Pinelap Fencing And Picket Fencing
We will be upfront about something most fencing contractors in Perth will not tell you: timber is not a low maintenance material. It weathers. It warps. Perth’s summer UV will bleach untreated pine within a single season, and the wet winters that follow drive moisture into end grain and start the rot cycle. Termites are a year round reality in suburbs with sandy soil, particularly through the northern corridor from Wanneroo down to Bassendean where the Bassendean sand system creates ideal conditions for subterranean colonies.
So why do people still choose timber fencing? Because nothing else looks like it. Colorbond is practical. Aluminium is sleek. But timber fences offer a natural aesthetic, a warmth, and a character that steel and aluminium simply cannot replicate. A well-built picket fence across the front of a Subiaco cottage or a stained pinelap boundary in a Mt Lawley backyard belongs there in a way that no other material does. Timber fencing is a popular choice for good reason, as long as you go in with your eyes open about what the material needs from you.
At Fosters Fencing, Tim Utting and David Fallows have been building timber fences across Perth since 2011, with 35 years of combined experience between them. We specialise in pinelap fences, picket fencing, and custom timber gate fabrication. We are honest about the advantages and the trade-offs of timber, because we would rather you choose the right material for your property and your budget than sell you something that disappoints you in three years.
Benefits Of A Timber Fence Installation
Natural Beauty And Versatility
Timber brings a visual warmth to a property that manufactured materials cannot match. The grain pattern, the texture, and the way timber ages all contribute to a natural beauty that suits everything from a rustic look on a rural property to a contemporary horizontal slat design on a modern build. Timber fencing comes in a range of styles and can be customised to your desired appearance: different paling profiles, varied spacing, stained or painted finishes, and heights from low decorative borders to full 1.8-metre boundary fencing. That versatility is genuine.
Environmentally Friendly
Timber is a renewable resource with a lower embodied energy than steel or aluminium. For homeowners who factor sustainability into their decisions, a treated pine fence sourced from plantation timber has a smaller environmental footprint than a Colorbond fence manufactured from mined ore. It is one of the few fencing materials where the environmental argument actually holds up under scrutiny.
Cost Effective Upfront
On a per-metre basis, timber fencing, particularly pinelap, is one of the more affordable options for boundary fencing. The materials cost less than colorbond, and the installation is straightforward for an experienced crew. The trade-off is that the total cost of ownership over 15 to 20 years is higher once you factor in regular maintenance: staining or painting every three to five years, replacing individual palings as they weather, and treating or replacing posts if termite damage or rot sets in.
Request a quote
Pine Timber Fencing Services
Pinelap Fencing Perth
Pinelap is the traditional Perth boundary fence. The palings are overlapped and nailed to horizontal rails, creating a solid screen that provides privacy and security at a practical price point. We install all pinelap fencing using treated pine palings on three rails rather than the standard two. That third rail costs a bit more in materials, but it makes a significant difference to how the fence holds up over time. Perth’s winter storms bring strong winds that push and pull on fence panels, and without that middle rail, individual palings warp, twist, and eventually pull free from the top or bottom fixing points.
Every pinelap fence we build uses posts concreted into the ground at depths appropriate to the site conditions. In sandy soils along the coastal strip, that means deeper footings with wider concrete bases to prevent the lean that develops when loose sand shifts under lateral wind loads. Grrayt, one of our Google reviewers, said he “expressed my wants and concerns with Tim and nothing was too much for them to achieve” and called the result a “top quality job.” That kind of attention to the details that keep a timber fence standing straight applies to every pinelap job we take on.
We always discuss maintenance expectations during the quoting process. Pinelap will weather to a silver-grey if left untreated, which some homeowners prefer. If you want to maintain the original colour, a UV-resistant exterior stain or paint applied every three to five years will keep the timber looking close to new. We can advise on products that suit Perth’s sun exposure and help you plan for the ongoing upkeep before you commit.
Picket Fencing Perth
A picket fence is one of those things that looks simple until you try to build one well. The spacing between pickets, the profile of the picket tops (pointed, rounded, flat, or dog-eared), the height relative to the house, and the alignment across a run that may not be perfectly level all contribute to whether the finished fence looks considered or thrown together.
We build picket fences in treated pine, with the option of jarrah or other hardwood species for homeowners who want greater longevity and a richer grain. Picket fences can be quite versatile in the way you want them to look, and if you have an idea for a particular style or spacing, we can most likely create it. We also repair and replace old picket fences that have started falling apart, matching the existing picket profile where possible so the new sections blend with what is already there.
Picket And Pinelap Gates
For both picket fencing gates and pinelap gates, we fabricate a steel frame using 30mm square tubing to match the height and width of the opening. The pickets or palings are then fixed to this steel frame to match the style of the fence on either side. We use timber gate posts to match the existing posts in the fence line, with standard butt hinges and a D-latch for secure closure.
The steel frame is the detail that separates a gate that lasts from one that sags within a year. A timber-framed gate swells and contracts with Perth’s seasonal moisture changes, and the joints loosen over time. Steel does not move. It is lighter, more rigid, and holds the gate square year after year, which means the latch keeps catching and the gate keeps swinging cleanly.
Frequently Asked Questions
Get Your Timber Fencing Project Started
Timber fencing is not for everyone. It asks more of you in maintenance than colorbond or aluminium, and it will not last as long without regular attention. But for homeowners who value the natural beauty, the rustic look, and the character that only real wood brings to a property, nothing else comes close.
Fosters Fencing has been building timber fences across the Perth metropolitan area since 2011. We do not use subcontractors, and we are upfront about what timber needs from you before you spend a dollar. Call Tim and the team today or fill out our online form to request a free quote. We will come out, look at the site, discuss the style and timber grade that suits your property, and give you a clear price with no surprises. If timber is the right call for your place, we will build it to stand.
Why Choose Us?
High Quality
Materials
Satisfaction
Guaranteed
10 year
Manufacture Warranty*
All Metro Areas
Serviced
Quotes Every Saturday
Customer reviews
