Fence panels blow out because solid panels catch wind, fixings are weak or the posts had already failed. Plex Group explains the causes and the proper fix across Worcestershire and Gloucestershire.
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A closeboard or lap panel presents an unbroken surface to the wind with nowhere for air to pass through. On a standard 1.8m fence that is over three square metres of sail area per panel, and in a gale the force pushing on it is considerable. All of that load goes into the fixings and then into the posts. Hit and miss and slatted panels solve the problem at source by leaving a deliberate gap for air to pass through, which is why they hold up on exposed boundaries around Pershore and the open ground outside Bourton-on-the-Water where solid panels come down winter after winter.
The second failure point is how the panel is held. Panels nailed to thin battens with a handful of galvanised nails rely entirely on those nails resisting pull out, and timber battens split along the grain exactly where the nails sit. Once a batten splits at the top, the panel starts working in the wind, the movement loosens everything else, and the next gust takes it out. Panels hung on proper rails or in the rebate of a slotted post, fixed with fence clips into sound timber, spread the load across the whole edge of the panel rather than concentrating it on four nails.
In most storm damage we attend, the wind simply finished something that was already failing. Timber rots at ground level where the post sits between wet soil and air, so a post can look sound at eye height while having almost no section left at the base. Concrete poured as a collar without haunching above ground holds water against that exact point and accelerates it. Posts set too shallow, or bedded into soil with no concrete at all, never had the resistance to begin with. If your panels keep blowing out in the same place, the post beside them is the thing to check before you buy another panel.
Ground conditions decide how quickly a post loses its grip. On the clay of the Vale of Evesham and the low ground around Stratford-upon-Avon, the soil swells in winter and shrinks back in summer, and that cycle works concrete footings loose over ten to fifteen years even where the fence was installed correctly. On the thin limestone brash of the higher ground, post holes often bottom out on rock before they reach proper depth, so the post ends up shallower than it should be. Add an exposed position on open ground, or a gap between buildings that funnels wind along a boundary, and a fence that would stand for twenty years elsewhere comes down in five.
A 10-day full-property hardscape overhaul in Guiting Power, featuring French Dolomite Limestone porcelain throughout, a bespoke pergola over an outdoor kitchenette, and full perimeter drainage.
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A 6-day boundary extension and fence installation in Kingham, built using tongue and groove cladding to create a seamless, architectural finish.
A 20 year old timber deck replaced with frosted blue composite boarding, a custom step, and a built-in fish pond access hatch
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We start with a full site assessment, checking every post at ground level for rot, testing the footings for movement, and looking at how exposed the run actually is. Where posts have failed we dig out the old footing entirely and set new posts to at least a third of the fence height, with concrete haunched above ground level and sloped away so water runs off rather than sitting against the timber. On exposed runs we specify concrete posts or steel post inserts, which take the wind load indefinitely and remove post rot from the equation. Panels are hung on proper rails and clips rather than a few nails into thin battens, with gravel boards keeping the bottom rail clear of the ground. Where a garden takes a real hammering we recommend hit and miss or slatted panels with a deliberate gap, which let wind pass through instead of resisting it. Plex Group installs and repairs fencing across Worcestershire, Gloucestershire, Oxfordshire, and Warwickshire.
Panels that keep blowing out are pointing at a weak link somewhere in the run, and once that link is identified the fix is permanent. Plex Group repairs and installs fencing across Worcestershire, Gloucestershire, and Warwickshire. Get in touch to arrange an assessment.
Fence panels blow out because solid panels catch wind, fixings are weak or the posts had already failed. Plex Group explains the causes and the proper fix across Worcestershire and Gloucestershire.
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Cement stops a drystone wall moving and draining, traps water in soft limestone and turns small failures into large ones. Plex Group explains the right way to repair walls across the Cotswolds.
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Ivy roots into the core of a drystone wall and forces the stones apart, and pulling it off makes the damage worse. Plex Group explains what is happening and the right way to fix it across the Cotswolds.
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From the initial meeting to the final clear up Patrick and Luke were unfailingly polite and professional. Patrick’s quotation for the work was sensible with a detailed breakdown. The work was started on time and was kept to time. The resulting terracing exceeded expectations and the work area was left cleaner than when the team arrived. I cannot thank Patrick, Luke and Jake enough for all their work and would have no hesitation in recommending PLEX Group.
It has been a pleasure having Plex work with me on my garden project. Totally engaged, very communicative and prompt. Access to my property is difficult but they just worked around any problems with a refreshing 'can do' attitude. I would happily recommend Plex to anyone working on a garden project.
Fantastic work and would highly recommend. The team were professional, friendly, considerate, hard working and flexible to ensure the works met our needs and expectations. Really nice team to have on site and were respectful and kept it as tidy as they could. Very impressed with the work and looking to get them to come back to do a couple of other jobs for us in the future.
I am really happy with the work that Plex did. They came up with solutions to problems that arose quickly, efficiently and without any stress. They were friendly, professional, organised, efficient and had excellent communication.
We have recently had a new garage installed from the Plex team and we are thrilled with the finished product. Can't thank Patrick Luke and their team enough. Would highly recommend.
I would highly recommend Luke and Patrick and their team. They are all extremely polite and hard-working. They put up a new pergola in our back garden and tidied up the edges of the garden. An excellent job.
Patrick, Luke and their team have transformed our sloped garden giving us a lovley functional space. They removed a hedge sadly over run with brambles with a fence gaining us a couple more meters of garden too! Despite having a week of rain they did their best to clear up at the end of the job. We would highly recommend this professional team.
Luke and Patrick have completed two projects for us now. They are the most polite and professional people with a hardworking team of individuals. Nothing is too much trouble for them.
Luke and his team are really lovely and professional. Cannot recommend him enough.
Luke and the team are absolutely brilliant. A passion for what they do and personal but professional, so pleased to have found them!
Really pleased with the concrete base for my carport that was completed by the team , worked really hard in poor weather conditions . Great job would definitely recommend the team .
Our garden has never looked better - hard-working, thorough, and also great at getting in touch if there's a change to the schedule, etc. They have nursed our box hedging back to health. Before and and after photos are a bonus!
Competitive price wise even though the work carried out was to a very high standard. I was very pleased with the end result and impressed with the tidiness they left the garden after all the work was carried out. A very happy customer!
Very obliging and efficient we have worked out a schedule that suits us both.
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