Timber paling fencing in Pakenham.

There is still nothing quite like a fresh timber paling fence for warmth and street appeal. Across the established estates of the Cardinia growth corridor — many of them early-2000s builds around Lakeside and Heritage Springs — the original timber boundaries are now greying, leaning and ready to be replaced. We rebuild them properly, matching the neighbours where it matters so the streetscape stays tidy.

Pakenham’s climate is hard on timber. Our high-UV summers fade and warp anything under-spec, and the clay-reactive soils underneath move with every wet and dry cycle. We answer both: posts set to the right depth in concrete so the run does not lean, quality capping and lapping to shed water and protect the paling tops, and treated pine or hardwood chosen to suit your budget and exposure. Done this way, a timber fence here gives you 10 to 15 years and beyond.

Pine, hardwood and what it costs.

Treated-pine paling is the value option and, capped and built correctly, is a sound suburban boundary. Hardwood paling costs more but resists our UV and weather better and looks richer over time. As a 2026 guide, treated-pine paling runs about $90–$140 per lineal metre supplied and installed. A worked example: a 30-metre rear boundary at $110 per metre is roughly $3,300, before old-fence removal, capping upgrades or stepping for slope.

Permits, standards and shared fences.

Most dividing timber fences up to 2.1 metres do not need a building permit, but anything over 2.1 metres or a fence that also retains soil brings in VBA registration and the NCC rules for building near boundaries, plus any Cardinia Shire planning or building permit on height or corner-splay. Shared boundary fences are covered by the Fences Act 1968 — we supply the quote you hand to your neighbour — and we Dial Before You Dig before the post holes go in.