Timber fencing

A fence with one layer of vertical timber palings fixed side by side to horizontal rails. The palings sit in a single plane so the face of the fence is flat. It is the most common timber boundary fence in Sydney.

Fencing built from pine that has been pressure treated so it can be used outdoors in the weather and, at the correct treatment level, in the ground. New treated pine has a green or light tan cast that fades as it weathers, and it takes paint and stain well.

A timber fence with overlapping palings and a capping rail along the top. The overlap removes the straight sight line through the face of the fence, and the capping rail gives the run a single clean top line while covering the cut ends of the palings.

A timber fence with overlapping palings and no capping rail. The overlap closes the face of the fence the same way lap and cap does, but the paling tops are left as the finished top line.

Single paling fence construction using Australian hardwood palings instead of treated pine. Hardwood is denser and heavier than pine, with more variation in colour and grain, and it weathers to a grey silver if left uncoated.

Both overlap the palings, so both close the sight line through the face of the fence. Lap and cap adds a capping rail along the top; lapped only leaves the paling tops exposed as the top line.

A lapped fence, either lapped only or lap and cap. Because the palings overlap, there is no straight gap to see through, and seasonal timber movement does not open up a sight line the way it can on a single paling fence.

It is a different material rather than a straight upgrade. Hardwood is denser, heavier and naturally durable, with more character in the grain, and it costs more. Treated pine is lighter, easier to work and less expensive. Which one suits depends on the property, the look you want and the budget.

The boundary is measured, any existing fence is removed and disposed of, the fence line is set out, posts are dug and concreted, rails are fixed between the posts, palings are fixed to the rails, gates are hung and adjusted, and the site is cleaned up with old material taken away.

Each post is set 600mm deep into the ground and secured with at least one full 20kg bag of concrete. Posts can also be filled with concrete up to one third of their length for extra strength.

Timber posts or 65mm x 65mm steel posts. Steel posts are often chosen for longer runs, taller fences and gate posts, because those positions carry the most load.