How to DIY James Hardie fence (brushed concrete or Axon cladding)?

[dimisimi]

hi all,

looking to DIY a fence in front of existing fence.

existing fence is considerably too short (about 1.3m from our land) and we want to build a new fence in front that is about 1.95 metres high.

We were looking at building this out of James Hardie brushed concrete cladding or Axon Cladding. Open to other suggestions.

does anyone have tips for DIY’ing this project.

example how far apart concreted timber posts should be? How many horizontal timbers we should have and if we should also do more vertical timbers between the concreted timbers?

[MitchellMc · Accepted solution]

Welcome to the Bunnings Workshop community @dimisimi. It's terrific to have you join us, and many thanks for your question about creating a fence.
 

To build a fence using James Hardie brushed concrete or Axon cladding, it's important to note that these materials are specifically designed for cladding building walls and not for fencing. If you choose to proceed with them, you’ll need to follow the installation guides provided for both Brushed concrete and Axon as if you were cladding a house wall. These guides provide essential details on how to set up the framing and the correct spacing of the fixing timbers. For the vertical timbers, you will need to space them anywhere between 300mm and 600mm apart, depending on the wind classification in your area.

To create the frame for mounting the cladding, you would start by setting up a strong base structure with concreted timber posts. These posts should ideally be spaced around 1800mm apart, though you can reduce the spacing for a more solid fence if desired. After placing the posts, you’ll need to install horizontal timber rails between the posts to form a stable framework. These horizontal rails, typically spaced about 600mm apart, provide support and attachment points for the vertical battens, which will hold the cladding panels.

The vertical battens, positioned in line with the cladding's installation requirements, will act as the primary fixing points for the cladding. These battens should be spaced according to the product’s installation specifications (generally 300mm to 600mm apart), ensuring a secure and stable mounting surface for the cladding.

Once the frame is built, you can proceed with the cladding installation, ensuring the panels are securely fixed and the overall structure is solid and stable. 

Please let me know if you have any questions.

Mitchell
 

[dimisimi]

This is so helpful. Thank you very much @MitchellMc 

would we need to cover the back of the frame or would it be okay to keep this open? The fence behind it will cover more than half of it

[MitchellMc]

Due to the cladding being designed for a wall that is enclosed behind it, it would be best to at least paint the back of the cladding prior to installation @dimisimi.

Mitchell

[dimisimi]

Thanks very much @MitchellMc 

If we follow these steps would you expect the fence to last 10 years?

[MitchellMc]

10 years certainly sounds achievable, provided you use H3-treated Pine for the frame @dimisimi and H4-treated for the posts.

Mitchell