What Type of Fence Should You Build for Your Christchurch Property?

A fence isn't something most people replace every few years. Get the wrong one up and you're either stuck looking at it for the next fifteen to twenty years, or paying to pull it out and start again. If you're standing in your back or front yard, trying to work out what type of fence to build, here's a straight-up answer, no sales pitch, just what actually matters for a Christchurch section.

Different types of fences to build in Christchurch

Timber paling fences

This is the fence you'll see on most residential streets across Christchurch, and it's our specialty. Standard height is 1.8m, built with close set palings for full privacy. It suits almost any section, holds up well when built properly (correct post depth, the right fixings used, quality timber), and it's the option most people see on a typical Kiwi property. There are many types of timber styles that you can choose from depending on your preference. The only thing about timber fences is that they do need a small amount of maintenance to get maximum life out of them.

Coloursteel and metal fences

Corrugated iron and colour steel panels are very low maintenance. These panels give a property a smart, modern look, though that's not to every homeowner's taste on an older street. They come in a wide range of colours, so it's easy to match new fencing to your roof or cladding, and a good factory applied finish will comfortably outlast timber without ever needing a repaint. Panels are solid and give good privacy and security, and there's no timber to warp or palings to work loose over time.

Post and rail fences

An open style, just rails, sometimes with wire infill, commonly used on lifestyle blocks and rural boundaries around Canterbury, or as a low front-yard option. It marks a boundary clearly without blocking the view, but it won't give you privacy and it won't stop a determined dog.

Glass and aluminium fencing

Glass panelling shows up mostly around pools, where it's chosen for the unobstructed look as much as for pool safety compliance, pool fencing has its own legal requirements, so that's worth confirming with your installer and council before you commit to a style. Aluminium slat fencing is popular for modern front yards where you want some definition without a solid wall. Both are low-maintenance but come at a higher price point, and neither gives you full privacy unless you go for frosted glass.

Hedges and living fences

Not a fence in the traditional sense, but a genuine option for softening a boundary, often planted alongside a timber or wire fence while the hedge establishes. It takes a few years to fill in and needs ongoing trimming forever after, but it's a nice look and can work well combined with a more functional fence behind it for pets or pool compliance.

How to Work Out Which One Suits You Privacy

Timber paling and coloursteel are the clear winners here. Post and rail and hedges (until fully grown) offer little to none.

Wind

Canterbury's nor'wester is notorious for finding the weak point in any fence. A well-built timber paling fence with properly set posts and concrete footings handles it fine, coloursteel is even more wind-resistant by design. If your section is genuinely exposed, mention it to whoever's quoting the job, post depth and bracing matter more than the fence type itself.

Pets and kids

Solid fencing (timber or steel) keeps a dog in and a toddler out of the neighbour's yard, far more reliably than post and rail or a developing hedge. Check gap sizes at the base too, especially for smaller dogs.

Budget

Timber paling generally gives you the best balance of cost, privacy and durability. Coloursteel, glass and aluminium sit above it on price. Hedges are cheap to plant but carry an ongoing cost in time and trimming that people often forget to factor in.

Maintenance

Timber needs a small amount of general maintenance with painting or staining to get the maximum amount of life as well maybe some minor fixes over time. Steel, aluminium and glass need very little. hedges need consistent trimming for as long as they're there.

Resale value

A tidy, well built fence adds to kerb appeal no matter the type, A solid boundary fence makes the property feel like a usable space, not just an empty section, that matters most to buyers with kids or a dog. Without one, even a good-sized yard can feel exposed and harder to picture living in.

Christchurch conditions

Two things worth knowing locally, most of Christchurch’s housing is on dead flat land, so there's not much to slow the wind down before it hits your fence, and if you're on TC2 or TC3 land from the quakes, the ground can be softer than usual. Either way these things need to be considered when constructing a new fence

Boundary Fences and the Rules You Need to Know

If you're putting up a fence on a shared boundary, New Zealand's Fencing Act 1978 sets out the general idea that neighbours can share the cost of what's considered an "adequate" fence. It's worth talking to your neighbour before you start, both to split cost fairly and to avoid a dispute later.

Fence Type Comparison at a Glance

Fence Type	Privacy	Wind Resistance	Maintenance	Typical Cost	Best For
Timber paling	High	Good, when well-built	Moderate	$$	Most Christchurch homes, privacy
Post and rail	Low	High	Low	$	Rural/lifestyle boundaries
Colorsteel	High	Very high	Low	$$$	Exposed or coastal sections
Glass/aluminium	Low–Medium	Medium–High	Low	$$$	Pools, modern front yards
Hedge	Medium (once grown)	Low–Medium	High, ongoing	$	Softening a boundary

FAQs

What's the most common type of fence in Christchurch?

Timber paling, by a wide margin. It's the standard privacy fence on residential sections across the city.

How high can I build a fence in Christchurch without needing consent?

There are general height allowances for boundary fences that don't require building consent, standard boundary fences between residential properties can be built up to 2 metres high without needing consent. Front fences can very though, 1.8 metres high and in certain areas they can only be 1.2 metres high.

Who pays for a boundary fence between neighbours in NZ?

Under the Fencing Act 1978, neighbours can generally share the cost of an adequate dividing fence, and there's a formal process (a fencing notice) if you can't agree. In practice, most neighbours sort it out with a conversation before it gets that far.

How much does it cost to build a timber paling fence in Christchurch?

Cost depends on the length of the fence, type of fence and whether an old fence needs removing first.

Which fence type handles Canterbury wind best?

Coloursteel is the most wind-resistant option, but a properly built timber paling fence, good posts, correct depth, solid concrete footings holds up well even through a hard nor'wester.

Ready to Get Started?

If you've read this far and you're still not sure which fence is right for your section, that's a completely normal place to be, it depends on your section, your budget, and what you actually need the fence to do. Here at Nailed It Fencing, we build fences all across Christchurch, and we're happy to have an honest conversation about what’s the right call for your property.