Timber fence ideas: Choosing the right style for your fence

When it comes to fence styles, there can be many to choose from. We break down all the different timber fence ideas and how to choose the right timber fence design to suit your taste. Find out what fence palings, posts and rails you should choose for each fence style listed below.

Standard Australian fencing – AKA featherboard fences

You’ll recognise this fence from almost any Aussie neighbourhood, making use of our regular pine palings to achieve the seamless design. This timber fence idea is a popular choice due to its versatility and ease of replacing broken palings. Too much backyard cricket and you crack a paling with a Mitchell Starc fast bowl? Well, it’s easy enough to just remove the nails and replace one board in a jiffy.

Lapped and capped fencing

Premium lapped and capped fencing is a close second in popularity in Aussie homes due to its design of overlapping palings and a capped top. The overlapped palings ensure that the fence privacy stays elite even when the palings contract and expand from weather. The capping on the top of the fence only adds to the style, creating a polished timber fence design. Hardwood palings are a popular choice for the fence style, with many people choosing a wider paling style to accommodate for the number of palings needed with an overlapping design.

Good neighbour fences – AKA shadowbox fencing

This timber fence idea is similar to a lapped and capped fence, however instead of the palings being lapped over each other, they are lapped on either side of the railings. The goal of the fence design is to provide each neighbour with a ‘good’ side of the fence meaning the railings and posts are not exposed on either side. A slight downside to this design is that when viewed from an angle, the gaps between the palings can cause a lapse in privacy. This can be mitigated by having smaller gaps between the palings and using a higher quantity of them on either side.

Traditional colonial picket fence

If you’ve ever been in a suburb with old Queenslander homes, chances are you’re familiar with traditional pine picket fences. But don’t be dissuaded by their vintage reputation! This fence style is on the up and up. Colonial pine pickets are a timeless, heritage fence style that adds instant charm to any home's exterior. They are versatile, making it a popular timber fence idea that will make for easy painting, staining or styling.

Rural fencing

If you ever go for a road trip in outback ‘Oz, chances are you’ve stared at these types of fences for what feels like hours. Rural fencing can vary the most of all fence styles, but often utilises pine logs or ironbark splits, posts or stays. They’re cost-effective for fences that need to span a large distance and popular due to their minimal maintenance needs. Thick timber logs like pine and ironbark are most popular to create this style due to their strength and ability to withstand harsh elements like hot sun and extreme storms.

Post and Rail Fencing

Post and rail style fences are commonly used as an alternative to wire fencing when livestock needs to be contained as wire can be dangerous and need replacing more often. You’ll commonly see homes on acreages using these and they provide an upper-class style to the property. These can be made using either hardwood or pine posts and rails only. This timber fence idea is a great solution for stylish and long-lasting acreage fencing.

Paddle Pop Fencing

This fence style uses palings with a rounded top called paddle pop palings for their shape that resembles an ice cream stick. The rounded top profile offers versatility that you may not get with regular square palings. You could cut the palings in different lengths and create a staggered timber fence design or use them normally and achieve a fence style that is less prominent than a regular fence.

Gothic Fencing

This style of fence is characterized by pointed arches and creates a structured, prominent fence design. The natural beauty of pine, combined with the pointed arches reminiscent of gothic windows, creates a captivating visual effect that will transform any space into a place of timeless allure. Make use of our gothic pine fence palings and create a memorable fence style.

Windsor Fencing

Windsor style pine palings are a great way to bring elegance into your landscape design without forking out a fortune. Windsor-style fences can be versatile, fitting well in various settings, from traditional homes to more contemporary landscapes. They are similar in style to colonial pine palings but have a more intricate design, making them a popular choice for homes with decorative gardens.

Choosing the right material for your timber fence design

Hardwood fence palings, posts & rails

Using hardwood as your main fence material will ensure you build a long-lasting and durable fence. Hardwood is usually darker in colour and denser, providing you with a premium timber fence style. Hardwood requires little maintenance and is suitable in all climates. H4-treated hardwood posts and H3 rails are available, whilst hardwood palings are treated to H3.

Treated pine fence palings, posts & rails

Treated pine fencing supplies are a great choice if you’re after a cost-effective and pest, decay and rot resistant timber fence design. Pine fencing is a popular fence style in Australia, with most houses in every neighbourhood adopting pine as their choice of fencing material. Our pine palings and rails are all treated to H3 and our posts are all treated with H4 to offer premium protection against the elements, pests and decay.

Learn more about what is the best timber for fencing.

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