Expanse Fencing guides
Plain-English answers for Melbourne homeowners: what a fence costs, how to compare quotes, who pays, what the rules are and how a good fence is built. No jargon, no sales pitch.
Every guide in this library is reviewed by Pete Kendall, the registered building practitioner who runs Expanse Fencing, before it goes up. Each one answers a question Melbourne homeowners actually ask: what a fence costs, how to compare quotes, who pays when you share a boundary, which rules apply, and what separates a cheap quote from a fence that lasts. Where a number depends on your property (a boundary length, a slope, an old fence to pull out) we say so rather than guessing. Any price ranges are market ranges from published industry cost guides, not our prices. For a figure for your own boundary, the free online instant estimate takes about 2 minutes, and the on-site measure and written quote are free and no-obligation.
What fences cost in Melbourne, what a written quote should include, and what happens when the old fence comes out and the new one goes in.
What it really costs to build a lasting fence in Melbourne this quarter: the minimum per metre, line by line, what changes it, what to ask any fencer, a CSV and how to cite it.
Costs, the estimate vs the written quote, shared fences, storm damage, permits, heights, posts and removal. A good place to start.
Typical 2026 Melbourne price ranges, worked examples and what pushes a quote up.
The spec ladder from a budget paling fence to one built to last: posts, rails, footings, plinth and capping, and what each step up changes.
Published 2026 ranges, basic vs fully inclusive installs, and worked 15 to 45 metre examples with half-share figures.
Removal and disposal, gates, height, slope, access and fibro fences, with published 2026 ranges and a worked 20 metre example.
How to tell if a fibro fence is asbestos, who can remove it, WorkSafe and EPA rules, published 2026 costs and who pays.
Standard panel widths and heights, lattice and slat tops, profiles that look the same both sides, and the colour range.
How painters price a fence, published 2026 ranges, one side or both, and how long new pine should weather first.
Posts, spacing, footings, rails, removal, gates, exclusions, GST and warranty, line by line, so you are comparing the same fence.
ABN, registration and review checks, questions to ask at the measure, and the red flags to walk away from.
What removal involves, published cost ranges, disposal and who pays on a shared fence, plus why fibro needs a licensed asbestos removalist.
Signs it is time to replace, the neighbour conversation, demolition, and what happens on build day.
From estimate to finished fence: the 1 to 2 days on site, what slows it down, and booking before Christmas.
Shared boundary fences under the Fences Act 1968 (Vic), storm damage, permits and council rules. General information only: for your situation, check with your council or the Dispute Settlement Centre of Victoria.
Every step on one page: sufficient fences, equal shares, the Fencing Notice and 30 days, disputes, urgent works, plus a checklist.
The Fences Act 1968 explained: equal shares, the Fencing Notice process, and what to do when a neighbour will not pay.
Equal shares, a neighbour wanting a taller fence, corner blocks, damage, urgent repairs, reserves and absent owners, with numbers.
The Fencing Notice, the 30-day rule, free help from the Dispute Settlement Centre of Victoria and the Magistrates' Court option.
A field-by-field worked example, how to serve it, the 30 day rule and what happens if your neighbour disagrees.
Making it safe, photos for insurance, what home insurance may cover, the urgent fencing notice and who pays.
Height rules for boundary and front fences, the corner block trap, and when council consent applies.
We take care of building and planning permits for your fence. Typical Melbourne costs, extra fees and how long it takes.
Council-by-council heights and permits for Kingston, Bayside, Glen Eira, Monash and Stonnington, including front fences and overlays.
Why trellis counts toward fence height, the 2m line, neighbours' light, who pays and safer alternatives.
Our home turf around Heatherton: what the ground, the councils and the neighbours mean for a new fence in Kingston, Bayside, Glen Eira and Monash.
Heatherton to Carrum: sandbelt vs coastal ground, Kingston's 1.2m front fence guidance, flood overlays and townhouse boundaries.
Brighton to Beaumaris: sandy ground and posts, salt air, trellis rules, protected trees, heritage overlays and rebuilds next door.
Bentleigh to Elsternwick: Glen Eira's fence heights, heritage streets, rebuilds next door and costs.
Brighton to Beaumaris: council's trellis rule, heritage and character overlays, tree controls, salt air and sandy ground.
Oakleigh to Glen Waverley: front fence and small lot rules, boundaries, clay soils, townhouses and council's park fence share.
Posts, heights, paling styles and materials: the details that decide how long a fence stands straight.
Posts are where most paling fences fail first. Hardwood, treated pine and steel compared on strength, rot and cost, plus what to ask your fencer.
1.8m vs 2.0m vs 2.1m, typical post spacing, rails, plinths and capping, and when a taller fence needs a permit.
Treated pine, hardwood and cypress palings, common sizes, and butted, lapped and capped styles compared.
Overlapping palings and a capping board compared with standard butted palings, published Melbourne price ranges and when it pays off.
An honest comparison of cost, lifespan, maintenance, privacy, wind performance and looks.
Typical lifespans by material, the five things that kill fences early, and a simple maintenance schedule.
Exterior care guides from Expanse Home Maintenance, our sister brand: fence painting, gutters, windows and driveways.
When new treated pine is ready to coat, product choice, prep and application.
Seasonal guidance for Melbourne homes, warning signs of clogged gutters, and what neglect costs.
Which method suits your driveway and exterior surfaces, and how to care for them after.
How often, how to get streak-free glass, and when to call a professional.
Free tools you can use right now, no phone call needed.
Draw your boundary on a satellite map and see a timber fence estimate in about 2 minutes.
Free toolFill in a Fences Act 1968 (Vic) Fencing Notice, ready to print and serve on your neighbour. No signup.
ColorbondA free online instant estimate for low-maintenance Colorbond steel fencing.
GatesPedestrian, driveway and automated gates. Aluminium styles price instantly online; timber and Colorbond gates are quoted at the free on-site measure.
Timber paling fencing across Melbourne, with the local suburb list for each region.
Box Hill to Ringwood to Healesville.
Malvern and Bayside to Frankston and Berwick. Home turf: we're based in Heatherton.
Werribee to Point Cook to Sunshine.
Preston to Bundoora to Epping.
Draw your fence line on the map and get a free online instant estimate in about 2 minutes. When you're ready, the on-site measure and written quote are free and no-obligation (book at least 24 hours ahead). Home maintenance estimates are instant too.
Get my free estimate → Home maintenance →Prefer to talk? Call (03) 4328 3068.