Chesterfield Borough Council recently specified DuraPost By Birkdale, a galvanised steel fence post system, for all future fencing projects. Having previously worked with traditional systems, the council team felt it was necessary to look for a sustainable alternative that could match or improve upon concrete and timber in terms of long-term durability.
Chesterfield Borough Council had been using concrete and timber fence posts for decades. However, during annual refurbishment and maintenance reviews of its housing stock, timber posts are found to be prone to rotting at ground level and would be regularly blown over in strong winds, posing a risk to residents. Consequently, the council was regularly replacing a large number of these posts.
The alternative, concrete posts, did not provide the desired aesthetic and were found time consuming to transport and install. Furthermore, the bulky nature of concrete fence posts would require a number of trade professionals to ensure the job was carried out safely and efficiently. This, in turn, would lead to significant labour costs.
“I wanted to find an alternative fencing system,” explained Keith Redfern, Project Manager for Chesterfield Borough Council. His search led him to Birkdale and a trial of the company’s DuraPost fence post system at a small council property.
“We were highly impressed with the new system,” said Keith. “We could transport considerably more DuraPosts in a single trip than we could with concrete posts. The installation process was also quick and straightforward and the finished fence looks fantastic. It’s also a far more sustainable option compared to concrete.”
Manufactured from cold rolled galvanised steel, DuraPost is 100% recyclable and 80% lighter than comparable concrete fence posts. As such, installation requires only one tradesperson, lowering labour costs and improving onsite safety. Despite its light weight, the solution has an impressive strength-to-weight ratio and is proven to withstand winds of up to 110mph. As such, Birkdale supports the DuraPost system with a guarantee of up to 25 years.
Following a second successful trial at a larger property, Chesterfield Borough Council decided to utilise DuraPost on all future fencing projects. To date, the solution has been installed at 20 properties, replacing existing fencing, and has received praise from installers and residents alike.
“I would recommend the DuraPost system to anyone — councils, private housebuilders and housing associations,” added Keith. “I simply can’t find a fault with the product.”
DuraPost is available in four colour options: Galvanised Steel, Sepia Brown, Olive Grey and Anthracite Grey and comes with colour-matched accessories, such as gravel boards, capping rails and post caps for a professional and neat finish.
To find out more about DuraPost By Birkdale, please visit: https://www.birkdalesales.com/durapost
