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Cement sheeting on timber fence

I have just had a new rear timber fence installed. My side is the railing side and as I have a new swimming pool this new fence forms part of our pool safety barrier. As such I need to ensure the pool area of this new fence is non-climbable. I have already check with the inspector who is due to come and inspect early next week and they will not sign off on what many have suggested being a 60 degree wedge attached to the new railings. I am looking at battening out the rails and attaching fibre cement sheeting. Has anyone done this before? Not too sure on which way to hang the sheets either horizontal or vertical? Does it even matter??? Thanks

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Comments

MitchellMc

Hi @Patto,

Generally, cement sheeting is laid horizontally as it is easier to install the boards, and the joins are at one height for jointing. In your case, you might like to install them vertically, so you get a uniform sheet distribution across the span instead of having to jigsaw pieces together to fill the gaps. Check your spacing and the available sizes to work out which orientation will work best. You should find this installation guide for HardiTex useful.

@Midyandy recently posted a discussion on fencing screening where they appear to have a similar situation to yourself. Perhaps they might let us know if they have made any progress or had some tips.

Please let me know if you have any questions.

Mitchell

Midyandy

https://www.workshop.bunnings.com.au/discussion/comment/13372#Comment_13372

@Patto @MitchellMc

We have yet to commence our fence plan yet.

Not sure where you are based @Patto but here in QLD, the rail section when on the inside is not considered part of a climable zone. Our design is purely for beautification.

Patto

https://www.workshop.bunnings.com.au/discussion/comment/69195#Comment_69195

@Midyandy Thank you

Patto

https://www.workshop.bunnings.com.au/discussion/comment/13372#Comment_13372

@MitchellMc @Thanks. I ended up angling the sheets vertically.

MitchellMc

https://www.workshop.bunnings.com.au/discussion/comment/69210#Comment_69210

Fantastic work @Patto! You've certainly got that job finished rather quickly.

You might like to check out some of our screen panel options, which could add some interest to the wall. For some more inspiration, I'd recommend having a look at @ProjectPete's Feature fences, as they are truly a sight to behold.

We look forward to hearing all about your other projects around the home and garden and would encourage you to let us know if you ever need assistance or have something to share.

Many thanks for your update.

Mitchell

Cracks

https://www.workshop.bunnings.com.au/discussion/comment/69210#Comment_69210

Hi Patto,

Looking at replicating your project as it would appear very similar. Would be interested to know how you battened the fence to fix the cement sheet?

What size timber you used? Any tips would be appreciated.

Thanks

MitchellMc

Welcome to the Bunnings Workshop community @Cracks. It's wonderful to have you join us, and many thanks for your question about this wonderful project.

Let me mention @Patto so they are alerted to your questions and hopefully can provide you with an answer. In the meantime, you should find this installation guide for HardiTex useful. It provides you will all the information you need to install the fibre cement boards.

We'll be looking forward to following along with your project. Please let us know if you need further assistance or would like to share it with our members.

Mitchell

Cracks

https://www.workshop.bunnings.com.au/discussion/comment/17554#Comment_17554

Went ahead with the project and thought I would share a couple of photos. Pleased with the result!

Only had one "before" photo but you can see the difference.

EricL

https://www.workshop.bunnings.com.au/discussion/comment/71650#Comment_71650

Hello @Cracks

Thank you so much for posting those photo updates. It certainly has made a big difference as all the dark shade of the fence has been replaced with a bright finish. It gives the area a Mediterranean look and feel. If you had enough space, I would recommend putting in a white pergola next to the pool to complete the look. Adding the Matrix panels is a nice touch and gives the wall a very good visual feature.

How long did it take you to put it all up? Did you nail it in or did you screw the panels on? Any advice or tips you can share with our members who are thinking of doing the same project would be highly appreciated.

Again, thank you for sharing your fencing project.

Eric

tony1982

https://www.workshop.bunnings.com.au/discussion/comment/99116#Comment_99116

Hi there.

Were you worried about adding so much additional weight to the fence?

EricL

https://www.workshop.bunnings.com.au/discussion/comment/116361#Comment_116361

HI @tony1982

Let me tag @Patto to make them aware of your question. I suppose if the cement sheets were placed on the ground first and then nailed in the brunt of the weight of the cement sheet would be on the ground and the fence frame would just be holding it up. Are you planning on doing the same project? Any updates you can provide would be much appreciated.

Eric

Narellekaren

omg that is so good. i have problem with noise. did this work for stopping noise from loud neighbours?

EricL

https://www.workshop.bunnings.com.au/discussion/comment/18076#Comment_18076

Hello @Narellekaren

I'm glad you found this cement sheeting fence project inspirational. I was going to suggest it as a possible alternative to your acoustic fencing ideas. I highly suspect that the cement sheeting has reduced the noise in the pool area, but let me tag @Patto to make them aware of your question. Using James Hardie 2400 x 1200 x 4.5mm 2.88m² HardieFlex™ Cladding is a good alternative as it provides a certain amount of noise reduction. I reckon a combination of the suggested noise reduction materials and cement sheeting should lower the acoustics from the opposite side of the wall.

If you need further assistance, please let us know.

Eric

Cracks

https://www.workshop.bunnings.com.au/discussion/comment/18076#Comment_18076

It has marginally reduced the noise, but obviously can't stop what comes over the fence! My fence was only single palings butted roughly together (meaning there were gaps between almost everyone), so my main reason for the project was to fix the privacy issue which it has definitely done. Noise reduction is a bonus, but the new aesthetics have been the most pleasing aspect.

Patto

https://www.workshop.bunnings.com.au/discussion/comment/116361#Comment_116361

Hi @tony1982

My fence had been installed only a few weeks prior and at the time I had extra length and concrete fir each post. I did go the thinnest cement sheeting to reduce weight. However having a thinner sheet resulted in some of the cement sheet screws pulling through when I tried to screw flush. I ended up glueing and screwing to counter any screws pulling through.

WayneM

https://www.workshop.bunnings.com.au/discussion/comment/71650#Comment_71650

Lovely work @Cracks. Many thanks for sharing, and well done.

You've provided great information that will be a significant help to our community members.

Thousands of people have already viewed your post and we are interested in turning your project into a Featured Project article. Do you have any more pictures you could share?

It would also be great if you could share any other tips or lessons learned during your project that would assist other members keen on starting similar projects.

Many thanks,

Wayne

vonniedee

https://www.workshop.bunnings.com.au/discussion/comment/101768#Comment_101768

This looks great … thinking this might solve my pool boundary fence issues … can the cement sheeting be attached to colourbond?

MitchellMc

https://www.workshop.bunnings.com.au/discussion/comment/117984#Comment_117984

Hi @vonniedee,

Physically you could attach the sheeting to a Colorbond fence, but you'll only have the two posts and the top and bottom rails to screw into. Unlike a timber fence, you wouldn't be able to fix the sheeting in the midsection. You'd likely need to add battens across the fence panel span in order to have additional mounting locations for your sheeting. When retrofitting sheeting to a fence that wasn't designed to carry an additional load, you'd need to assess the footers and determine for yourself whether you were happy to proceed with the project. I'd imagine it would be best to have the sheeting and its weight sitting on the ground and then fixing it to the fence to hold it upright, as opposed to having the sheeting weight hanging off the fence. I've created a rendering below to illustrate. If in doubt, it would be a good idea to enlist the service of a professional to determine whether the fence is capable of bearing your sheeting weight.

Please let me know if you have any questions.

Mitchell

Beercules

Hey @Patto & @Cracks

You're fences look awesome! I am also planning to do the same. May I ask what thickness of Fibre Cement sheets did you use?

Cheers

Cracks

https://www.workshop.bunnings.com.au/discussion/comment/34480#Comment_34480

@Beercules

Used the 6mm sheets as I was wary of not putting too much additional weight on the existing fence. Haven’t had any problems after 2 years. Thanks for the compliment!

kay21

https://www.workshop.bunnings.com.au/discussion/comment/69210#Comment_69210

Did you need to waterproof the back of the sheets ?

MitchellMc

https://www.workshop.bunnings.com.au/discussion/comment/106944#Comment_106944

Welcome to the Bunnings Workshop community @kay21. It's marvellous to have you join us, and many thanks for your question about fibre cement sheeting.

Let me tag @Cracks so they are notified of your question.

HardieTex sheets are typically used for cladding exterior walls, where the rear side isn’t directly exposed to the elements because they are installed against the house's structure. When using them for off-spec applications like creating a feature wall it's a good idea to take precautions to protect the rear of the board, particularly if there's any chance of moisture getting trapped behind it.

Encapsulating the back of the HardieTex sheets can help prevent potential issues like water absorption, which could lead to swelling or damage over time. One option is to apply a waterproofing agent specifically designed for cement-based products. These agents create a barrier that helps keep moisture out, offering long-term protection.

Alternatively, at the very least, you could apply a coat of exterior-grade paint, such as Dulux Weathershield, to the back of the sheets. This paint is formulated to withstand outdoor conditions and provides a basic level of moisture protection. While this won’t be as robust as a dedicated waterproofing agent, it’s still a practical measure that can make a difference in prolonging the lifespan of your cladding.

In either case, ensuring proper protection of the rear side is important to avoid any water ingress, especially in areas prone to high humidity or rain.

Please let me know if you have any questions.

Mitchell

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