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Hi,
I'm planning to add WPC cladding to cover my existing Colorbond fence. Since the WPC panels are a bit heavy, I'm thinking of building a standalone frame close to the fence, without attaching the panels or the frame directly to it.
I'm trying to figure out what size metal posts I need to use for the frame, but I haven’t been able to find any reference for this kind of project online. I read on a website that the joist spacing for WPC panels should be 450mm, but there’s no information about the spacing for the vertical posts.
By looking at the Colorbond Good Neighbour fencing panel weight and the load on each post, I thought 50x50 posts spaced every 1m might work.
This the draft i did for the project and this is one repeat of 10m long project
By looking at the guidline for Colorbond Good Neighbour fencing panel weight and the load on each post, I thought 50x50 posts spaced every 1m might work. The top and bottom would be connected by 20x20 beams, and for the middle section, I’m thinking of using this beam:
I would really appreciate it if someone could share their thoughts on this plan—whether it’s too much steel or not strong enough.
Note: I got the image below from the website https://heritonfencing.com.au for reference purposes.
Hello @nalakas90
Welcome to the Bunnings Workshop community. It's sensational to have you join us, and thanks for sharing your question about WPC cladding. The only equivalent product for WPC that I am aware of is the Ekodeck Castellated Panels. The Ekodeck series is conservatively 10.3kg per panel and does tend to add up when joined in a series. But if cut down in half will reduce its weight and will not put too much strain on the frame.
I suggest having a quick look at this discussion - How to install Ekodeck castellated panels onto retaining wall? by @Neil1984. In their project they used steel posts and timber rails to hold the panels in place. It looks absolutely amazing and very modern. In regards to your framing, I suggest speaking to your WPC provider and see what they recommend in regards to post distance. If the panels are very heavy, then the short span between posts might be necessary and the steel rails will be enough to support weight of the WPC panels.
Let me call on our experienced members @Dave-1, @AlanM52 and @Nailbag for their recommendations.
If you have any other questions we can help with, please let us know.
Eric
Good Evening @nalakas90
I havnt used steel in my fences, well as yet 
However I am installing a privacy screen higher then my existing fence and have installed timber posts every 1100mm ish, Only the top 600mm will probarlly have slats as that is all thats needed. I considered weight and sag over years was the main reason why I went with more posts then probarrly what was needed. I also considered how I was going to install the posts. I ended up using 690mm earth screw posts and these are fine if you dont hit rock or have hidden rocks.. I thought of the weight hanging off the posts wanting to pull it off center as well.
So metal posts def are stronger but as @EricL mentioned I would probarlly contact the manufacturer of the panels and see what they recomend. It will look a very nice fence and you want it to stay that way for years so extra cost/size now may stave off future rebuilds.
A sketch of my idea. The plan changed as in vertical to horizontal, mainly because of cost but also I have a lot of timber in that area and it felt a little too much.
Side profile showing how my posts will be installed. I didnt want to add weight to the fencelinbe so went the route of a self support fence like you are thinking of. I havnt finsihed the project, tho all posts are in at the moment. I just need to get some horizontal slats for the top 600mm.
Dave
