll help you work out what you need. Trade and public are both welcome. Bring your measurements and we'll put the whole fence list together with you.