Are you in the process of changing your fence or building a small garden structure and keep seeing the phrase ‘incised posts’ all over the internet when looking to buy some posts? Are you confused by the little cuts in the posts that look pretty ugly but everyone seems to be raving about? This post is for you my friend because I was in the same situation when trying to find some support posts for my pergola build recently.
Incised fence posts are wooden posts of various widths that have small incisions all over them. These cuts are tiny but are noticeable. The posts tend to be a little ‘rougher’ than non-incised posts in appearance. By rougher, I mean the wood tends to be less ‘smooth’ to touch as you can see in the picture above.
These incisions are usually found on wooden posts that have been specifically treated for external use. They are created by a machine after the wood has already been dried but before any preservative is applied. The incisions, made with a steel blade, go quite deep into the wood.
What are the benefits of using incised fence posts?
The idea behind this incision process is to allow the treatment applied afterwards to penetrate deeper into the wood. Without incisions, any treatment applied will sit on the surface of the posts without penetrating deep into the wood grain. Additionally, any treatment applied to the posts after purchase by you will also penetrate deeper into the wood. This magnifies the level of protection it provides.
The main benefit of incised posts is that they have a longer lifespan than their non-incised counterparts. They are expected to last for over 15 years whereas non-incised ones tend to start rotting after 5-7 but will survive for 10 if they are in a dry area and get regularly treated. This is what makes them especially suitable for jobs where the posts will be in contact with the ground such as for fencing or garden structures like pergolas or gazebos.
An additional benefit is that due to this established long lifespan some suppliers will offer extended warranty on these posts. This is great as it gives you a peace of mind that your brand new fence will not rot in just a handful of years.
Are incised fence posts more expensive?
Incised posts do tend to be slightly more expensive than non-incised ones, presumably due to the extra cost involved in applying the incisions. However, the difference in price for 100mm ones is only around £2 per post so it is certainly affordable. The price difference may be more for larger beams. When looking for support posts for a pergola I built recently, I found that majority of DIY stores in the UK don’t sell non-incised fence posts. This means that unless you go to a specialist garden supplier you’re unlikely to have the option to get non-incised posts.
Are there any downsides to incised fence posts?
The only downside is the look. The incisions, although small, are visible and are unsightly. Even if you apply a finish such as paint or stain you will still be able to see them, albeit you will need to be quite close. I have used both, incised and non-incised posts before and I also find that the incised ones are much rougher in their appearance overall. By this, I mean that they tend to have more flaky bits of wood hanging off them. This could perhaps be a side effect of the incision process. If the posts are for a fence then this isn’t an issue as fence panels tend to be rough sawn anyway and will therefore have a similar look. However, if you’re planning to use the posts as support for a structure such as a pergola or a gazebo, you could sand the posts to remove all the flaky wood bits.
When should you use incised fence posts?
Incised wood posts are generally superior to their non-incised cousins due to their ability to soak up any treatments applied. For this reason, I would recommend always using incised wood posts where the option is available, especially for any posts that will be in contact with the ground such as fence posts or pergola and gazebo support posts.
