What makes a fence last?
The difference between a fence that lasts twenty-plus years and one that's leaning inside five comes down to what happens below the ground. Here's what actually matters.
Most fences that fail early didn't fail because of the weather or bad luck. They failed because of how they were built. The difference between a fence that lasts twenty-plus years and one that's leaning inside five comes down to what happens below the ground and the quality of what goes into it. Here's what actually matters.
It starts with the posts
The posts are the whole fence. Everything else hangs off them, so if they're not right, nothing else matters.
- Depth. Posts set too shallow work loose over time and the fence starts to lean. We set ours deep, at least 600mm, so they stay put.
- Concrete. Every post gets concreted in, with aggregate mix made on site. A post rammed into dirt or barely tacked in is a fence that moves. Proper footings are why ours don't.
- Line. Posts set dead straight and evenly spaced don't just look better, they carry the load evenly so no single section takes more strain than it should.
The materials
- Rot resistance. Timber that isn't rated for ground contact or the weather will cop moisture and break down early. We use rot-resistant materials so the fence isn't quietly rotting from the base up.
- Fixings. A frame held together with too few or cheap fixings loosens and rattles apart over the years. We build the frame with extra fixings for strength, so it stays tight.
Why cheap fences fail
The fences we get called out to replace early almost always have the same story: shallow posts, little or no concrete, cheap materials, corners cut to hit a low price. It looks fine for a year or two, then it starts leaning, sagging or coming apart. You end up paying twice, once for the cheap fence and again for the one that should have gone up in the first place.
How we build
We build every fence the same way, deep posts, concreted properly, rot-resistant materials, extra fixings, no shortcuts. It costs a bit more up front than a rushed job, and it's the reason most of our work comes from word of mouth. A fence built right is a fence you don't think about again for twenty years.
Where we fit in
If you want a fence that's built to last rather than built to a price, that's what we do. Call us on 0422 258 131 or get in touch for a quote.