It depends on the panel height and construction. Standard East Coast Fencing closeboard panels use 3 or 4 backing rails, while Ultra Heavy Duty versions use 4 or 5 rails.
The number of backing rails in an East Coast Fencing closeboard panel depends on both its height and whether it is a standard or Ultra Heavy Duty panel. Our backing rails measure 75 x 32mm and provide the horizontal fixing points for the overlapping feather edge boards.
- 2ft standard: 3 rails. There is no Ultra Heavy Duty version at this height.
- 3ft standard: 3 rails. 3ft Ultra: 4 rails.
- 4ft standard: 3 rails. 4ft Ultra: 4 rails.
- 5ft standard: 3 rails. 5ft Ultra: 4 rails.
- 5ft 6in standard: 4 rails. 5ft 6in Ultra: 5 rails.
- 6ft standard: 4 rails. 6ft Ultra: 5 rails.
The extra rail on an Ultra Heavy Duty panel gives the feather edge boards another fixing line through the height of the panel. This reduces the distance the boards span between rails and creates a stiffer assembled panel. It is a measurable construction difference rather than simply a different product name.
For example, our 6ft standard closeboard panel uses four backing rails, while the equivalent 6ft Ultra Heavy Duty closeboard panel uses five. Both use the same closeboard principle, but the Ultra version provides more frequent support through the full 1.8m panel height.
You can compare the different heights and standard versus Ultra construction across our closeboard fence panels range. Rail count should be considered alongside the panel height, supporting posts and the conditions of the boundary rather than viewed as a specification in isolation.