Composite fencing costs more than timber to fit — there is no hiding from that. The interesting question is whether it works out cheaper over its life, and for a lot of South Wales gardens the answer is yes.
As a UK ballpark, composite fencing supplied and fitted runs roughly £85–£150 a metre, against around £55–£90 a metre for quality feather edge or closeboard timber (2025 trade-guide averages, not a quote). So on day one, composite is the dearer option — you are paying for a wood-plastic board that will not rot, warp, splinter or fade, with the colour running right through it.
Where the maths turns is over the years. Timber wants staining or sealing every year or two to fend off the Welsh damp, and the odd replacement panel, and it typically lasts 10–20 years. Composite asks for an occasional wash and nothing else, and lasts 30–40 years. Once you add up the stain, the sealer, the weekends and the replaced panels a timber fence quietly costs, most people are ahead with composite within about ten years — and have spent no time maintaining it in between.
So the honest steer is: choose timber for the lower up-front cost and the natural look if you do not mind the upkeep; choose composite if you would rather pay more once and never touch it again. Ben fits both, lays the real numbers out on the site visit, and quotes a fixed price either way.
As a UK ballpark, composite runs roughly £85–£150/m supplied and fitted against around £55–£90/m for quality timber (2025 averages). Composite is dearer up front but needs no staining and lasts 30–40 years, so it often works out cheaper over its life. Ben quotes your exact figure free.
For most people who do not want yearly maintenance, yes. You pay more on day one and then essentially nothing — no staining, no sealing, no rot, no fading, no replacement panels — for 30–40 years. Most are ahead of timber within about ten years once upkeep is counted.
No — the colour runs right through the board, so it holds its look for decades and never needs painting or staining. An occasional wash is the entire maintenance. That is the whole appeal versus timber in a wet climate like South Wales.
More on our common questions page.
Composite fencing that will not rot, warp, splinter or fade — the look of timber, none of the upkeep.
Composite fencing →Feather edge, closeboard and slatted screen fencing, strained tight and posts set to last.
fencing cost →Timber and composite decking, built dead level, solid underfoot and squared off.
decking cost →See all the areas we cover, or read our common questions.
No call-out fee, no obligation. Tell Ben what you are after and he will arrange a free site visit, then quote you a fixed price.