Buy Cant Rails for Weather-Smart Closeboard Fencing
Building a closeboard fence that looks professional and lasts? Cant rails are the purpose-shaped, weather-shedding rails that give closeboard its strength and clean top line. At East Coast Fencing, our pressure-treated cant rails are milled with a sloping face to encourage rain run-off, protecting the vulnerable edge of your feather edge boards and helping the whole fence stay straighter, quieter and better looking through British seasons. Add the lengths you need to basket, pair with the right posts, gravel boards and cladding, and check out with confidence—free delivery applies on orders £99+.
What makes a cant rail different—and why it matters
Unlike square rails, a cant rail presents a sloped upper surface. That simple geometry sheds water rather than holding it, so fewer droplets sit against the end grain of your cladding. On a tall privacy fence, the top rail works hardest: it takes brunt weather, telegraphs unevenness and, if detailed poorly, accelerates wear. Specifying a cant rail at the top—and often at mid level too—improves longevity, reduces staining lines and gives you a fence that looks “finished” from day one. For installers, the consistent profile gives a predictable nailing plane, speeding up board rhythms and keeping fixings tidy.
Sections, spans and rail layout
Closeboard at typical garden heights (around 1.5–1.8m) usually benefits from three horizontal rails set between robust posts; lower divisions can use two. Use cant rails at the top as a minimum; many tradespeople also specify a cant mid-rail for better drainage and a square rail at the bottom for simple alignment over a gravel board. Keep rail centres consistent down the run so your feather edge boards land in the same rhythm bay after bay—your eye will pick up that discipline instantly.
Posts, boards and components that work together
Rails are only as good as the structure they tie into. Choose stout wooden fence posts for a warm, adaptable frame you can tweak on site, or opt for slotted concrete fence posts where minimal maintenance and long, straight lines are the priority. At ground level, lift cladding clear of splashback with concrete gravel boards in high-wear corridors or wooden gravel boards for a fully timber look. For the vertical skin, fix quality feather edge boards with disciplined overlap; the cant profile above helps those boards shed water cleanly.
Setting out and fixing for a professional finish
Start with end and corner posts and pull a taut string line at the intended top height. Mark rail positions across the posts before you lift a driver—this keeps courses straight and fixing rows aligned. Use galvanised or stainless screws and brackets sized to the section; pre-drill near edges on dry stock to avoid splitting. Face the slope of the cant rail up to the weather, and seat joints over posts with through-fixings or brackets so seasons won’t open them. Where rails meet at a post, mitre or butt and strap neatly—visible joints are part of the final look.
Working with slopes, steps and corners
On sloping ground, decide early whether to rake the top line or step between posts; both can look excellent if executed consistently. With raked tops, keep cant rails parallel to the slope and maintain equal board reveals; with steps, land rail ends on posts and keep each level crisp to avoid a “saw-tooth” impression. Around corners, carry rail datums through at matching heights and reinforce with angle brackets; on long returns, repeat your sequence (top cant, mid cant/square, bottom) so the fence reads as one designed system.
Cap, cover and coordinate
A neat panel capping above your top cant rail builds a weather-smart hat for the fence and visually ties long runs together. Post caps finish the silhouette and protect end grain. If you’re mixing solid bays with semi-open sections for airflow, consider introducing fence topper trellis above closeboard in sociable spots—your rail datums make that transition look intentional.
Fast, reliable foundations
Rails can only hold lines that the posts allow. Set posts plumb in two directions using a taut string, increase embedment on soft ground and backfill in lifts to remove voids. For tidy, repeatable pads and minimal mess, a rapid-set option from our cement products category keeps pace on long days. Over patios or decks where digging is impractical, use bolt-down supports for light screens; for tall closeboard, concrete-in remains the gold standard.
Finish, colour and detailing
Pressure-treated green mellows to silver for a relaxed, garden-led aesthetic; brown rails ground taller fences and complement darker stains. You can unify colour with a breathable exterior finish once treatment has settled. Match hardware finishes across rails, brackets and gate furniture for a composed look—our ironmongery range keeps choices consistent.
Care that pays back
Seasonal maintenance is simple: brush off leaf litter that traps moisture, check fixings each spring and retreat any fresh cuts after adjustments. Avoid aggressive jet-washing that forces water into joints; a gentle clean preserves fibres and keeps rails quiet in wind.
Order once, build better
Specify cant rails where water management matters, combine with robust posts and protective base details, and fix to a disciplined datum. The result is closeboard that looks refined and stays that way. Add cant rails, boards and components to basket now—East Coast Fencing makes assembly straightforward, backed by free delivery on orders £99+.
