2026-08-18 · Fencing guides
How to Choose the Right Fence for a Christchurch Backyard
Most backyard fences in Christchurch are chosen in about ten minutes — a quick look at what the neighbours have, a guess at the budget, and a phone call. That works out often enough, but a little thought up front buys you a fence you will still like in fifteen years. Here is how to think it through.
Start with the job, not the material
Ask what the fence has to do. Privacy from a two-storey neighbour calls for height and solid boarding — a classic timber paling fence at 1.8 metres does this better than anything else for the money. Keeping a toddler or a dog in calls for no gaps and a gate that latches. Softening traffic noise calls for mass and height. Marking a front boundary without shutting out the street calls for something low and open, like pickets or short metal panels.
Write the jobs down in priority order. The fence that does your top two jobs well beats the fence that does five jobs badly.
Match the material to Canterbury weather
Timber suits most Christchurch sections and most budgets, and it is easy to repair board by board. It does ask for maintenance — stain or oil every few years, and keep soil off the base. Metal and aluminium fencing costs more up front but shrugs off weather and needs almost no care, which suits rentals, busy households and exposed sites. Around pools the choice narrows further — see our pool fencing guide for barrier rules.
Height, neighbours and the boundary
Side and rear fences in Christchurch are commonly 1.8 metres, which balances privacy with light. Taller fences shade gardens and can annoy neighbours; shorter fences invite overlooking. Talk to the neighbours before you build — shared boundaries go smoother when both sides know the plan, the height and who pays for what. Confirm where the legal boundary actually is, too. Fences built a hand-span onto the wrong side cause years of grief.
Wind, ground and access
Canterbury's nor'westers punish tall, solid fences on exposed sections. If your backyard cops the wind, mention it during the quote — deeper posts, stronger rails and the right fixings cost little extra at build time and a lot to retrofit. Soft or boggy ground, retaining walls and tight side access all shape the build as well. A proper site visit catches these; a phone quote cannot.
Gates are part of the decision
Plan access before the fence goes up, not after. Wheelie bins, lawnmowers, trailers and future heat-pump installs all need a path wider than a standard pedestrian gate. Our gates page covers pedestrian and vehicle options. Position gates where the ground is level and the swing clears paths and gardens.
The short version
Define the jobs, pick the material that fits your maintenance appetite, agree height and cost with the neighbours, and get a site visit before committing. Do that and the fence largely chooses itself. When you are ready, our repair crew can also assess whether the old fence is worth saving first.
Talk to a fencing contractor
Every section is different. If you would like eyes on your boundary, get in touch through our contact page and we will arrange a site visit and a clear written quote.