How Many Fence Palings Per Metre for Your DIY Project in Australia
Embarking on a DIY fence project in Australia? It’s essential to know how many palings you’ll need per metre to ensure a successful fence build. Whether it’s for enhancing privacy, ensuring security, or just adding to your home’s aesthetic, getting the paling count right is key. This guide will walk you through the specifics for butted and lapped fences, using standard treated pine or hardwood palings. Plus, we’ll cover the importance of purchasing extra palings for contingencies.
Understanding Paling Sizes and Types:
In Australia, fence palings are commonly made from treated pine or hardwood. A standard paling typically measures 100mm x 16mm and comes in various heights – 1.2, 1.5, 1.8, or 2.1 metres. The choice between pine and hardwood often depends on factors like budget, desired durability, and aesthetic preferences.
Calculating Palings for a Butted Fence:
A butted fence, where palings are placed edge to edge with no gaps, is a popular choice for privacy. Since these palings are wet-sawn, they will shrink over time, leaving small gaps of about 5mm.
- To calculate the number of palings per metre for a butted fence, divide 1000mm (1 metre) by the width of one paling (100mm in this case). This gives you 10 palings per metre.
- However, considering the shrinkage and potential for slight variations in paling widths, it’s wise to buy an additional 5% more palings. This extra allowance ensures you won’t run short during installation.
Calculating Palings for a Lapped Fence:
Lapped fences, offering more privacy and a different aesthetic, require a double layer of palings. The first layer is spaced with about 50mm gaps, and a second layer of palings is placed over these gaps.
- For the base layer, you’ll need approximately 7 palings per metre (accounting for the 50mm gap between each paling).
- The top layer will also require 7 palings per metre to cover the gaps of the base layer.
- In total, you’ll need around 14 palings per metre for a lapped fence. Again, adding an extra 5% for contingencies is recommended.
Purchasing Tips:
- Buy a little more than your calculations suggest. An additional 5% is a good rule of thumb. This accounts for potential cutting errors, wood defects, or other unforeseen issues.
- Retailers like Bunnings Warehouse offer flexibility with returns, so it’s better to have a few extra palings than to find yourself short.
Conclusion:
Building a fence is a rewarding DIY project that can significantly enhance your home’s exterior. By accurately calculating the number of palings needed and purchasing a little extra, you can ensure a smooth building process. Remember, it’s always better to be over-prepared than under, especially in DIY projects.
Call to Action:
Ready to start your fence project? Head to your local hardware store, armed with these calculations, and get ready to transform your outdoor space!