Concrete Fence Cladding with Ipe Hardwood Slats

A concrete fence rarely falls down, which is exactly the problem: it stands there for decades looking grey. If the posts are still straight and solid, you do not have to break it out. You can clad it with Ipe hardwood slats and keep the concrete as the frame behind them. No skip full of rubble, no digging out post footings, and the fence line stays where it is.

Which concrete fences can be clad?

Most concrete fences in the UK are slotted concrete posts with a gravel board at the bottom and timber panels in between, or a run of solid concrete panels. Both can work. What matters is the state of the posts: they must be upright and firm. A post that leans or rocks has to be put right first, because the new slats will follow whatever is behind them.

Not sure about yours? Send us a photo of the fence and the posts, with the length and height. We will tell you whether it is suitable and what you need.

How the cladding goes on

Our Ipe Refit System is made for fences like this and comes as a complete kit. The slats are 2.1 cm thick and 5, 7 or 9 cm wide, in heights of 1.80, 2.00 or 2.10 m. They run horizontally with a 5 mm gap. Hidden clips slide into a groove along the long edge of each slat, so you see no screw heads on the front. The clips and screws are stainless steel with a black coating. Ipe is very hard, so always pre-drill your screw holes. More on the fixings in our guide to slatted fence fixings.

Prefer a deeper, three dimensional face? The 40 x 40 mm Ipe battens give a chunkier look than flat slats.

Hiding the concrete behind the gaps

With a 5 mm gap between the slats you would still catch a glimpse of grey concrete. There are two ways to deal with that:

• Fit the black EPDM membrane over the old fence before the slats go on. Every gap then shows a thin dark line, the fence is fully sightproof and the concrete disappears.
• Paint the old fence matt black. That gives the same shadow effect, but the membrane also closes the gaps completely.

If road noise is the reason you want a better fence, read our page on acoustic fencing first.

Why Ipe for cladding

Of the outdoor timbers we compare, Ipe has the lowest shrinkage across the width of the board, which is why it stays straight in narrow slats. It is durability class 1 and lasts 25+ years, even without maintenance. Left alone it turns an even silver grey. Want to keep the warm brown colour? Treat it with hardwood oil. Oil is not required, but it keeps the slats more stable in very hot or very wet weather and helps against fine surface cracks.

The downside is weight and hardness. Ipe weighs around 1,050 kg per m³, so the slats are heavy to handle and a saw blade goes blunt faster than on softwood.

Before you start

Is the fence on the boundary? Check whose it is. If it belongs to your neighbour, ask before you fix anything to it. Also check how high a fence can be if the cladding will make it taller than it is now.

Price and advice

Work out the length and height you need in the modern fence calculator, or see our fence cost guide for prices per metre. Call us on +49 2821 7483051 or send us a photo of your concrete fence. Want to hold the timber first? Order a free sample. Our full range is on the fences page.

Frequently asked questions

Can you clad a concrete fence with wood?

Yes, as long as the concrete posts are upright and firm. The Ipe slats are fitted horizontally over the existing fence, so you do not have to dig out the posts.

Will the concrete show through the gaps?

Not if you fit the black EPDM membrane over the old fence first. Each 5 mm gap then shows a dark line and the fence is fully sightproof. Painting the old fence matt black also works.

What size slats can I use?

The slats are 2.1 cm thick and 5, 7 or 9 cm wide. The Refit System comes in heights of 1.80, 2.00 and 2.10 m. You can also use 40 x 40 mm Ipe battens.

How long does Ipe fence cladding last?

Ipe is durability class 1 and lasts 25+ years, even without maintenance. It turns silver grey over time unless you oil it.