100 x 17 2.1 paling fence with fence capping

Getting ready for the upcoming holiday season, Portland Bay Holiday Park have been doing lots of work upgrading the gardens and entrance to the park.  This week  a new front paling fence was completed.

Victorians tend to use 150mm and/or 100mm x 12mm thick treated pine palings whilst South Australians prefer 17mm thick palings.   The thinner the paling the more likely to warp or cup in hot summer weather.

This job used hardwood F8 100 x 100 2.7 posts and hardwood 75 x 50 4.8 rails, all treated to hazard level H4 – which is for use outside, in ground.  The hardwood was used for extra strength and the treatment will provide high fungal decay and termite protection.  The palings used were 100mm x 17mm 2.1 high and overlapped on each edge.  The overlapping will prevent gaps occurring when the timber contracts and expands as weather conditions change.

Timber is a natural product and when exposed to the rain, wind and sun it can warp, twist, cup and split.  However if the timber is securely fixed with good galvanized fixings, proper spacing of the posts and the palings overlapped these problems can be eliminated and your fence will last for years to come.  The use of fence capping also ensures integrity, decreases weather damage and looks great.

CCA treated timber will weather naturally when exposed to the elements, eventually from its pale green colour to a pleasing driftwood grey.

View more photos of landscaping, fencing &  improvements you can do these holidays on our facebook page.

There’s been lots happening at WTS Portland lately.  I recently moved to Portland and was enjoying the beautiful view over Portland Bay working from my home office on my glenara transport business.  I was loving it but about a week ago – the Manager at the Portland timber retail yard left and now I’m the new manager!  I have a great young trainee, Daniel Oberlander, who won’t stop working even if I tell him to slow down mate!  Also, my son Jack is helping out a bit.  Quite quickly we are getting the yard reorganised and have completed some earthworks which is making the whole yard bigger and better.

Geoff Kerr from the Men’s Shed came in one day this week looking for some ‘bits and pieces’ of untreated timber they could use at the local Portland Men’s shed.   I showed Geoff around the place and the topic of our non-functioning mitre saw came up.  Geoff, a retired builder, insisted on helping me out so off he went down the street and we purchased an appropriate replacement.  The next day he came in with his friend Wayne Earle and they worked together to fit the new saw up in our custom lattice making room.   Just as they finished, Jack returned from the Mt Gambier retail yard with a load of timber donated from Whitehead’s Timber Sales.

Jack Whitehead, with shop dog Jerry Whitehead and Geoff Kerr from Portland Men's Shed

So I would like to say a big THANK YOU to Geoff and Wayne for helping me out.

The Men’s Shed is still working on getting a proper building for their work.  They have started raising money in their building fund.  I have given them some ideas and offered to sell items they make on consignment at our yard which in turn will help with the fund raising.

The Portland Men’s Shed currently have meetings on Fridays 9.30 am to 4.00 pm at Neighbourhood house, Warratah crescent.  Any enquiries contact

Portland Mens Shed Inc