Types of Fencing Perth Homeowners Can Choose From

Each material wins at something different, so start with the job the fence has to do.

Colorbond steel is solid and low upkeep, which suits back and side boundaries.

Aluminium slat and batten gives a modern look at the front of the house, with gaps you control for privacy.

Timber is warm and flexible in style, but it needs more care over time.

Glass and aluminium are the usual choices around pools, where you need to see through.

Gates come in the same materials. The same fencer can build the run and a matching gate, so the two do not clash.

Colorbond is pre-painted steel sheeting. It does not need repainting or sealing, and it stands up to Perth's hot sun and strong afternoon wind when it is fixed to solid posts. That makes it a sensible pick for a long back boundary where you want a straight, plain fence and no weekend maintenance.

Aluminium slat and batten suits the front of the house. Slats are spaced to give privacy or let light through, and the finish does not rot or flake. It costs more per metre than basic sheeting in many cases, and your fencer confirms the figure once the run is measured.

Timber fencing gives you the widest choice of look. It also asks the most from you, because it needs sealing or staining to keep sun and rain from wearing it down.

Picket fencing is the classic low front fence. It frames the garden and welcomes visitors, but it gives little privacy. Basket-weave fencing interlaces boards or slats in a woven pattern. It blocks sightlines well and gives a textured, rustic look to a courtyard or side yard.

Rotten posts are the usual reason an old timber fence leans. Posts set in sandy soil with poor footing shift sooner, so how the posts are set matters as much as the boards.

A pool needs a barrier built to the pool safety standard, and that rules out many ordinary fences. Glass and aluminium are the common choices because they keep the pool in view from the house while keeping children out.

Glass looks clean and does not block the view. Aluminium tube is sturdy and often easier on the budget. The gate must close and latch by itself every time, so the hardware matters. A qualified fencer builds to the standard for your block, and the pool's local authority has the final say on what passes.

These three issues can decide between materials that otherwise look alike.

Termites eat timber. Treated timber resists them better, but a steel or aluminium fence gives them nothing to eat.

Fire is a concern in bushy suburbs. Steel does not burn the way timber does, so a metal fence slows the spread of embers along a boundary.

Galvanic corrosion happens when two different metals touch in damp or salty air. One metal then eats away at the other. A good fencer matches fixings and brackets to the fence metal so the join does not fail early.

Privacy and security usually come first. A tall, solid run of Colorbond or basket-weave timber blocks views from the street and neighbours. A taller or closed fence also makes it harder to see what is worth taking.

Kerb appeal comes from the front fence. A neat picket or aluminium slat fence with a matching gate makes an older home look cared for. A leaning, cracked or patched fence does the opposite, and buyers notice it, so property value can suffer.

Height limits and boundary rules differ between councils, so the fencer confirms what applies to your street before building.

A few rotten posts or one storm-damaged section can often be fixed on its own. If most of the run is leaning, cracked or rotten, a full replacement costs less over time than repeated repairs.

Old fibro fences are different. Fibro sheeting from older homes may contain asbestos, so do not cut, drill or break it. A licensed removalist takes it away safely, and the new fence goes in once it is gone.

Tell us about your boundary, the problem and the look you want, then request a fence quote.