Planning your fence
The build is usually the quick part. This is how the whole process runs, from first estimate to finished fence, and what can slow it down.
Most of the time on a fence job is spent on agreement, paperwork and booking, not on the build itself. Here is the usual order and what each step depends on.
| Stage | What happens | What it depends on |
|---|---|---|
| 1. Online estimate | Draw the boundary on a satellite map and get a ballpark figure | About 2 minutes, any time |
| 2. On-site measure and written quote | The boundary is measured, ground, slope and access are checked, and you get a written quote | Free, with 24 hours' notice and no deposit to book |
| 3. Neighbour agreement | You and your neighbour agree on the fence and the split, in writing | Same day if you agree; at least 30 days if you serve a Fencing Notice |
| 4. Permits (only if needed) | Building permit or council consent for some front fences, fences over 2m, pool barriers or overlays | Your council and building surveyor |
| 5. Booking and materials | The job goes in the schedule and materials are ordered | Season, supplier stock and any special orders |
| 6. Build day(s) | Old fence out, posts concreted, rails and palings on, site cleaned up | Usually 1 to 2 days for 20 to 30 metres; weather |
A general guide only. Every boundary is different, and your written quote is the place to confirm timing for your job.
For a standard 1.8m timber paling fence on a 20 to 30 metre suburban boundary, the on-site work is usually 1 to 2 days. A common pattern is:
Short runs on flat, clear ground can sometimes be finished in a day. Long or L-shaped runs, steep slopes, lapped and capped finishes, tight side access or several gates take longer. Colorbond is often similar, because the posts still go into concrete first.
Concrete needs time to set before a post carries rails and palings, and cold, wet days slow it down. A post that moves while the concrete is green can stay out of line for the life of the fence. On the sandy ground common across Kingston and Bayside, the footing does most of the work of holding the post, so it is worth the wait. Our hardwood vs treated pine posts guide explains why post choice matters too.
A dividing fence is shared, and under the Fences Act 1968 (Vic) neighbours generally split the cost of a sufficient fence. If you and your neighbour agree, this step can take a day: sign the agreed quote and move on. If you cannot get an answer, the formal route is a Fencing Notice, and your neighbour has 30 days from the day they receive it to respond. Serve it early so the clock is running while everything else is organised. Our free Fencing Notice generator fills one in for you, and our guide on how to fill in a Fencing Notice walks through every field. If the neighbour still will not engage, read what to do when a neighbour won't pay.
Most side and rear fences up to 2 metres need no building permit in Victoria. Taller front fences, fences over 2 metres, corner sites, pool barriers and some overlays can, and that runs on the council's and building surveyor's timeline, not the fencer's. Check early with our permit guide.
Standard palings, rails and hardwood posts are usually easy to get. Special heights, less common Colorbond colours, aluminium, made-to-measure gates and gate automation can need ordering in, which adds to the wait.
Heavy rain fills post holes and slows concrete, and strong wind makes handling Colorbond sheets unsafe. A fencer may move your build day if the forecast is bad, which is better than building in poor conditions.
Taking out an old timber fence is usually part of day one, but creepers, trees grown into the fence, old concrete footings or rubbish along the line add time. See our old fence removal guide.
Some older fences, especially in post-war suburbs, are fibro (asbestos cement sheet). Do not cut, drill or break it. Removal by a specialist asbestos removalist has to be booked separately and done before the new fence can go in, so it adds its own lead time. WorkSafe Victoria has guidance on who can remove asbestos and how.
Draw your boundary on a satellite map for a free online instant estimate. When you are ready, book a free on-site measure and written quote. We need 24 hours' notice and there is no deposit to book.
Get my instant estimate →Spring and early summer is when many people want a new fence. At the same time, many suppliers and trades slow down or close over the Christmas and New Year break, and plenty of people are away through January, including neighbours you may need an answer from. If you want a fence before Christmas or early in the new year, book early: get your estimate, book the measure, talk to your neighbour and serve a notice if you need one, all before the end of year rush. We will not promise a date in a guide, but your written quote will tell you where your job can fit.
When quotes come in, our quote checklist helps you compare them line by line, and the fence replacement guide covers the whole process.
We are based in Heatherton and build timber paling fences, with Colorbond as a second option, across Heatherton, Cheltenham, Mentone, Moorabbin, Highett, Dingley Village, Parkdale, Mordialloc, Bentleigh and Bentleigh East. Being close means short travel to measure, and someone who already knows how the sandy ground in these suburbs behaves. We build new fences only; we do not take repair-only jobs.
A standard 1.8m timber paling fence on a 20 to 30 metre suburban boundary usually takes 1 to 2 days on site: posts set in concrete first, then rails and palings. Slope, tight access, gates, a lapped and capped finish or a difficult old fence removal can add time. Your written quote is the place to confirm timing for your job.
Your neighbour has 30 days from the day they receive a Fencing Notice to respond. If they agree sooner, the job can be booked sooner. If they do not respond within 30 days, the work can go ahead and you can apply to the Magistrates' Court of Victoria to recover their share. If they disagree, the Dispute Settlement Centre of Victoria can help.
Yes. Concrete needs time to set before posts carry rails and palings, and how long depends on the mix and the weather. That is one reason a fence is often built over two days: posts in on day one, rails and palings on day two. Rushing it can leave posts out of line.
Light rain is often workable, but heavy rain fills post holes, makes digging messy and slows concrete, and strong wind makes handling Colorbond sheets unsafe. A fencer may move the build day if the forecast is bad, which is better than building in poor conditions.
Usually, yes. Fibro (asbestos cement) fences must not be cut or broken, and removal by a specialist asbestos removalist has to be booked separately. The new fence can only go in after they have finished. Tell your fencer early if you think your fence is fibro, and see WorkSafe Victoria for the rules.
Book early. Spring and early summer are popular for new fences, and many suppliers and trades slow down or close over the Christmas and New Year break. Get a free online instant estimate, book the free measure and sort out your neighbour agreement or Fencing Notice well before the end of year rush.
Start with a free online instant estimate: draw your boundary on a satellite map and see a figure in about 2 minutes. Then book a free, no-obligation on-site measure and written quote. We 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. Timing depends on your boundary, your neighbour, permits, materials and weather, so confirm it on your written quote. Sources: Fencing in Victoria (Dispute Settlement Centre of Victoria); Fences Act 1968 (Vic); WorkSafe Victoria, asbestos.