Can you use fibre cement sheeting for a fence?

[MirandaC]

Hi, I’m wondering if it is possible to use fibre cement sheeting for a fence at all? I was going to put in a timber plank fence but feel this might be a quicker way to go. Any key considerations for using fibre cement sheets instead?

Thanks

[MitchellMc]

Welcome to the Bunnings Workshop community @MirandaC. It's wonderful to have you join us, and many thanks for your question about constructing a fence.

You could certainly use fibre cement sheets to construct a fence, and I'd recommend fibre cement cladding. If this is a fence between two properties, you'll obviously need to discuss the material choice with your neighbour. Depending on the thickness of the sheets, you might need to increase the size of the footings to ensure they can support any additional weight. The 4.5mm sheeting would likely work out to be a similar weight to timber pailings, but if you were to go with the 7.5mm sheeting it could work out to be heavier.

The only other thing to consider is that thin sheets on one side of the fence could look a little unfinished. You might like to install the sheets on both sides of the fence and cap the top as per the rendering I've created below. Render bead reinforces and covers the top joins before you apply render over them. Here's a helpful step-by-step guide: How to render corners.

Please let me know if you have any questions.

Mitchell

 

[MirandaC]

Thanks for the advice @MitchellMc .

iIt is an internal fence, and I was thinking of using something like James Hadie Axon cladding with us 9mm thick and painting it. Given the nature of having the VJ groves in the board it would look best with cladding both sides and I was thinking a timber rail to top it off.
Given the cladding is 9mm thick, with two sheets would this be exceptionally heavy that I’d be best to just stick with pailing instead?

Thanks,

Miranda 

[EricL]

Hello @MirandaC

It's fantastic that you've received excellent advice from @MitchellMc. Just to add another perspective to your project, let's say for example that you purchased the James Hardie 3600 x 1200 x 9mm 4.32m² Smooth Axon™ Cladding. One sheet divided into two will cover a space of 2400mm x 1800mm, but it will need an extra post in the middle as the 2400mm is too wide for the timber rails to support. So in essence it will be a distance of 1200mm per post.

When you compare the price difference, the paling is 92 times cheaper than the Axon cladding. However, you are paying for the look that Axom gives. With the post distances I've shown you the Axom panels can be supported. But if your budget is a bit tight you can always paint the palings in the same colour and reduce the distance between them to give you a better profile.

Have a look at the images below and tell me what you think.

If you have any other questions we can help with, please let us know.

Eric