Steel sheet fencing made from Colorbond® steel (a BlueScope trademark) is the most common boundary fence in Perth: it’s low-maintenance, private, comes in a range of colours, and won’t rot or need painting. Most residential boundary fences are around 1.8 m high, with options for plinths, lattice or slat extensions, and matching gates.
Sharing the cost with your neighbour
Under WA’s Dividing Fences Act 1961, neighbours generally share the cost of a “sufficient” dividing fence, and there’s a process for giving your neighbour notice before work starts. What counts as sufficient is often set by your local council. Talk to your neighbour early and check the current rules with the WA Government and your council — it avoids most disputes.
Replacing an old fence? Check for asbestos
Many older Perth fences are fibre cement (“super six”) sheeting, and fences installed before the 1990s may contain asbestos. Don’t break or cut them. Removal must follow WA’s asbestos rules, and larger areas require a licensed removalist. Ask each fencer how they handle removal and disposal, and whether it’s included in their price.
Sloping blocks, retaining and plinths
Perth’s sandy soils and sloping blocks often mean a fence needs plinths (concrete or limestone panels along the bottom) or a step in the fence line. Where the ground levels differ on each side, a retaining wall may be needed first. These items change the scope significantly, so mention them up front.
What affects the price
- Length and height of the fence
- Plinths, retaining or step-downs on sloping ground
- Removal and disposal of the old fence (including any asbestos)
- Gates — pedestrian, double or sliding driveway gates
- Extensions such as lattice or slats, and the colour on each side
- Access along the fence line, trees, sheds and services in the way
Fencing is usually quoted per metre plus extras. A per-metre figure alone won’t tell you what’s included, so compare what each response covers rather than the headline number.
Questions to ask a fencer
- What’s included — removal, disposal, plinths, gates and clean-up?
- Does the quote assume a straight, level fence line?
- How do you handle a neighbour who hasn’t agreed yet?
- What warranty applies to the materials and installation?
- When could you start, and how long will the job take?
