A fence is mostly posts. The palings are what you see, but whether the fence is still straight in fifteen years comes down to post depth, concrete, timber treatment and drainage — all of which are invisible the day it's finished.
Greensward NZ installs timber fencing across Auckland: boundary fences, screening and slat fences, gates, and pool fencing built to meet the Building Act requirements.
What's included
- Boundary check and line set out with a string line
- Post holes dug to depth, posts concreted and braced plumb
- H4-treated posts in ground, H3.2 rails and palings above
- Gates hung with adjustable heavy-duty hardware
- Site left clean, spoil and offcuts removed
- Old fence demolished and disposed of if required
Why fences fail
Almost every failed fence we replace failed at the post. Either the post wasn't treated to H4 and rotted at ground level, or the hole was too shallow, or the concrete was domed the wrong way so water pooled around the post instead of running off.
We set posts at roughly a third of the above-ground height into the ground — so a 1.8m fence gets around 600mm of post in the hole — concreted, with the concrete finished proud and sloped away so water sheds. It's slower on the day and it's the difference between a fence that lasts eight years and one that lasts twenty-five.
Boundary fences and the Fencing Act
Under the Fencing Act 1978, neighbours generally share the cost of an adequate boundary fence equally. If you want your neighbour to contribute, the process is a written Fencing Notice setting out the proposed fence, the cost and the contractor, and they have 21 days to object or propose an alternative.
We're happy to provide the quote in a form you can attach to a Fencing Notice, and to price both a standard option and whatever upgrade you're after so the cost split is clear. Skipping this step is where most fence-related neighbour disputes start.
Pool fencing
Pool fencing in New Zealand is regulated under the Building Act and the associated Residential Pools legislation, and it's inspected by the council every three years. The rules cover height, gaps, the non-climbable zone, and gate self-closing and self-latching hardware.
We build pool fences to those requirements and leave you with a fence that will pass inspection. If your existing pool fence has failed an inspection, send us the council's notice and we'll quote the specific items it lists.
Fencing Installation — common questions
How much does fencing cost per metre in Auckland?
Fencing is quoted on site and the quote is free. The price per linear metre depends on the style — a standard 1.8m timber paling fence is the cheapest, with slat and screening fences, retaining fences and pool-compliant fencing costing more. Sloping ground, hard rock and removing an old fence all affect it too, which is why we measure the run rather than quote off a rate.
Does my neighbour have to pay half the fence?
Under the Fencing Act 1978 neighbours generally share the cost of an adequate boundary fence equally, but you need to serve a written Fencing Notice setting out the proposed fence, the cost and the contractor. They have 21 days to object or propose an alternative. We can supply a quote in a form suitable to attach to that notice.
Do I need a building consent for a fence?
Most residential fences up to 2.5 metres high don't need consent. Pool fences are the significant exception — they're regulated under the Building Act, must meet specific height, gap, non-climbable zone and gate hardware requirements, and are inspected by the council every three years.
How long does a fence take to install?
A typical residential run of 20–30 metres takes two days: one to set and concrete the posts, then a return visit once the concrete has gone off to fix rails and palings. Removing an old fence first adds roughly half a day.