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Thinking about putting up a timber fence? Good call. A well-built timber fence does a lot of heavy lifting for your property – it gives you privacy, keeps the dog in the yard, and adds genuine kerb appeal without the cold, industrial look of steel alternatives.
Best of all, it’s one of those home improvement projects that is very doable for a capable DIYer, or reasonably affordable when you bring in a professional.
Materials Needed for Timber Fencing
Before you pick up a shovel, it is worth getting your materials list for timber fencing sorted. Here is what a standard timber paling or picket fence typically calls for.
● Fence posts: Usually 100x100mm of treated pine. These go in the ground, so the treatment level really does matter. Don’t scrimp here.
● Rails or Stringers: The horizontal lengths that run between posts and hold everything together. Most fences need two or three rails per bay, depending on height.
● Palings or Pickets: The vertical boards that make up the face of the fence. Treated pine palings are the standout choice for Australian backyards: they are tough, affordable, and easy to work with.
● Concrete: For setting posts firmly in the ground. The budget is roughly one bag per post as a starting point for typical Melbourne soil.
● Galvanised Fixings: Nails or screws. Always go galvanised outdoors. Standard steel will start rusting before the year is out and may leave ugly stains running down your new fence.
● Post Caps: Not essential, but they protect the end grain of your posts from water sitting on top, which is one of the sneaky causes of early timber rot.
● Timber Sealant or Preservative: Brush it onto any freshly cut ends before installation. It takes two minutes and adds years to the life of the timber.
One more thing you need to keep in mind before you head to the checkout: work out your quantities properly. A timber floor calculator works on exactly the same principle as a fence picket calculator – you plug in your fence length, your paling width, and your desired gap, and it spits out exactly how many pieces you need. It sounds like a small thing, but it stops you from over-ordering and paying for timber that ends up stacked in the shed, or under-ordering and making an extra run to the supplier.
Use a timber floor calculator-style tool before you go for timber fencing, and your materials list will likely be spot on from the start.
Types of Timber Used for Fencing
Walk into any decent timber yard, and you will quickly find there are a few options on the table. Here is a straightforward account of what is worth considering for residential fencing in Australia.
Treated pine is hands-down the most popular fencing timber in suburban Australia, and it’s not hard to see why. It is cost-effective, widely available, light to handle, and – when treated properly – offers solid protection against termites, rot, and moisture.
CCA-treated pine (copper-chrome-arsenic) is what you want for fence posts going into the ground. ACQ-treated pine is a great choice for above-ground components like rails, palings, and pickets. At AT Pine, we stock both treatment types across a full range of sizes, so you can mix and match exactly what your project calls for.
Merbau is a step up in both price and character. This tropical hardwood has a rich reddish-brown colour and a natural density that makes it genuinely tough in outdoor conditions. It handles the Australian sun and rain with minimal fuss, and it looks beautiful when freshly installed. If you want the fence to be a feature of the property rather than just a boundary, Merbau is worth the extra investment.
Hardwood species like ironbark and spotted gum are incredibly strong and long-lasting, but for a standard suburban fence they are generally more than you need – and your wallet will feel the difference. They come into their own on rural properties and high-load applications where nothing else will do the job.
For most Melbourne homeowners building a standard privacy or picket fence, treated pine is the sensible choice. It performs reliably, it’s easy to work with, and it leaves room in the budget for everything else the timber fencing project demands.
Tools Required for Building a Fence
Having the right gear before you start makes the whole job go a lot more smoothly. Given below is the brief outline of the equipment you will need for putting up a fence:
● A post hole digger or power auger is needed. For a handful of posts on soft soil, a manual clamshell digger will do. For longer runs or Melbourne’s harder clay ground, hiring a power auger is money well spent. If you don’t own an auger, hiring one is absolutely worth it. Post holes are the most physically demanding part of the job, and a power auger keeps your arms functional for the rest of the build.
● A spirit level is a non-negotiable tool for putting up a fence. A 30cm or 40cm magnetic box beam level can provide excellent stability for alignment.
● String line and stakes is another important piece of equipment for fencing. Run these along the full fence line before you dig a single hole. They keep everything straight and save you a world of correction work later.
● A circular saw or drop saw is needed for cutting posts, rails, and palings to length.
● A cordless drill/driver is needed for driving screws and pre-drilling.
● A hammer is needed for nailed connections and general persuasion.
● You may also need a tape measure and a pencil for marking out post centres and paling spacings.
● A concrete mixer or a sturdy bucket is needed for mixing your post-setting concrete.
● Safety gear such as eye protection, work gloves, and sturdy footwear should be mandatory on the worksite for fencing.
Fence Post Spacing and Measurements
Getting the spacing right is the bit that could often separate a fence that looks great for decades from the one that starts sagging and flexing within a few years.
The standard post spacing for a residential paling or picket fence in Australia is 1.8 metres between posts, measured centre to centre. This works well for fence heights up to 1.8 metres and is what most Melbourne fencers default to. If you are going taller – 2.1 metres or more – pull the spacing back to around 1.5 metres for extra rigidity and wind resistance.
For post depth, the old rule of thumb is to bury at least one-third of the total post length underground. On a 1.8 metre fence, you should typically use 2.4 metre posts and set them roughly 600mm into the ground. On exposed or windy sites, go a bit deeper, and you will thank yourself later.
Rail positioning on a standard two-rail fence fixes the bottom rail around 200–250 mm up from ground level, and the top rail about 150 mm down from the post tops. Adding a centre rail – strongly recommended for fences above 1.5 metres – gives the structure much better rigidity and keeps palings from bowing over time.
Before you dig anything, run your string line the full length of the fence and mark every post position. It may take about twenty minutes but it eliminates a lot of frustration. And just like using a timber floor calculator to count boards for a deck, work out your total post count from your fence run length and chosen spacing before you order – so that you arrive on site with exactly what you need.
Cost Breakdown of Timber Fence Installation
Timber fence costs vary quite a bit depending on the timber species, fence height, site conditions, and who is doing the work. For a 20-metre run of standard 1.8m treated pine paling fence, expect to spend somewhere between $600 and $1,200 on materials alone. Buying direct from a specialist supplier like AT Pine rather than through a big-box hardware chain typically gets you better pricing and a much wider range of sizes and treatment types to choose from.
For a professionally installed fence, you would be looking at $150 to $300 per lineal metre in Melbourne, with most standard residential treated pine jobs landing in the $150–$180 per metre range. A 20-metre fence fully installed could cost you anywhere from $3,000 to $5,500, depending on site access, ground conditions, and any extras like gates or retaining posts.
A few extra costs that catch people by surprise include removing an existing fence ($10–$30 per metre), council permits wherever applicable, and gates ($300 to $800-plus each, depending on size and hardware). Budget for these upfront and you won’t get an unpleasant shock halfway through your timber fence installation project.
DIY vs Professional Fence Installation Cost
This is the question many homeowners ask, and the honest answer is: it depends on you.
Going DIY means you are cutting out the labour cost, which typically makes up 40–60 per cent of the total installation cost. On a 20-metre fence, that is a potential saving of $1,500 to $2,500 or more. That is a good saving, and for a capable home handyperson with the right tools and a willing helper, it is genuinely achievable, especially on a flat block with a straight fence line.
Where DIY gets tricky is on sloping ground, around corners, or when your posts end up out of plumb, and you are not sure how to correct it. Mistakes on a fence are time-consuming and sometimes expensive to fix, and a fence that looks a bit off is something you will notice every day. If your site is straightforward, DIY is a great option. If it is complicated, a professional will deliver a better result and usually back it with a warranty.
Either way, here is the smart move: buy fence pickets and your other materials direct from a specialist. When you buy fence pickets online through AT Pine, you skip the retail markup, access a broader range of treated pine products than you would find in most hardware stores, and get genuine advice from people who actually know timber.
You can use a timber floor calculator – or our online fence calculator – to confirm your quantities before you order, so there is no guessing and no waste.Whether you are nailing it yourself or handing it to a tradie, the materials are yours to choose. Buy fence pickets online, sort your posts and rails.
A timber fence is one of those home projects that keeps on giving better privacy, a tidier boundary, and a property that simply looks more looked-after. With the right timber, a clear plan, and materials from a supplier you can trust, it’s a very achievable project for most Australian homeowners.
AT Pine stocks everything you need for timber fencing – posts, rails, palings, pickets, and accessories – across our six-acre facility in Somerton.
Browse our full range and buy online with delivery available across Melbourne and regional Victoria. Got a question about your timber fencing project? Call us on 03 9305 2000, and we will help you work it out.
FAQs
How much does it cost to build a timber fence?
In Australia, the average cost of building a timber fence ranges between $75 and $200 per linear metre, if you are going for a standard 1.8-metre boundary fence. A typical 20-metre treated pine paling fence would cost around $3,000, including the cost of materials and labour.
Can I build a timber fence myself?
Yes, you can. DIY can save you on labour costs. However, building a timber fence in a DIY method is likely to take more time than it would take if you hire a professional or professionals. Also you would be needing the right tools and permits, whereas professional installers are expected to bring experience and requisite licensing with them.
What type of timber is best for fencing?
Treated softwoods like pine are cost-effective, but they need to be H4-rated or higher to resist decay and termites effectively. Hardwoods such as ironbark and grey gum (Class 1) are more durable but costlier. All treated timber should adhere to Australian Standard AS1604.
How far apart should fence posts be?
For standard paling fences, between fence posts a distance of 1.8–2.4 metres should be there. If you erect a timber fence on sloped ground or in high-wind areas, then closer spacing of fence posts is preferred.
How deep should fence posts be installed?
Usually, posts should be buried to one-third of their total length – roughly 600mm for a 1.8m fence. The depth of the fence posts should vary according to soil type and fence height.
How long does it take to build a timber fence?
One can expect 1–2 days for a professional team to build a standard 20–30 metre timber fence. DIY timber fencing projects are expected to take a full weekend or longer. Factors like slope, soil conditions, gate installation, and drying time for concrete footings can alter the timeline.
Do I need permits to build a fence?
In Australia, it depends on your state and council. Some local governments in Australia have limits on fence height, materials, and styles. Always check with your local council before starting, especially for front fences or heritage zones.
How do I maintain a timber fence?
Sealing or painting every few years is needed for maintenance of timber fences, which do add $5 to $15 per metre in their annual maintenance costs. Regular checking for rot, termite damage, and loose posts are also part of their maintenance. If you live in termite-prone areas, then treated pine (H4-rated or above) and periodic inspections are strongly recommended.
