The Big DIY Stores vs. Cheshire Fencing: What are you actually paying for?

If you live in Warrington, Runcorn, or anywhere across Cheshire, you’ve probably faced the “Fencing Dilemma.” Your old fence has finally given up, and you’re faced with two choices: drive down to a massive DIY warehouse like Wickes or B&Q, or order from a local specialist like Cheshire Fencing Supplies.

On the surface, the big stores look convenient. But when you look at the specifications and the long-term cost, the “convenience” of a big-box store can become very expensive, very quickly.

Here is the honest truth about what you are paying for when you buy local vs. national.

1. The Quality Gap: “Mass Produced” vs. “Handmade in Cheshire”

The panels you find in the big national stores are built for one thing: efficient shipping. They are often made overseas or in massive southern factories, using thinner slats and lightweight frames so they can be stacked 50-high on a lorry.

• The Big DIY Stores: Often use 5mm–7mm slats and minimal “staple-gun” construction. In the middle of a Cheshire gale, these panels act like sails and frequently snap at the joints.
• Cheshire Fencing Supplies: We manufacture our own panels right here in our Warrington premisses. We use heavy-duty framing and thicker, homegrown spruce. Our panels are built for the British weather, not for fitting as many as possible onto a pallet.

2. The Treatment Truth (Pressure vs. Dip)

This is where the big stores catch people out. You’ll see a 6×6 panel for around £26–£32 in a DIY store, but look closer at the label.

• The “Orange” Panel (Dip Treated): These are the budget panels sold by big retailers. They are briefly dunked in a tank of preservative. The protection is only skin-deep. You’ll be out there with a paintbrush every single year to stop it from rotting.
• The “Tanalised” Panel (Pressure Treated): At Cheshire Fencing, our standard Heavy Duty Waney Lap is Pressure Treated. We force the preservative deep into the heart of the wood. It’s protected for 10–20 years with zero maintenance.

3. The Price Comparison (2026 Reality)

Let’s look at the numbers for a standard 6ft x 6ft Pressure Treated panel.

Retailer	Product Type	Price per Panel
Wickes	Forest Garden Pressure Treated Lap	£41.50
B&Q	Pressure Treated Overlap	£45.00+
Cheshire Fencing	Heavy Duty Tanalised Waney Lap	£32.00

The Result: For a typical garden needing 10 panels, you are paying £112.50 more at a big DIY store for a product that is often thinner than our factory-direct panels.

4. Local Knowledge & Service

When you buy from a big store, the person at the checkout might have been in the lighting department yesterday. They don’t know the difference between a 75mm and a 100mm post for your specific soil type in Lymm or Widnes.

When you call us or visit our yard, you’re talking to the people who actually manufacture and install the fences. We can tell you exactly how many bags of Post Mix you need, which gravel boards will fit your existing posts, and how to handle that tricky corner in your garden.

 

 

 

 

 

Summary: Support Local, Save Money

The big DIY stores win on marketing, but Cheshire Fencing Supplies wins on the product.

By buying direct from our Warrington factory, you get:

• Higher Quality: Thicker wood and stronger frames.
• Better Protection: Pressure-treated (Tanalised) as standard.
• Lower Prices: No “middleman” markup or expensive national advertising costs.

Don’t pay for a big brand name. Pay for a fence that lasts.