Garden Projects · 8 min read · Intermediate

How to Install a Fence Panel: Concrete Posts, Gravel Boards & Alignment

Install a slotted concrete-post fence system with concrete gravel boards and timber panels while controlling bay spacing, line, post plumb and finished levels.

Key points & steps

Confirm the boundary position, finished fence line and exact panel/bay dimensions before digging. Check for buried services and any local height, boundary or planning constraints that apply.
Choose the post length, hole size and embedment for the fence height, exposure, ground and selected concrete-post system rather than relying on one universal hole-depth rule.
Set the first concrete post plumb in both directions, brace it securely and use the post-fixing material in accordance with its instructions.
Position the next post at the exact bay spacing needed for the gravel board and panel, checking line, height and plumb before the fixing material sets.
Once the posts are secure enough for the system, fit the concrete gravel board between the slots and make sure it is correctly seated and supported.
Lower the timber panel into the concrete-post slots without levering against or chipping the posts, keeping the panel seated correctly above the gravel board.
Repeat the sequence while rechecking cumulative spacing, post alignment and gravel-board level so small errors do not build along the run.
Inspect the finished fence for secure seating and stability, fit post caps where the system uses them and avoid loading newly set posts before the fixing material has reached the required strength.

Practical tips

Concrete posts and gravel boards are heavy; use enough people or suitable lifting help to handle them safely.
Wind exposure and soft ground can change the foundation requirement considerably.
Keep checking bay width as you go—an early spacing error can make later panels impossible to slot in cleanly.

What you may need

Concrete slotted fence posts
Concrete gravel boards
Timber fence panels
Post-fixing concrete/mix
String line and stakes
Post-hole tools
Level
Bracing
Service-location information
PPE

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