The time spent waiting for the quotation from a fencing contractor in the greater Melbourne area has been so long that most property owners have stopped waiting altogether. That number found on the bottom of the quotation, when it eventually comes, usually represents a market that has not even caught up with the demand in the last few years. In that void, the contemporary DIY fence kit has stepped in, and the product that is available for Australian property owners is far from those basic paling kits of old.
What a Modern Kit Actually Includes?
The word “kit” represents variations that depend on the manufacturer. Homeowners looking at DIY fence kits will find that in relation to the functional Australian marketplace, an appropriately designed kit comes complete with pre-finished panels, posts, fixing materials, and assembly order. The important thing to establish prior to purchasing is whether the panels come as fully assembled panels ready for installation, or panels that require more laborious assembly on the spot before any panelling becomes possible.
Currently, the available panel types include aluminium slat panels, steel blade panels, Colorbond steel panels, and timber-look composite panels. Each of these is suitable for a particular type of property and site. Kits generally do not provide materials such as concrete for post footings, hardware for gates, and post caps.
Permits, Council Rules, and the Lines People Do Not Check
Starting to install your fence before you have even confirmed with your local council what is allowed can be one of the most avoidable sources of fencing regret in Victoria. The rules around height, how far back from the boundary you need to be, and what type of material you can use can all change depending on the zone and the specific property you are in. In the Hume municipality, which covers Sunbury and the surrounding areas, you will need a building permit to put up a front fence over 1.5 metres high if it is within 3 metres of the street. Corner properties have to jump a higher hurdle; you need a permit for any fence over 1 metre high if it is within 9 metres of a cross street. All of this is based on Hume Council’s current building guidance and involves a combination of the Fences Act, Building Regulations, and the relevant local planning scheme. The thing is, these rules can vary from one site to another, from one zone to another, and even depending on what your neighbour is doing with their property, so checking with the council before you even start ordering any materials is a step that will pay for itself in the end.
Post Footings: Where Most DIY Fences Eventually Fail?
A ripper of a fence panel slotted into a poorly laid post is not going to survive the first really strong wind. The depth you need to dig for your post footings depends on how tall your fence posts are, how heavy the panels are, and what the soil is like in your yard. The type of soil you have determines the type of footing you should use; sandy soil needs something different from the clay-heavy stuff you find in most suburbs. Before you even start drilling, it is worth checking for underground services; that is the advice from Before You Dig Australia, a free national service that will help you steer clear of any problems with gas, water, and electrical lines in your area.
Aluminium Versus Steel Over Time
Both aluminium and steel are the dominant players in the current Australian DIY fence kit market, and how they compare over time is well worth thinking about. Aluminium is lighter, and it does not rust, so you do not need to repaint it. It is also easier to trim and adjust on site if you need to make any changes; it is a good choice if you are looking for a contemporary look for your property. Steel and Colorbond are stronger, and if you live in an area with a lot of physical impact, they might be the better choice, but with steel you do need to make sure the factory coating stays intact around all the cut edges; if you do not, the exposed bits will rust without any edge sealant to protect them. Aluminium expands and contracts more than steel with temperature changes, which is something you need to think about if you are setting up long runs of fencing across a big open area and you live in an area with a lot of seasonal variation like Melbourne.
What a Realistic Weekend Looks Like?
If you are a capable DIYer with some help and the right tools, and the ground is pretty good to work with, you can make some real progress over a weekend on a fence project. But if your yard is full of tree roots, if it is a bit of a slope, if you have got corners or you need to put in a gate, that is a lot more work and it will take longer to get done. If you are doing a one-off job, it might not make sense to go out and buy a rotary hammer or a post hole digger; hiring them makes more sense. And if your yard has a lot of slope to it, if you need to keep the soil in place, or if you have got a really complicated run of fencing near a building, that is when it is probably worth bringing in a professional.
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