How hardwood, H4 treated pine and steel posts compare, why the footing matters as much as the timber, and what to ask before you sign a fence quote.
A paling fence is a frame: posts in the ground, rails between them, palings nailed to the rails. Rails and palings dry out between showers. Posts do not. The section right at ground level stays damp while still getting air, which is exactly the mix decay fungi need, and WoodSolutions (the timber industry's technical information site) names the post base at the ground line as a key decay point.
When a post weakens there, the fence leans, the rails work loose, and the next strong northerly finishes the job. That is why a leaning or blown-over paling fence has usually failed at the posts, not the palings. Our how long does a fence last guide covers lifespans by material, and if a storm has already flattened a section, see what to do when a fence blows down.
Enter your address, draw the fence line, and get a free online instant estimate. Every timber estimate is priced on hardwood posts set in concrete. Your on-site measure and written quote are free, with no obligation and no deposit to book.
Get my instant estimate →| Post type | Strength and stiffness | Rot resistance in ground | Look | Relative cost | Watch-outs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Durable hardwood | Generally denser and stiffer than pine of the same size | Set by the species' natural durability class (AS 5604), heartwood only | Classic timber, weathers to grey | More than treated pine | Species vary widely, so ask which one. Sapwood is non-durable in any species |
| Treated pine (H4) | Lighter and less stiff, so posts are usually a larger section | Comes from preservative treatment. H4 is the level for in-ground fence posts (AS 1604) | Uniform, smooth timber | Lowest of the three | Cut ends and drill holes need re-coating on site. H3 is not enough in the ground |
| Galvanised steel | Strong and consistent from post to post | Does not rot, and termites cannot eat it | Metal posts, visible from at least one side on most systems | Varies by system | Coating and corrosion protection near the bay, and how the rails attach |
Pine is a low-durability softwood made durable with preservative. Australian Standard AS 1604 grades that treatment into hazard classes H1 to H6. H3 suits timber outside but above ground, which WoodSolutions says is enough for rails and palings. H4 covers timber in the ground in non-critical uses such as fence posts, and is the level WoodSolutions says treated fence posts should be specified to. Treated timber is normally branded with its hazard class, so check the posts say H4, and every cut end and drill hole made on site should be re-coated with preservative.
Hardwood posts rely on the natural durability of the species' heartwood, which Australian Standard AS 5604 rates in four classes. WoodSolutions summarises them like this:
| Durability class | Expected in-ground life (heartwood) | Examples or notes (WoodSolutions) |
|---|---|---|
| Class 1 (highest) | More than 25 years | Spotted gum, ironbark, tallowwood |
| Class 2 (high) | 15 to 25 years | Blackbutt, jarrah, silvertop ash |
| Class 3 (moderate) | 5 to 15 years | Not recommended for in-ground fence posts |
| Class 4 (low) | Under 5 years | Not suitable in the ground untreated |
These are averages from in-ground trials of untreated heartwood, so a wet, poorly drained site will do worse. WoodSolutions suggests in-ground fencing timber should come from class 1 or 2, and sapwood (the paler outer band of a log) counts as non-durable in every species. So "hardwood" on a quote is not a spec. The species and the quality of the post are.
Galvanised steel posts made for timber fences keep timber rails and palings on a post that cannot rot. The trade-offs are the look, the cost, and corrosion protection near the bay, where salt air is harder on coatings. If you like steel all the way through, a Colorbond fence uses steel posts and rails as standard.
Our standard timber paling fence uses hardwood posts set in concrete, with treated pine rails and palings, three rails, and a plinth board at the base. That puts the most durable material where the fence is most exposed to rot, in the ground, and uses treated pine where it does the job well, up in the air. The same post spec applies whether you choose a standard butted paling fence or a lapped and capped fence, at 1.8m, 2.0m or 2.1m. Your itemised written quote lists the post spec, so you know exactly what is going in the ground.
We measure your boundary, check the soil and the fence line, and send an itemised written quote that lists the post spec. The measure and quote are free and no-obligation. Measures need 24 hours' notice, and there is no deposit to book.
Start with an instant estimate → Call 0433 938 540The best post in the world fails early in a poor footing. What makes the difference:
Post spacing and height work together with all of this. Our paling fence height and post spacing guide goes through the numbers.
A whole run leaning, or several posts gone soft, usually means the fence is at the end of its life. We build full replacements rather than post-by-post repairs, and our fence replacement guide walks through the process. On a shared boundary, neighbours normally split the cost of a sufficient dividing fence under the Fences Act (see who pays for a dividing fence), and our free fencing notice generator puts the proposal, post spec included, in writing.
Hardwood posts cost more than treated pine, and a properly built fence spends more on the parts you cannot see: post material, hole depth, concrete and the third rail. What's The Damage's Melbourne cost guide says hardwood posts (it suggests ironbark or red gum) last longest in Melbourne's wet winters, and that hardwood costs more than treated pine but lasts longer.
As a market guide, published 2025 to 2026 industry cost guides put a standard 1.8m timber paling fence in Melbourne at roughly $120 to $190 per metre installed (a market range, not our price), but a per-metre figure does not tell you what posts, rails or footings it assumes. A quote built on hardwood posts, three rails and concrete on every post will usually sit at the upper end of published ranges, and sometimes above them. Compare spec against spec, not total against total. Our how to compare fence quotes guide shows how to line quotes up, and the paling fence cost guide explains what else moves the price.
We build timber paling fences on hardwood posts across Melbourne: south-east Melbourne, the eastern suburbs, the western suburbs and the northern suburbs. We are based in Heatherton, so nearby Mentone, Bentleigh and Cheltenham usually get the quickest measure times. Further out, from Glen Waverley in the east to Frankston on the bay, the soil changes and the footing is checked to suit.
Generally, a durable hardwood post is the stronger and stiffer choice for a paling fence, which is why hardwood is our standard. H4 treated pine posts are cheaper, very common and can give good service. Which lasts longer on your boundary depends on the species or treatment, the soil, drainage and how well the post is set.
There is no single figure: it depends on treatment, soil, drainage and installation. WoodSolutions recommends H4 treatment for treated pine fence posts. As a rough guide, treated pine paling fences in Melbourne typically last 15 to 20 years, and posts rotting at ground level are usually what ends them.
Yes. Galvanised steel posts made for timber fences are available, with the timber rails and palings fixed by brackets or bolts. Steel does not rot and termites cannot eat it, but it looks different, the cost varies by system, and corrosion protection matters near the bay. Ask how the rails attach and what the coating warranty covers.
It depends on the height, the timber and the spacing. As a general guide, WoodSolutions lists typical fence posts of about 125 x 50mm for hardwood and 125 x 75mm for treated softwood, at 2.4 or 2.7 metre centres. Taller fences and windy sites can need heavier posts or closer spacing.
The ground line is where timber stays damp but still gets air, which is what decay fungi need, and termites work up from the soil. Pooling water, soil or mulch against the timber, and untreated cut ends all speed it up. Concrete that sheds water, a gravel base and garden beds kept clear of the timber all help.
Durable hardwood heartwood relies on its natural durability, which varies by species, and dense heartwood does not take preservative well anyway. Sapwood is non-durable in every species, so any sapwood in a post needs treatment for outdoor use. That is why the species matters more than the word hardwood on a quote.
Get a free online instant estimate now: enter your address and draw your boundary on the satellite map. Then book a free, no-obligation on-site measure and itemised written quote that lists the post spec. Measures need 24 hours' notice, and there is no deposit to book.
Get my instant estimate → Call 0433 938 540General information only, current at October 2026. Durability and hazard classes, sizes and footing depths are general guidance from WoodSolutions and the Australian Standards; real performance varies with species, treatment, soil and workmanship. Price ranges are from published industry cost guides, not our rates. For shared fences, check your Fences Act 1968 (Vic) rights with the Dispute Settlement Centre of Victoria, and check with your council if your property has an overlay or the fence forms part of a pool barrier.
Sources: WoodSolutions Fencing, Natural durability ratings (AS 5604) and Preservative treatments and use classes (AS 1604); Queensland Government, Using treated timber; What's The Damage, Fencing cost Melbourne (market ranges and post advice); Before You Dig Australia; Fences Act 1968 (Vic); Dispute Settlement Centre of Victoria. This guide is general information, not legal or engineering advice.