What Makes a Closeboard Fence Panel Premium or Heavy Duty?

When shopping for closeboard fence panels, you'll see plenty of products described as Premium, Superior, Heavy Duty or Premium Heavy Duty.

But what do those descriptions actually mean?

At Sky Fencing, we believe the quality of a fence panel should be demonstrated by how it is actually manufactured, not simply by the words used in the product title.

We manufacture our closeboard fence panels in-house in Wickford, Essex, giving us direct control over the timber, fixings and construction used throughout the range.

Our standard closeboard range is sold as our Premium Closeboard Panels. These are manufactured using 47 × 32mm backing rails.

For customers who want an even more substantial construction, our Premium Heavy Duty Closeboard Panels step up to considerably larger 75 × 32mm backing rails.

But backing rail size isn't the only reason our panels carry the Premium name.

On appropriate panel sizes, we use 19 overlapping feather edge boards, carefully select the boards used during manufacture and use 50-micron hot-dipped galvanised nails to help protect the fixings against corrosion and unsightly rust staining.

For us, Premium is about the complete panel. Heavy Duty is the additional structural upgrade.

What Makes Our Closeboard Fence Panels Premium?

The word Premium is used widely in fencing, but the name alone doesn't tell you much about how a panel has been made.

Two closeboard panels can look almost identical in a photograph while using different quantities of timber, different backing rail dimensions, different fixings and different manufacturing processes.

Our standard closeboard range carries the Premium Closeboard Panels name because of the specification and attention that goes into the finished product.

Our Premium construction includes:

• 19 overlapping feather edge boards on appropriate panel sizes
• Feather edge boards selected during manufacture
• 50-micron hot-dipped galvanised nails
• 47 × 32mm backing rails
• The appropriate number of backing rails for each panel height
• In-house manufacturing in Wickford, Essex

Our Premium Heavy Duty Closeboard Panels keep those same Premium manufacturing details but upgrade the supporting framework from 47 × 32mm to 75 × 32mm backing rails.

That means our Premium Closeboard Panels are already a quality product in their own right.

Premium Heavy Duty simply takes that construction a step further.

Why We Use 19 Feather Edge Boards

The number of feather edge boards across a closeboard fence panel is one of the easiest specifications to overlook.

Many commonly available closeboard panels are manufactured using 18 feather edge boards.

On appropriate Sky Fencing panel sizes, we use 19 overlapping feather edge boards.

Using 19 boards allows us to achieve the amount of overlap we want across the width of the finished panel instead of trying to cover the same overall width with fewer boards.

That contributes to the traditional solid appearance of closeboard fencing, consistent coverage and good privacy.

One additional board may not sound significant on its own, but it's another example of the small construction details worth checking when comparing apparently similar panels.

We don't believe a Premium closeboard panel should simply be about using the minimum amount of timber needed to fill the width.

19 Boards vs 18 Boards

Board count alone doesn't determine the overall quality of a fence panel.

That's why we also pay attention to which boards actually make it into the finished panel.

We Select the Feather Edge Boards Used in Our Panels

Timber is a natural material, which means no two feather edge boards are exactly the same.

There can be variations in shape, appearance and overall quality from one board to another.

Rather than simply taking every board from a pack and automatically putting it into the next panel, we select the feather edge boards during our manufacturing process.

If we don't consider a board suitable for one of our finished closeboard panels, we don't simply hide it amongst the other boards and send the panel out.

This takes additional time during manufacture, but it gives us greater control over the quality and appearance of the finished product.

The feather edge boards make up most of what you actually see after the fence has been installed, so the quality of those individual pieces of timber matters.

With high-volume mass-produced fence panels, the priority can often be production speed, meaning there may be less opportunity for individual board selection.

Because we manufacture our own closeboard panels, we're able to pay attention to the timber we're actually putting into them.

A fence panel is only as good as the individual components used to make it.

Why the Nails in a Fence Panel Matter

The fixings are one of the easiest parts of a fence panel to overlook.

When a closeboard panel is new, most of the attention naturally goes to the timber.

But the nails are responsible for holding those pieces of timber together while the panel remains outdoors throughout its working life.

Sky Fencing closeboard panels are manufactured using 50-micron hot-dipped galvanised nails.

We use these fixings for an important reason: to help protect the nails against rust and corrosion.

A fence panel will be exposed to rain, moisture and changing weather conditions throughout the year.

If unsuitable or poorly protected steel fixings begin to corrode, the problem doesn't necessarily remain hidden inside the panel.

As nails begin to rust, they can eventually leave brown or orange rust streaks running down the face of the timber.

Those marks can spoil the appearance of an otherwise good fence panel.

Hot-dip galvanising applies a protective zinc coating to the nail which helps protect the underlying steel against corrosion.

The nails we use have a 50-micron hot-dipped galvanised coating, making the fixing specification an important part of what we consider a Premium panel.

Many fence panel listings don't clearly state the type or coating of the fixings used, so this is something worth checking when comparing products.

Two fence panels may look almost identical when they're first installed, but that doesn't necessarily mean the fixings holding them together are the same.

Why We Use 50-Micron Hot-Dipped Galvanised Nails

• Helps provide improved resistance to corrosion
• Helps reduce the risk of premature rusting
• Helps reduce unsightly brown and orange rust streaks on the timber
• Suitable for a product designed to remain outdoors throughout the year
• Forms an important part of our overall Premium construction

A nail may be a relatively small part of a fence panel, but it's exactly the sort of detail we believe matters when describing a product as Premium.

What Makes a Closeboard Fence Panel Heavy Duty?

When comparing panels described as Heavy Duty, it's even more important to look beyond the name and examine the actual specification.

You may see a closeboard panel marketed as Heavy Duty because it has several horizontal backing rails.

But simply counting the number of rails doesn't tell you whether the panel actually uses a heavier construction.

A taller fence panel naturally requires more horizontal support than a shorter panel, so the number of backing rails changes depending on the panel height.

The dimensions of those backing rails matter just as much as the number of them.

This is where the difference between our Premium Closeboard Panels and our Premium Heavy Duty Closeboard Panels becomes particularly clear.

Premium Closeboard vs Premium Heavy Duty Closeboard

Our Premium Closeboard Panels are our standard closeboard range.

They use 47 × 32mm backing rails together with our Premium manufacturing specification.

Our Premium Heavy Duty Closeboard Panels retain those Premium manufacturing details but increase the backing rail size to 75 × 32mm.

Whichever height you choose, the distinction between the two ranges remains straightforward:

• Premium Closeboard Panels: our standard closeboard range using 47 × 32mm backing rails
• Premium Heavy Duty Closeboard Panels: our upgraded range using substantially larger 75 × 32mm backing rails

Both ranges benefit from our approach to timber selection, 19-board construction on appropriate sizes and 50-micron hot-dipped galvanised fixings.

The Premium Heavy Duty range adds the more substantial supporting framework.

That is a physical difference you can actually measure.

The Number of Backing Rails Doesn't Automatically Mean Heavy Duty

This is one of the most important things to understand when comparing closeboard fence panels.

The number of horizontal backing rails required depends partly on the height of the panel.

Our Premium Closeboard Panels already use:

• 4 backing rails on 6ft high panels
• 4 backing rails on 5ft 6in high panels
• 4 backing rails on 5ft high panels
• 3 backing rails on 4ft high panels
• 3 backing rails on 3ft high panels
• 2 backing rails on 2ft high panels

So simply seeing two, three or four rails on the back of a panel doesn't automatically tell you that the panel is Heavy Duty.

You need to know how large those rails actually are.

Our Premium Heavy Duty panels don't become Heavy Duty simply because we add another backing rail.

Instead, we upgrade the 47 × 32mm backing rails used on our Premium Closeboard Panels to substantially larger 75 × 32mm rails.

That's what creates the heavier supporting framework.

47 × 32mm vs 75 × 32mm Backing Rails

The difference between our two rail specifications represents a substantial increase in the size of timber used behind the panel.

Both rails are 32mm thick, but the other dimension increases from 47mm to 75mm when you move from Premium Closeboard to Premium Heavy Duty.

That means considerably more timber is used in each Heavy Duty backing rail.

Multiply that across two, three or four backing rails depending on the panel height and the Premium Heavy Duty panel has a much more substantial supporting framework.

This is why customers comparing Heavy Duty closeboard panels should look for actual backing rail dimensions rather than relying purely on the product name.

If the backing rail dimensions aren't stated, ask what they are.

Not Every Panel Marketed as Heavy Duty Uses a Heavier Specification

Terms such as Premium, Superior and Heavy Duty aren't necessarily used in the same way by every fencing supplier.

A panel marketed elsewhere as Heavy Duty may use a construction that is comparable to our Premium Closeboard Panels, which are our standard closeboard range.

For example, a supplier may highlight that a panel has three or four backing rails, but that doesn't tell you whether those rails are actually larger or more substantial than those used on another supplier's regular closeboard panels.

This is why we recommend comparing the specification rather than simply comparing product names.

Check:

• Backing rail dimensions
• Number of backing rails
• Number of feather edge boards
• Amount of board overlap
• Quality of the feather edge boards
• Whether boards are selected during manufacture
• Type of nails or fixings used
• Protection against corrosion
• Timber treatment
• Overall manufacturing specification

These details give you something meaningful to compare.

The words Heavy Duty on their own don't.

Premium Is About More Than One Feature

There isn't one single component responsible for making our closeboard panels Premium.

For us, it's the combination of the materials and manufacturing details throughout the complete panel.

Manufactured In-House in Wickford, Essex

Our closeboard fence panels are manufactured in-house by Sky Fencing in Wickford, Essex.

Manufacturing them ourselves gives us direct control over what goes into each panel.

We're able to select the feather edge boards, control the number of boards used, specify the fixings and maintain clearly defined backing rail specifications throughout the range.

We're not simply buying a finished generic fence panel and deciding whether to label it Premium or Heavy Duty.

We know what goes into our closeboard panels because we're the ones making them.

Our two specifications are clearly defined:

• Premium Closeboard Panels: our standard closeboard range with 19-board construction on appropriate sizes, selected timber, 50-micron hot-dipped galvanised nails and 47 × 32mm backing rails
• Premium Heavy Duty Closeboard Panels: the same Premium manufacturing approach, upgraded with substantially larger 75 × 32mm backing rails

How Should You Compare Closeboard Fence Panels?

If you're comparing several apparently similar closeboard fence panels online, don't compare price and product names alone.

A clear specification gives you something measurable to compare.

A product name on its own doesn't.

Which Sky Fencing Closeboard Panel Should You Choose?

If you're looking for a quality closeboard panel for general residential fencing, our Premium Closeboard Panels are our standard closeboard range.

They're already manufactured to our Premium specification, including selected feather edge timber, 19 boards on appropriate sizes, 50-micron hot-dipped galvanised nails and 47 × 32mm backing rails.

If you want to go a step further, our Premium Heavy Duty Closeboard Panels retain those Premium features while upgrading the supporting framework to substantially larger 75 × 32mm backing rails.

So the choice isn't between a basic panel and a quality panel.

It's between our Premium Closeboard Panels and our Premium Heavy Duty Closeboard Panels.

Both benefit from our Premium manufacturing approach. The Heavy Duty range simply adds a considerably heavier supporting framework.

When Should You Choose Premium Heavy Duty?

You may prefer our Premium Heavy Duty Closeboard Panels if:

• You want our most substantial closeboard panel construction
• You specifically want larger backing rails
• You want a heavier timber framework behind the feather edge boards
• You're replacing existing fencing and want to upgrade the panel construction
• You're installing a long run of closeboard fencing
• You simply prefer the additional timber provided by 75 × 32mm backing rails

If you don't require the larger backing rail construction, our Premium Closeboard Panels remain a strong, carefully manufactured option.

The Rest of the Fence Matters Too

The quality of the panel is only one part of a complete fence.

Suitable fence posts are needed to support the panels, while gravel boards can help keep timber panels away from direct ground contact.

Posts also need to be securely installed, with post concrete available for suitable fencing projects.

There is little benefit in choosing a well-manufactured closeboard panel if the rest of the fencing system isn't suitable for it.

Frequently Asked Questions

Are Premium Closeboard Panels Sky Fencing's standard closeboard range?

Yes. Our Premium Closeboard Panels are our standard closeboard panel range. They use 47 × 32mm backing rails together with our Premium manufacturing specification, including 19 feather edge boards on appropriate sizes, selected boards and 50-micron hot-dipped galvanised nails.

What makes Sky Fencing closeboard panels Premium?

Our Premium specification includes 19 overlapping feather edge boards on appropriate sizes, timber selection during manufacture, 50-micron hot-dipped galvanised nails and 47 × 32mm backing rails. Our closeboard panels are also manufactured in-house in Wickford, Essex.

Why does Sky Fencing use 19 feather edge boards?

Many commonly available closeboard panels use 18 feather edge boards. On appropriate sizes, we use 19 boards to achieve the overlap and coverage we want across the finished panel rather than spreading fewer boards across the same width.

Do you check the feather edge boards before using them?

Yes. Feather edge boards are selected during manufacture so boards we don't consider suitable for the finished panel can be rejected rather than automatically being fitted into a panel.

Why do you use 50-micron hot-dipped galvanised nails?

We use 50-micron hot-dipped galvanised nails to help protect the steel fixings against corrosion. This helps reduce the risk of premature rusting and unsightly brown or orange rust streaks appearing on the timber.

Can fence panel nails leave rust streaks?

Steel fixings that aren't adequately protected against corrosion can eventually rust. As corrosion develops, brown or orange staining can run down the timber below the nail. This is one of the reasons our closeboard panels use 50-micron hot-dipped galvanised nails.

What makes Sky Fencing Premium Heavy Duty panels Heavy Duty?

Our Premium Heavy Duty Closeboard Panels retain our Premium manufacturing approach but upgrade the backing rails from 47 × 32mm to substantially larger 75 × 32mm rails.

Does having three or four backing rails automatically make a panel Heavy Duty?

No. The number of backing rails should be suitable for the height of the panel. Our Premium Closeboard Panels already use two, three or four backing rails depending on panel height. You also need to compare the actual dimensions of those rails.

How many backing rails do Sky Fencing closeboard panels have?

Our 6ft, 5ft 6in and 5ft high closeboard panels use four backing rails. Our 4ft and 3ft high panels use three backing rails, while our 2ft high panels use two.

What is the difference between Premium Closeboard and Premium Heavy Duty Closeboard?

Our Premium Closeboard Panels are our standard closeboard range and use 47 × 32mm backing rails. Premium Heavy Duty Closeboard Panels keep the same Premium manufacturing approach but upgrade the backing rails to substantially larger 75 × 32mm rails.

Where are Sky Fencing closeboard fence panels manufactured?

Our closeboard fence panels are manufactured in-house by Sky Fencing in Wickford, Essex.

Do I need a Premium Heavy Duty Closeboard Panel?

Not always. Our Premium Closeboard Panels are already manufactured as a quality closeboard fencing option. Premium Heavy Duty is available for customers who specifically want the additional timber and more substantial framework provided by the 75 × 32mm backing rails.

Compare the Construction, Not Just the Name

Words such as Premium, Superior and Heavy Duty can sound impressive.

But they're only useful if you understand what they actually represent.

A panel marketed elsewhere as Heavy Duty may use a specification comparable to our Premium Closeboard Panels, which are our standard closeboard range.

That's why we recommend looking beyond the product title and comparing the actual construction.

Check the number of feather edge boards.

Check the amount of overlap.

Check the quality of the timber.

Check the backing rail dimensions.

Check the fixings and how they're protected against corrosion.

And check what you're actually getting when you pay more for a product described as Heavy Duty.

At Sky Fencing, our Premium Closeboard Panels include 19 overlapping feather edge boards on appropriate sizes, selected timber, 50-micron hot-dipped galvanised nails and 47 × 32mm backing rails.

Our Premium Heavy Duty Closeboard Panels keep those Premium manufacturing details while upgrading the supporting framework to substantially larger 75 × 32mm backing rails.

Premium is in the details.

Heavy Duty is a difference you can actually measure.

Browse our Closeboard Fence Panels to compare the available options, or explore our complete Fence Panel range for more fencing styles.