What short fence alternatives?

[felipenm]

Hey all,

I want to make a fence similar to the one in the photo below but in white. I originally wanted to use aluminium, but it turned out to be quite expensive. I am looking for alternatives, and I thought of using timber instead. I would then paint the timber white.

• Is timber a good option in this case?
• If yes, which timber should I use, considering longevity and that it will be painted in white?
• Are there any other materials I could use instead?

Thanks

Felipe

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[JacobZ]

Hi @felipenm,

Thank you for your question about materials for your new fence.

Looking at your inspiration image, to create enough tension to hold the fence posts in place, they would need to be concreted in. Any timber product used would need to be treated to H4 standard to be usable in this situation.

These 90 x 45mm 3.9m MGP10 H4 Treated Outdoor Structural Radiata Pine seem like a good choice of material, however, they do not have sharp edges like those in your inspiration image. With some sanding and tidying up, then you could certainly use them.

Alternatively, you could use Steel Rectangular Hollow Section with Black Plastic Caps, but it would not give as clean a look.

Let me know what you think.

Jacob

[felipenm]

@JacobZ Thanks! This treated timber seems to be a good option. As for painting it, do you suggest coating/priming it with a specific product before painting it in white?

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[JacobZ]

Hi @felipenm,

Painting the portion of the timber that will be underground with bitumen membrane will help protect it from rot.

With the portion that is above ground, just give the timber a sand, ensuring you wear a mask while doing so, and paint it with exterior paint such as Dulux Weathershield or Taubmans All Weather. Exterior paints are self-priming, so they can be applied straight on the timber. Make sure you apply 3 coats evenly, covering everything well.

Let me know what you think and if you have further questions, please don't hesitate to ask.

Jacob

[felipenm]

Fantastic! Thanks @JacobZ