Fencing 86A Oak 03: how many packs a boundary run takes

Composite fencing is sold by the board, fitted by the bay and quoted by the pack, which is where orders go wrong. Fencing 86A - Oak 03 - Outdoor - 180cm (1 Pack / 6pcs) is the oak-finish board in the fencing range, and the figures on its listing are enough to work a whole boundary out before you leave the kitchen table.

The numbers that matter

• 15 x 180 x 2cm per fitted and interlocked board.
• Six boards per pack.
• 1.62m² covered per pack, fitted and interlocked.
• Two packs required per fence panel, so 3.24m² a bay.
• Carton 13 x 17 x 181cm, gross weight 18.5kg, CBM 0.040.
• Supplier code AWS-OWP86A.

Those figures agree with each other, which is a good sign on a supplier listing. A board 15cm by 180cm covers 0.27m², six of them 1.62m², and two packs give twelve boards: 180cm of height in 15cm steps, across a bay 180cm wide.

Packs for a run

Measure the run between the faces of the end posts, not the full width of the garden, and round the bay count up. If the last bay is short, ask the shop whether these boards can be cut down, because the listing does not say.

Posts, trims and getting it home

The listing names its own fittings, which saves guesswork. For a new fence the posts are 6" Fence Post - Black (1 Pack / 4pcs) at 8 x 8 x 190cm, four to a pack, grooved 20mm wide and 18mm deep to take the 2cm board. A run needs one more post than it has bays. If you already have concrete posts, Fencing 86 Trim - 180cm is listed to suit 40mm concrete post slots and covers the raw board edges.

Handling is worth a thought before delivery day. Each carton is 181cm long and 18.5kg, so a six-bay run is twelve of them: that is a van load and a clear path to the back garden, not something to carry through a hall. Delivery is free within 50 miles of the Glasgow store and £50 beyond.

What the listing says about the finish, and what it does not

The description covers the material and the weather: composite, described as weather-resistant and UV-resistant, and said to resist fading and colour change in direct sunlight. It also describes a seamless fit, with boards connecting without visible gaps.

What it does not do is describe the look. Oak 03 is the supplier's own finish name, and the listing gives no tone, no grain description and no colour reference, so judge it from the photographs on the product page or a sample in the shop. The alternative finishes are listed separately, including Fencing 86B - Grey, and the posts are listed in black only whichever board you choose.

Before you order

• Measure the run and count the bays, then double the bay count for packs.
• Count posts as bays plus one, and decide whether they are dug in or bolted down.
• Add trim if you are reusing concrete posts.
• Check the finish in daylight against anything it will sit beside.

Once the bay count is settled, Fencing 86A - Oak 03 is straightforward to price: two packs a bay, posts and trim on top, and the shop can check the list over before you commit to it.