This document has been prepared as a guide only

PALING FENCE Guide (box paling fence)

Last update June 2010

It is recommend that you only use this guide direct from this website,  that way you will be sure to get un-modified information. We do not recommend the use of printed copies which may contain modifications.

Painting and staining

Palings need to dry out before painting and staining.

Painting and staining before drying has taken place may cause the palings to warp, crack and dry unevenly.

Palings shrink and if painted before this has taken place you will be left with unpainted stripes where the palings have shrunk.

We recommend waiting at least 60 days after installation before painting and staining. 

Watering and Sprinkler systems

These need to be arrange so that the posts, rails and palings are not constantly wet.

Fence heights and Ground levels

All fence heights are measured from the bottom of the plinth to the the top of the fence, not from the ground. If measuring from the ground the fence height will vary with the ground undulations, it may also be different on each side of the fence.

It is best to keep the top of the fence running in a long straight line as much as possible, although this is not always possible.

Gaps under the fence can be filled with soil or an extra plinth can be installed. If the gaps are large, then longer post will be required.

Posts

2700mm post centres with treated pine and hardwood rails are commonly used. However 2400mm post centres may also be used if you are concerned about rail sag, bow and warping, this may increase the cost of the fence.

Post centres over 2700mm rails may sag, bow and warp.

Timber posts size
125mm x 75mm or 125mm x 125mm.

Tops of posts should be sloped so water runs off.

Timber durability classes 1 or 2 (suitable for in-ground use)

End Posts (also called Starter Posts)  are sometimes set back from the end of the fence rails, this enables the fence to be built without disturbing the objects at the end of the fence.

Softwood posts like cypress pine are not recommended for high wind load areas.

Side cutting of the post notches is not recommended as it can weaken the post.

Concrete posts sizes
110mm x 45mm may vary see manufactures specifications.

Footings

Depth 600mm where ground conditions permit.

Deeper for soft or loose ground such as sand.

Holes can be filled with Stabilise Soil

• Stabilise Soil Dry mix 6kg of dry cement evenly mixed with the soil from the hole and rammed back into the hole.

• Stabilise Soil Wet mix 6kg dry cement evenly mixed in the hole with the soil from the hole plus water.

Allow 24 hours for the cement to cure.

Concrete can also be used.

Bracing, sole plates and struts can also be used for extra strength.

Fast setting concrete - some ready mixed fast setting concrete has a lower mpa than standard concrete so check the mpa strength is suitable for your requirements.

All ready mixed cement products should be well mixed with water as per the manufactures specifications.

Cleats

These are used to join rails to walls and other fences.

They are used instead of a post and do not go in the ground.

Size 100mm x 50mm.

Plinths

Normal Size: 150mm x 25mm.

Thicker plinths 150mm x 38mm  are sometimes used for added strength or to hold back small amounts of soil.

If more than one plinth high is required plinth droppers need to be installed between the posts to hold the plinths together and stop them bowing apart.

Plinths used to hold back soil should be the same timber durability classes as fence posts.

Plinths should not be used as a retaining walls.

Please note
In Melbourne the plinth is below the bottom rail not nailed to it.
In Geelong the plinth is nailed on to the bottom rail.

Rails

Joins should be staggered to help prevent rails popping out of posts on windy days.

Hardwood 
75mm x 50mm top and bottom
75mm x 38mm middle

Treated pine
75mm x 50mm top, bottom and middle

Nails
One 100mm nail per rail per post 
or
Two 75mm nails skew nailed up and down per rail per post.

Palings

A natural product - knots, gum veins and hairline splits are not considered defects.

Overlap is 25mm each side of paling and shrinkage will occur so the original overlap will be reduced after a short period of time.

Treated pine and hardwood paling Thickness 13mm plus or minus 2mm

Hardwood Paling Widths
75mm, 100mm, 125mm, 150mm
Any combination as long as the wide one is used as the under paling.
150mm unders combined with 150mm overs is NOT recommended due to excessive cupping occurring as the palings dry.

Treated Pine Paling Widths
150mm unders and 100mm overs
100mm unders and 100mm overs 

Treated Pine  150mm unders combined with 150mm overs is NOT recommended due to excessive cupping occurring as the palings dry.

Gaps may appear between the palings and the plinth when building on slopes it is suggested that a combination of 100mm unders and 100mm overs be used to reduce this gap.  The bottoms of the palings can also be cut to match the slope but this can be rather expensive.

200mm is the maximum recommended distance between the top of the top rail and the top of the palings.

200mm is the maximum recommended distance between the bottom of the bottom rail and the top of the plinth.

NAILS

Under paling one flat head nail per rail (the middle rail nail is optional) at least 40mm long with hardwood rails and 45mm long with treated pine rails.

Over palings two flat head nails per rail at least 50mm long with hardwood rails and 56mm long with treated pine rails.

Cover paling nails should be placed as close as possible to the under paling.

Galvanised nails are recommended for treated pine.

Paling nails should have a round flat head.

Paling nails should be counter sunk at least 2mm below the surface of the paling to allow for shrinkage. They should not be counter sunk any more than 4mm below the surface of the paling other wise the palings may be easily pulled off when wet or after shrinkage has occurred.

The point of the nail should not sick out the back of the rail after the palings have been installed.

T-NAILS should not be used.

Capping

Capping is sometimes used to finish the top of the fence.

To prevent the capping from lifting it should be doubled skew nailed to the top rail every 450mm. Round flat head 75mm long nails should be used on capping up to 45mm thick. 

Nails should be galvanized if the capping or rail is treated pine.

When capping is used longer posts may be required.

Location

Side Boundary Fence - Melbourne Victoria - the centre line of a paling fence is the junction between the palings and the rails.

Front Boundary Fence - The whole of the fence should be behind the boundary line.

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This document has been prepared as a guide only