Fencing
Timber or aluminium? Choosing slat fencing for a beachside home on the Tweed Coast
Taylor, Swell Property Works 11 September 2026 6 min read
Short answer: within a kilometre of the beach, timber slat fencing costs roughly $260 to $420 per lineal metre built and needs re-oiling every two years. Aluminium slat fencing costs roughly $380 to $600 per metre and needs a hose down. Over ten years the total cost is closer than the upfront price suggests, so the decision is mostly about look and how much maintenance you'll actually do.
Cost per metre, built
| Fence type (1.8 m high) | Supplied and built, per lineal metre |
|---|---|
| Treated-pine slats on treated-pine frame | $260 – $340 |
| Hardwood slats (spotted gum, merbau) on hardwood frame | $340 – $420 |
| Aluminium slats on aluminium posts and rails | $380 – $600 |
| Aluminium slats on timber frame (hybrid) | $320 – $480 |
Gates add $550 to $950 each for timber and $700 to $1,300 for aluminium. Prices are inclusive of GST and are guides for the Southern Gold Coast and Tweed Coast in 2026.
Lifespan in salt air
Both last if they're built right. Timber fails at the posts and at the end grain of the slats, so we set posts in concrete with a gravel drain, seal every cut end and fix with stainless screws. Treated pine should give you 15 years, hardwood 20 plus. Powder-coated aluminium lasts as long as the coating does. The good marine-grade coatings are 15 years or more. Cheaper imported slats chalk and fade within five, so the brand matters.
Maintenance
- Timber: re-oil every 18 to 24 months near the beach, or let it silver naturally and accept a greyer look. A 20 m fence takes half a day to oil.
- Aluminium: hose the salt off every few months. That's it.
- Hybrid (aluminium slats on a timber frame): oil the frame, hose the slats. Popular in Casuarina and Kingscliff because it matches the estate look at a lower price than full aluminium.
Look and privacy
Timber slats in spotted gum or blackbutt suit the beach-house style along Palm Beach, Currumbin and Cabarita, and can be stained to match decks and screens. Aluminium slats come in a wide colour range, including woodgrain finishes that are convincing from the street. Slat spacing controls privacy either way. A 10 mm gap is private from most angles, 20 mm lets more breeze through.
Council and neighbours
Boundary fences up to 1.8 m don't usually need approval in Tweed Shire or Gold Coast City. Pool fences and anything on a corner block might. In both NSW and Queensland the neighbour usually shares the cost of a standard dividing fence, so we write quotes you can pass over the fence.
Our default for a beachside home: hardwood or hybrid if you like timber and will oil it, full aluminium if you won't.
See our fencing page for what's included, or check the area pages for Kingscliff, Casuarina and Cabarita Beach.
Related questions
Treated pine 12 to 15 years, hardwood 20 years or more, provided the posts are concreted with drainage and the end grain is sealed.
Aluminium doesn't rust, but cheap powder-coating can chalk and fade in salt air. Choose a marine-grade coating and stainless fixings.
Yes. We match slat size, spacing, height and finish so the boundary reads as one fence.