The cheapest part of your fence is the part that protects it
A gravel board is a horizontal board that sits at the base of a fence, between the posts and underneath the panel. It is usually the last thing people think about when they price up a new boundary, and it is very often the reason one fence is still standing at fifteen years while the one next door needed replacing at seven.
The job it does is simple. Timber that sits in contact with wet soil will rot. A gravel board lifts the panel clear of the ground, takes the moisture, the mower knocks and the soil pressure on itself, and keeps the expensive part of the fence dry. When the board eventually gives up, you replace one cheap board rather than a whole panel.
This guide covers what concrete gravel boards cost, what sizes you actually need, how many to order, and where concrete genuinely beats timber. All prices below are our own current prices at our yard in Weeley, just outside Clacton-on-Sea.
Concrete gravel board prices
(Prices correct at time of publication and subject to change. Please confirm current pricing when ordering.)
Our current concrete gravel board range, all 6ft (1.83m) long to suit standard fence bays:
| Product | Price inc VAT | Price exc VAT |
|---|---|---|
| 6ft Recessed Gravel Board, 6″ | £13.20 | £11.00 |
| 6ft Solid Gravel Board, 6″ | £14.40 | £12.00 |
| 6ft Recessed Gravel Board, 12″ | £18.00 | £15.00 |
| 6ft Solid Gravel Board, 12″ | £19.20 | £16.00 |
For comparison, our timber gravel boards start at £3.84 inc VAT for a 6ft x 6″ board, with a 10ft x 6″ board at £5.52 and a 2.4m x 6″ x 1″ board at £4.68.
So yes, concrete costs roughly three to four times what timber costs up front. Here is why that maths usually still lands in concrete’s favour.
The real cost over twenty years
Take a 12 metre garden boundary. At 1.83m per bay, that is seven bays.
- Seven 6″ timber gravel boards: £26.88 inc VAT
- Seven 6″ recessed concrete gravel boards: £92.40 inc VAT
A difference of £65.52 on day one. In our experience, pressure treated timber gravel boards in constant ground contact commonly need replacing somewhere between five and ten years, and sooner on heavy or poorly draining ground. Concrete does not rot at all, and typically outlasts the timber panels sitting on top of it.
Replace those timber boards twice over twenty years and you have spent more than the concrete cost in the first place, before you count the labour of lifting panels out to get at them. That is before considering the panels themselves, which last considerably longer when they are not wicking moisture up out of the soil.
Concrete gravel board sizes explained
You will see two dimensions quoted. Length is almost always 6ft (1.83m) because that is the standard UK fence bay. Height is the number that matters.
6 inch (150mm) boards
The standard domestic choice. Six inches is enough to lift a panel clear of soil and turf, keeps the fence line neat, and is light enough for one person to handle comfortably. This is what we sell most of for straightforward garden boundaries around Clacton, Frinton and Colchester.
12 inch (300mm) boards
Choose 12 inch when you need more than protection. The common reasons are:
- Retaining soil. Where your garden sits higher than next door, or the ground falls away along the run, a 12″ board holds the level back properly.
- Adding height. A 12″ board plus a 6ft panel gives you a taller boundary without buying taller panels. Read the planning note below before you do this.
- Stopping diggers. If you have a dog that works the boundary, a deeper board set into the ground is far more effective than a 6″ one.
- Sloping ground. Stepping 12″ boards down a gradient gives a much tidier result than trying to fill gaps under panels.
Thickness and weight
Concrete gravel boards are typically around 50mm thick and steel reinforced. Depending on size and profile they weigh somewhere in the region of 25kg to 40kg each. A 6″ board is a comfortable one-person lift. A 12″ solid board is a two-person job, and worth remembering if you are planning to fit them yourself.
Recessed or solid: which should you buy?
This is the question we get asked most at the counter, and the honest answer is that the difference is smaller than people expect.
Solid boards are flat and full thickness across both faces. They are the heaviest and the most robust option, and they look the same from either side of the fence.
Recessed boards have a dished section in the face, which uses less concrete. Manufacturers generally quote recessed boards as being around 30% lighter than the solid equivalent, which makes them noticeably easier to handle and slightly cheaper. Structurally they do exactly the same job.
Our recommendation: for a standard garden boundary, recessed is the sensible buy. Go solid where the board will be seen from both sides, where it is holding back a meaningful amount of soil, or on commercial and higher traffic sites where it may take knocks.
One word of caution. Different manufacturers use “recessed”, “plain” and “smooth faced” slightly differently, and some use “recessed” to describe the post rather than the board. If you are matching to an existing fence, bring us a photo or a measurement and we will make sure you get the right thing first time.
Do gravel boards count towards your fence height?
Yes, and this catches a lot of people out.
Under permitted development in England, a boundary fence, wall or gate can generally go up to 2 metres in height without planning permission, measured from ground level. Next to a highway used by vehicles, or its footpath, that drops to 1 metre. The height is measured to the top of the whole structure, and that includes the gravel board underneath and any trellis on top.
Run the numbers:
- 6ft panel (1.83m) + 6″ board (150mm) = 1.98m, just inside the limit
- 6ft panel (1.83m) + 12″ board (300mm) = 2.13m, over the limit if the board sits entirely above ground level
In practice, gravel boards are often set with part of their depth below ground, which changes the finished height. If you are close to the line, it is worth measuring properly rather than assuming. Our guide to fence height rules in the UK covers this in more detail, including the exceptions for listed buildings and conservation areas.
Fitting gravel boards: what you need alongside them
How a gravel board fits depends entirely on your posts.
With concrete posts, the board simply drops into the slot from above. No brackets, no fixings, no drilling. This is the neatest and quickest installation, and it is the main reason concrete posts and concrete boards are so often bought together. You can see our range of concrete and timber fence posts, with 6ft T posts from £27.60 inc VAT up to 9ft at £31.20.
With timber posts, you will need gravel board clips or brackets to hold the board in place. It works perfectly well, it just adds a step.
Whichever route you take, match the lifespan of the components. There is little point putting a fifty year concrete gravel board under a fence held up by posts that will rot in twelve. Our article on concrete versus wooden fence posts goes through that trade off properly.
As a general rule for a 1.8m fence, posts should be set at least 600mm into the ground in concrete. On the exposed, flat plots you find close to the Clacton and Holland-on-Sea seafront, we would usually go deeper than the minimum. Wind loading on a solid 6ft boundary is significant, and post depth is what decides whether a fence rides out a winter storm or ends up in the neighbour’s garden.
A note on coastal Essex ground
Boundaries around Tendring throw up a couple of specific issues. Much of the coastal strip is sandy and free draining, which is kinder to timber but offers less grip for posts, so depth and a proper concrete mix matter more. Move inland and you hit heavier ground that holds water against the base of a fence for weeks at a time, which is exactly the condition that destroys timber gravel boards fastest.
Salt air is the other factor. It accelerates corrosion in untreated fixings, so any brackets, clips or bolts on a coastal boundary should be properly galvanised. Concrete boards sidestep the problem entirely, which is one reason they are so common on properties within a mile or two of the sea here.
How many gravel boards do I need?
Work in bays. Each 1.83m (6ft) bay takes one 6ft gravel board.
- Measure the total length of the fence run in metres.
- Divide by 1.83.
- Round up to the next whole number. That is your number of boards and panels.
- Add one to your post count. A 7 bay fence needs 8 posts.
For example, a 15 metre run: 15 ÷ 1.83 = 8.2, so order 9 boards, 9 panels and 10 posts. The final bay will need cutting down to fit, which is normal and something we can advise on.
If you would rather not do the maths, send us your measurements and we will put a full materials list together for you.
Frequently asked questions
Do I really need gravel boards?
They are not compulsory, but they are one of the highest value pounds you can spend on a fence. Without one, the bottom edge of your panel sits in wet soil and begins rotting from day one. A gravel board is a sacrificial layer that is cheap and easy to replace, unlike the panel above it.
Are concrete gravel boards better than timber?
For longevity, yes. Concrete does not rot, does not need treating and typically outlasts the fence panels. Timber is cheaper up front and easier to cut on site, so it still makes sense for short runs, temporary boundaries or where budget is tight. We stock both concrete and timber gravel boards so you can weigh it up.
What size concrete gravel board do I need?
6 inch for standard garden boundaries. 12 inch where you need to retain soil, gain height, handle a slope or stop a dog digging out. All our concrete boards are 6ft (1.83m) long to fit standard bays.
Can you use concrete gravel boards with wooden posts?
Yes, using gravel board clips or brackets fixed to the post. It is a common combination. With concrete posts, the board slots straight in with no fixings at all.
How much do concrete gravel boards cost?
Our concrete gravel boards run from £13.20 inc VAT for a 6ft x 6″ recessed board to £19.20 inc VAT for a 6ft x 12″ solid board. Trade and bulk pricing is available, so please ask.
Can gravel boards be hedgehog friendly?
Hedgehog friendly gravel boards, with a small access gap cast into them, are made by several manufacturers and are increasingly popular. If wildlife access matters to you, talk to us about what we can source for your project.
Gravel boards in Clacton, Colchester and across Essex
We manufacture and supply fencing materials from our yard at Westcroft, Rectory Road, Weeley, a few minutes from Clacton-on-Sea. That means most jobs across CO15 and CO16 are a short run for our delivery lorry rather than a long trip out from Colchester or further afield, and it means you can come and look at the boards before you commit.
We have been supplying fencing to homeowners, landscapers and builders across Essex since 2008. If you are not sure what you need, bring us your measurements or a photo of the existing fence and we will tell you straight what will work and what will not.
Browse our full gravel board range or get in touch for a free quote. Call us on 01255 830820.
Prices correct at time of publication and subject to change. Please confirm current pricing when ordering.