The screen panel usually gets all the attention, but the post and fixing method determines how stable, permanent, and easy-to-install your screen actually is. This guide covers the fixing decision in detail — for the full step-by-step build process, see our installation guide.
Concrete-In Posts
The most permanent and stable option: the post is set into a concrete footing below ground level. Best for full-height boundary fencing, taller screens (6ft+), and anywhere exposed to strong wind, since it gives the most resistance to movement. The trade-off is that it's genuinely permanent — expect to dig out old concrete if you ever want to move or remove the post.
Bolt-Down / Surface-Mounted Posts
The post is fixed directly to an existing hard surface — a patio, decking, or concrete base — using a baseplate and fixings, without digging a footing. Faster to install than concrete-in, and a good option where digging isn't practical (over an existing patio, for instance), though slightly less rigid than a concrete-set post for very tall or very exposed screens.
Freestanding Moveable Baseplates
A weighted or fixed baseplate that doesn't attach to the ground at all — the screen simply stands on it. This is the option for renters, temporary installations, or anyone who might want to relocate or reconfigure their screens later. It sacrifices some rigidity for full portability, so it suits shorter, lighter screens (4ft and under) better than tall, heavy panels in exposed positions.
Straight Posts vs Corner Posts
Straight posts join two panels in a continuous line. Corner posts have channels on two adjacent faces, letting you turn a 90-degree corner without cutting or adapting a panel — essential for any screen run that wraps around a garden rather than running in a single straight line.
Half-Height vs Full-Height Posts
If you're installing a 6ft panel on its side to create a lower, wider screen (a popular look for low garden walls or raised bed surrounds), you'll need the matching half-height post rather than a full-height one — they're not interchangeable, since the channel depth differs.
Matching Posts to Panels
- Confirm panel height (3ft, 4ft, 6ft, 7ft) before ordering posts — each has a matching post height
- Match the finish (black, cream, dove grey, corten) so the post doesn't stand out against the panel
- For corner runs, count how many corner vs straight posts you need before ordering — it's cheaper to get this right first time than to reorder
Browse posts and fixings alongside the matching screen panels.