Slatted and Contemporary Fence Panels for Cheltenham and Tewkesbury Gardens

What Makes a Slatted Panel Different 

A traditional lap or closeboard panel is built from horizontal or vertical boards packed tightly together for maximum privacy. A slatted panel takes a different approach, using evenly spaced timber slats fixed to a frame, so light and air can move through the fence while still defining the boundary clearly. Our slatted fence panel is double sided, meaning it looks equally good from both gardens, which matters on a shared boundary. It is a genuinely different look from a standard panel, cleaner and more architectural, and it tends to suit contemporary extensions, garden rooms and modern planting schemes particularly well.

Slatted, Horizontal and Premier Contemporary Styles Compared 

Slatted fence panels double-sided

Our standard slatted panel uses narrow, evenly spaced slats for a light, contemporary screen. It suits gardens where you want definition without total enclosure, and works well planted with climbers that grow through the gaps.

Square horizontal panels

The square horizontal fence panel uses wider, closely set horizontal boards for a cleaner, more solid contemporary look while still giving a different finish from a traditional lap panel.

Premier slatted panels 

For a higher specification finish, our Premier range includes the Malvern, a heavy-duty slatted screen, and the Montpellier, a double-sided slatted design built for durability as much as looks. Both cost more than our standard slatted panel but offer a noticeably more substantial, long-lasting screen for gardens where the fence is very much on display. You can see full pricing on our fence panels page, and there is more background on the whole range in our modern and contemporary fencing article.

Where Contemporary Panels Work Well in Cheltenham

Cheltenham’s Regency architecture is well known, but plenty of the town’s gardens sit behind more recent extensions, garden rooms and modern renovations, particularly further out from the centre. A slatted or horizontal panel gives a clean backdrop to contemporary landscaping without competing with a period property’s original features the way a heavily patterned panel can. It is also a popular choice for smaller courtyard-style gardens, where the double-sided slatted design makes the most of limited space by looking good from both sides of the boundary. For gardens on the more exposed ground near the Cotswold escarpment, our Premier slatted panels give the contemporary look with the extra rigidity that a more sheltered garden would not need.

Where Contemporary Panels Work Well in Tewkesbury

Newer housing developments around Tewkesbury, along with barn conversions and renovated properties throughout the borough, often suit a horizontal or slatted panel better than a traditional style, particularly where the property itself already has a contemporary finish. As with any fencing in the area, it is worth pairing a slatted panel with a gravel board and, on the lowest-lying plots, considering DuraPost metal posts rather than timber, since damp ground remains the main threat to any fence panel in the area, whatever the style. Our Tewkesbury fencing page has more on how we specify fencing across the borough.

Practical Considerations Before You Buy [H2]

Privacy. Slatted panels let more light and air through than a solid panel, which some people want and others do not. If total privacy is the priority, a closeboard panel remains the better choice.

Planting. The gaps in a slatted panel are ideal for training climbing plants through, which softens the look further over time.

Wind. A slatted design actually copes with wind loading slightly better than a completely solid panel, since some air passes through rather than the whole panel taking the full force of a gust, which can suit more exposed Cheltenham gardens well.

Posts. Pair any of our contemporary panels with concrete or DuraPost posts for the cleanest, most consistent finish, since the simple lines of a slatted panel show up any inconsistency in the posts more than a traditional style would.

Frequently Asked Questions

Are slatted fence panels more expensive than lap panels?

Generally, yes. The additional joinery involved in a slatted or horizontal design means these panels cost more than a standard lap panel, though prices vary across our range depending on the specification you choose.

Do slatted panels give enough privacy?

They give good definition and screening rather than complete privacy, since light and air pass through the gaps between slats. If you want a fully private boundary, a closeboard panel is the better option, though a slatted panel fitted at a taller height still screens most sightlines effectively.

Can slatted panels be fitted to existing posts?

In most cases, yes, provided your existing posts are sound and correctly spaced for a standard panel width. It is always worth checking the condition of existing posts before fitting a new panel of any style.

What is the difference between slatted and horizontal panels?

The terms are often used interchangeably, but generally a slatted panel uses narrower, more widely spaced boards for a lighter, more open finish, while a horizontal panel uses wider, more closely set boards for a more solid, contemporary look with less gap between boards.

If you are weighing up styles for your own garden, call us on 01242 526946 or visit our Cheltenham yard to see the slatted and horizontal ranges in person before you decide.