Fencing & Screening

Fencing Builders — Northern Beaches

Hardwood paling, horizontal slat, Colorbond and pool-compliant fencing built across Sydney's Northern Beaches. Fixed-price quotes per lineal metre, demolition and disposal included.

White painted timber privacy fence, Northern Beaches
Why Bark

Fencing That Lasts the Decade

Most fence failures on the Northern Beaches trace back to two decisions made at quote stage: post burial and timber grade. Posts buried in concrete rot from inside out within ten years on coastal sites. Treated pine palings in salt air last half as long as Class 1 hardwood. A few hundred dollars saved at install costs you a full re-fence at year twelve.

We build fences the way they need to be built for this environment. Hardwood posts on galvanised stirrups, hot-dip galvanised or stainless fixings, Class 1 hardwood palings or marine-grade Colorbond. Demolition and disposal of the old fence are part of the quote.

Every fence is priced per lineal metre, supplied and installed. The number we quote is what you pay.

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What We Build

Fence Types We Run Most Weeks

Colorbond Boundary

Standard and custom colours, residential heights to 1.8m. Lowest maintenance option, 25–30 year usable life. Best for budget-conscious neighbours splitting cost.

Hardwood Paling

Spotted Gum or Blackbutt palings on hardwood rails. Looks better at year five than at year one. Class 1 durability, no annual maintenance required.

Horizontal Slat Privacy Fence

Horizontal hardwood slats with hidden fixings. The current default for street appeal across Manly and Avalon. Premium aesthetic, premium price.

Pool Fencing (AS 1926.1)

Frameless glass, aluminium vertical bar, or compliant timber. Designed, built and certified to AS 1926.1. Certifier sign-off included.

Front Fences & Gates

Front-of-property fences with pedestrian or vehicle gates. Timber, Colorbond or aluminium. Council compliance for height and transparency rules handled.

Privacy Screening

Standalone privacy screens for decks, alfresco areas, side passages. Often paired with deck or pergola work as a single build.

Pricing

Indicative Per-Metre Fencing Costs

Northern Beaches 2026, supplied and installed on flat ground, demolition and disposal included.

Colorbond

$90–$160 per lineal metre

Standard colours. Custom Colorbond and capping adds $20–$40/lm.

Treated Pine Paling

$180–$280 per lineal metre

Cheapest timber option. Best for inland Frenchs Forest, Belrose. Not recommended absolute beachfront.

Hardwood Paling

$280–$450 per lineal metre

Spotted Gum or Blackbutt. Class 1 durability. Standard go-to for coastal sites.

Horizontal Hardwood Slat

$400–$650 per lineal metre

Hardwood slats with hidden fixings. Premium aesthetic for front and side fences.

Sloping ground, retaining works, premium colour Colorbond, gates, and pool fencing certifier sign-off all add cost.

Read our full Colorbond vs timber breakdown →

Compliance

Council Rules and Pool Fencing

Northern Beaches Council enforces height, transparency and pool barrier rules. Here's what applies on most jobs.

Boundary Fences

Up to 1.8m on most blocks is exempt development. Heritage zones, foreshore-impact and bushfire overlays may need a CDC or DA. We confirm at site visit.

Front Fences

Up to 1.2m solid is usually exempt. 1.8m total with at least 50% transparency above 1.2m is also typically exempt. Heritage areas have stricter rules.

Pool Fencing (AS 1926.1)

Minimum 1.2m height above ground level on the outside. No climbable elements within 900mm of the top. Self-closing, self-latching gates. Certifier inspection mandatory.

Dividing Fences Act

Neighbours typically share cost equally for a sufficient dividing fence under the NSW Dividing Fences Act 1991. Upgrades over the sufficient standard are paid by the requesting party.

How It Works

Site Visit to Final Inspection

  1. Site visit and measure-up. We come out, measure the run, check the ground, talk through options. Free, no obligation.
  2. Quote. Per-metre pricing, demolition and disposal included, gates and special works itemised.
  3. Demolition. Old fence removed, posts pulled, materials taken offsite.
  4. Posts and rails. New posts installed on stirrups or in concrete (depending on fence type and ground), rails fitted.
  5. Palings, slats or panels. Cladding fitted, fixings checked, gates hung.
  6. Inspection. For pool fencing, certifier inspects and signs off. For boundary fences, walk-through with you and we resolve any snags.
Recent Work

Fences We've Built Around the Beaches

Front timber fence with gate, Avalon

Custom-designed front fence with pedestrian gate. Built around an existing puppy — client wanted a fence that didn't look bolted on after the fact.

"Coby responded very quickly to our brief. We needed a fence to house our puppy — one that didn't look like an 'add on'." — Melina C., Avalon

Hardwood front fence, Curl Curl

Hardwood front fence built through autumn rain and shine. Long run with custom palings and stained finish. Held to the original quote despite weather delays.

"We love our new front fence. These guys worked through rain hail and shine — literally!" — Lerisa R., Curl Curl

Boundary + pool fence, Manly

Hardwood paling boundary plus AS 1926.1 frameless glass pool fence. Certifier sign-off included. Coordinated with the existing pool deck.

"Great experience using Coby and Bill. Very easy to work with." — Frank B., Manly

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FAQs

Common Questions

How much does a fence cost per lineal metre on the Northern Beaches in 2026?

Expect $90–$160 per lineal metre for Colorbond, $180–$280/lm for treated pine paling, $280–$450/lm for hardwood paling, and $400–$650/lm for horizontal hardwood slat fencing — supplied and installed on a flat block. Sloping ground, retaining works, premium finishes (Spotted Gum, custom colour Colorbond) and gates add cost.

Do I need council approval for a fence on the Northern Beaches?

Most boundary fences up to 1.8m and front fences up to 1.2m solid (or 1.8m with at least 50% transparency) are exempt development. Pool fences must comply with AS 1926.1. Heritage zones, foreshore overlays and bushfire-prone land usually need a CDC or DA. We confirm before quoting.

What's the best fence material for the Northern Beaches?

It depends on what you're solving. Colorbond gives the longest life with the lowest maintenance — usually 25–30 years before needing attention. Hardwood paling and horizontal slat give better aesthetics for street appeal. Treated pine is the cheapest but doesn't last in salt-air zones. We match the recommendation to your site.

Do you handle pool fencing compliance?

Yes. Pool fencing must meet AS 1926.1 and be inspected by a certifier. We design, build and coordinate the certifier inspection. Common builds are frameless glass, aluminium vertical bar, or compliant timber slat with the right gap spacing.

How long does a fence take to build?

A typical 30–50m boundary fence on a flat block takes 2–5 days. Hardwood horizontal slat fencing runs 4–8 days for the same length. Pool fencing with certifier sign-off adds 1–2 days. Sloping sites or rock footings extend the timeline.

Who pays for a boundary fence between neighbours?

Under the NSW Dividing Fences Act 1991, neighbours typically share the cost of a sufficient dividing fence equally. If one neighbour wants something better than sufficient, they cover the difference. We can supply a quote you can present to your neighbour, and we're used to working with shared-cost arrangements.

Will a hardwood fence rot in salt-air zones?

Hardwood paling and slat fencing in Class 1 durability timbers (Spotted Gum, Blackbutt, Ironbark) typically lasts 25–30+ years on Northern Beaches sites. Treated pine in salt-air zones typically lasts 10–15 years. The biggest factor is whether posts are buried in concrete or set on stirrups — concrete-buried posts are the most common failure point.

Do you remove the old fence?

Yes. Demolition and disposal of the old fence is included in our quotes. If you've got an existing fence to remove, the cost is folded into the price — you don't pay separately for skip hire or tip fees.

Keep Reading

Fencing Guides

Colorbond vs Timber Fencing

Cost per metre, lifespan, council rules, salt-air performance. The full breakdown across both materials.

Decks & Outdoor Living

Often built alongside fencing — deck plus pool fence, or deck plus boundary fence. Single build, single contract.

Outdoor Living & Pergolas

Privacy screening that ties into a deck or pergola is a common combined scope. Same fixings, same finish.

Quote Your Fence

Free site visit, fixed-price per lineal metre, no obligation.

Get a Free Quote Call 0424 162 629