How long does it take to replace a fence?

For a standard suburban boundary of roughly 20 to 40 metres, demolition and the new paling fence build typically take one to two days on site. Add lead time for quoting, neighbour agreement on shared fences, and scheduling. Weather, tight access and long or stepped runs extend the build.

Should I repair my fence or replace it?

Repair when the posts are solid and damage is limited to a few palings or a single rail. Replace when posts have rotted at ground level, a whole run leans, or repairs have become a yearly event. If more than about a third of the fence needs work, replacement usually wins on value over the next 15 to 20 years.

Who pays to replace a fence between neighbours?

In Victoria, neighbours normally share the cost of a sufficient dividing fence equally under the Fences Act. If one owner wants a higher standard than sufficient, they usually pay the difference. A formal fencing notice starts the contribution process when you cannot simply agree over the fence line.

Does fence replacement include removing the old fence?

Not always, and this is a common quote comparison trap. Demolition of the old fence and tip fees for disposing of it are real costs that some quotes bundle and many exclude. Ask every fencer whether removal and disposal are included, and compare quotes on the same basis.

Do I need a permit to replace a boundary fence in Victoria?

Generally no. Replacing a side or rear boundary fence like for like at up to 2 metres normally needs no building permit in Victoria. Height increases, front fences, corner blocks and heritage overlays are the exceptions worth checking with council.

Replacing a fence in Melbourne: the full process

Repair vs replace, the neighbour conversation, quotes and demolition, and what actually happens on build day.

Expanse Fencing › Guides › Fence replacement

Quick answer A typical Melbourne boundary fence replacement runs: decide repair vs replace, price it, agree the split with your neighbour if the fence is shared, book it, then 1 to 2 days on site for demolition and the new build. No permit is normally needed for a like-for-like boundary fence up to 2m. The quote traps to watch: whether demolition and tip fees are included, and whether you are comparing the same build (three rails, concrete-set posts).

Step 1: repair or replace?

Push each post: if posts are solid and the damage is a handful of palings or one rail, repair and move on. If posts are soft at ground level, a run leans, or you fixed it last year and it needs fixing again, the skeleton is gone and replacement is the value play. The full decision test lives in our fence lifespan guide; the rule of thumb is that when a third of the fence needs work, replacement wins.

Step 2: price it before the conversations

Get your number first, then talk to neighbours; the conversation is easier with a real figure on the table. Our instant estimator prices your drawn boundary in about two minutes. What sets the price, and the quote-comparison traps, are covered in the paling fence cost guide: rail count, concrete-set posts, and especially whether demolition and tip fees are included, which is the most common reason a cheap quote is not actually cheap.

Step 3: the neighbour conversation (shared fences)

Most boundary fences are dividing fences, and Victorian neighbours normally split the cost of a sufficient fence equally. In practice: knock on the door with your estimate, agree the split, done. When agreement is not that easy, the Fences Act has a formal notice process, covered step by step in who pays for a dividing fence. We can issue the quote split across both parties from the start, which takes the awkwardness out of chasing a neighbour for their half.

Step 4: permits (usually not needed)

A like-for-like boundary fence replacement up to 2m normally needs no building permit in Victoria. The exceptions worth checking: height increases, front fences, corner blocks and heritage overlays, all covered in the fence permit guide.

Step 5: build day (what actually happens)

Stage	What happens
Before the day	On-site measure confirms the formal quote. Mark anything you want saved: plants along the line, a gate you are keeping.
Demolition	Old fence comes down and is carted away (confirm disposal is in your quote). Vegetation on the line is cleared as agreed.
Posts	Holes bored, posts set in concrete, line and heights strung. On sloped blocks the fence steps or rakes to follow the ground.
Rails and palings	Three rails go on, then palings. Lapped and capped builds add the second paling layer and the capping board.
Cleanup	Offcuts and nails cleared, gates hung and latched, walk-through with you.

For a standard 20 to 40 metre suburban boundary this is one to two days on site. Long runs, stepped slopes and tight access stretch it; weather can shift it.

After the build

New treated pine needs 6 to 12 weeks to dry before painting or staining; doing it then adds years to the timber. The how and when is in painting a timber fence so it lasts.

Fence due for replacement? Price it in 2 minutes

Enter your address, draw the fence line, and get a free online instant estimate. The formal quote is confirmed at an on-site measure, credited toward the job.

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General information only, current at August 2026. Site conditions vary; your formal quote and timeline are confirmed at the on-site measure.