Timber or Colorbond, which lasts longer?

Timber or Colorbond is the most common fence question we get. Both are good fences. They just suit different things. Here is the straight comparison on lifespan, upkeep and cost, and the one question that matters more than the material.

Lifespan and upkeep

Colorbond steel wins on both. It does not warp, it does not rot, and termites cannot touch it. It never needs painting or oiling. A well-built treated-pine fence lasts about 10 to 15 years before the palings start to grey, cup and need attention. Hardwood lasts longer than pine, but it still moves and weathers. Timber is a living material, so it asks for upkeep that steel does not.

Looks and cost

Timber has a warmth that steel does not, and it costs less up front, which is why it is still a favourite. Colorbond is clean, low-fuss and comes in the full colour range, and it suits a sloping boundary because the panels rake to follow the ground. Up front, timber is cheaper. Over ten years, the no-maintenance steel closes the gap.

• Choose timber if you want the warm, classic look and you do not mind the upkeep.
• Choose Colorbond if you want set-and-forget, no painting, and a clean line on a slope.

The material decides the look and the upkeep. The posts and footings decide whether the fence is still straight in ten years. That is the real lifespan question, and it is the same for both.

The question under both

Whichever material you pick, the fence lives or dies on the posts. A leaning fence is a post problem, not a paling or panel problem. We set the posts in concrete to the right depth for the soil and the height, which is why our 10-year warranty covers the posts and footings on either material.

How we help you choose

Compare both on our estimator to see the price gap for your run and height. Then we talk it through on the free measure: the exposure, the slope, the neighbour, and what suits your boundary. We will tell you honestly which one we would put in.