If you have looked at new builds in Queenstown and Central Otago over the last few years, you have almost certainly seen Smart Wall fencing without knowing what it was called. Vertical timber palings framed in black aluminium, full privacy, crisp lines. It has become one of the most requested products we install, and for good reason.
What is Smart Wall fencing?
Smart Wall sets premium kiln-dried laminated timber palings into a black aluminium frame. It is a solid, full-privacy fence, not a slatted or louvred one. You get the warmth of a timber fence with the crisp edge of an aluminium frame, which is why it sits so well against the dark cladding and joinery on most modern Queenstown homes.
The difference between Smart Wall and a standard timber paling fence is the structure around the timber. A conventional paling fence relies on timber posts and rails, which move as the timber ages. Smart Wall carries the palings in an aluminium frame with a concealed steel reinforcing rail, so the fence holds its line rather than bowing and gapping over time.
What the system includes
- 65 x 65mm black aluminium posts (2.7m) set at 2250mm centres
- 65 x 65mm black aluminium end posts (2.9m) at the ends and corners of each run, for strength and a tidier finish
- All posts concreted in, sized for the wind load on your site
- Aluminium top and bottom rails for structural integrity
- A concealed steel reinforcing rail through the bottom section to stop bowing and keep the run straight
- Premium kiln-dried, laminated vertical palings, chosen to minimise movement, shrinkage and visible gaps
Colour and finish
The frame is black aluminium. That is the look almost everyone is after here, and it works with the Ironsand, Monument and Graphite tones that dominate Queenstown new builds, alongside cedar cladding and schist stone.
The timber palings can be left natural to weather, or stained to match your cladding, joinery or existing colour scheme. Tell us what you are working with and we will sort the right option before we order.
How it compares to a standard paling fence
Both give you full privacy. The differences come down to how the fence ages and what it costs upfront.
- Holds its line: the aluminium frame and concealed steel rail resist the bowing and sagging that timber posts and rails eventually develop
- Frame needs no maintenance: the powder-coated aluminium does not rot, rust or need painting. The timber infill still weathers like timber, so stain it if you want to hold a particular colour
- Cleaner finish: the framed construction gives a defined edge and consistent panel spacing that a hand-built paling fence does not
- Higher upfront cost: Smart Wall costs more per metre than a standard timber paling fence. Whether that is worth it depends on how much the finish matters to you and how long you plan to be there
Where it works well
- Side and rear boundaries on modern homes, where the clean lines suit contemporary architecture
- Outdoor living and entertaining areas, screening decks and patios from neighbouring properties
- Driveway and entry screening, paired with an automatic gate for a cohesive entrance
- Commercial and light industrial properties, including car parks and bin or plant screening
- New subdivision builds where a contemporary finish is specified
Durability in an alpine climate
The aluminium frame does not rust and the powder coat is UV-stable and rated for exterior use. Frost, snow and cold do not affect it. The kiln-dried laminated palings are specified to keep movement down, which matters through Queenstown's freeze-thaw cycles far more than it does at sea level.
The thing worth getting right is the posts. Queenstown can produce very strong nor-west winds, and a fence that has not been engineered for the site will flex. We size and concrete posts to suit the conditions of each job rather than working to a single standard spec.
Get a quote
If you want to see what Smart Wall looks like on a real Queenstown property, or you want a quote for your boundary or screening project, call Nate on 021 228 6735. We can bring samples out to site so you can see the timber and frame in context before you decide. You can also read more on our Smart Wall fencing page.
Interested in Smart Wall fencing?
Free, no-obligation quotes across Queenstown and Central Otago.