Page 4 - SBP Perth Blog

Fence rules in Perth can vary a bit between councils, but these are the main things to confirm before you install.

1) Dividing fences (boundary fences with neighbours)

If the fence sits on the boundary between two properties, it’s usually treated as a “dividing fence” issue.

Cost sharing and responsibilities are generally handled under WA’s Dividing Fences Act 1961.

The best practice is to talk to your neighbour before you remove/replace anything, agree on the type/height/material, and keep it in writing (even an email).

Most disputes come from replacing a shared fence without agreement.

2) Do you need council approval?

This depends on your local council and the type of fence.

As a simple rule of thumb:

Many standard residential boundary fences (like Colorbond or timber) often don’t need building approval if they’re installed to typical standards.

Brick or masonry fences are more likely to trigger approvals. For example, the City of Canning notes building approval is required if a brick/masonry

Working out the number of fence panels you need is mostly a measurement exercise. It also depends on the panel width you choose, where your posts go, and any local rules. Below is a simple method you can use to estimate the amount of fence panels confidently.

1) Start with your total fence length

• Measure the full length of the boundary or fence line in metres (use a tape measure or read it off a site plan).
• Subtract any openings that won’t be fenced with panels, such as:
  • Driveway gate openings
  • Pedestrian gates
  • Existing walls that replace panels

Net fence length (m) = total run − total opening widths

Tip: Measure along the actual fence line, not across garden beds, curves, or offsets.

2) How wide are fence panels?

At Statewide Building Products, Colorbond fence panels are available in various sizes, with varying widths and a standard length of 2365 mm.

Panel widths are typically:

• 900 mm (0.9 m)
• 1500 mm (1.5 m)
• 1800 mm (1.8 m)
• 2100 mm (2.1 m)

3) Do the basic panel count calculation

Once

Vinyl cladding is popular across Australia because it’s an affordable way to give your home’s exterior a new look or protect it, while being available in a wide range of colour profiles.

The total cost depends on whether you are buying materials only or budgeting for supply and installation. Also, don’t forget about the profile type, trims and finishing accessories required.

This guide covers typical costs, how to calculate how much cladding you need, and how to translate product pricing into cost per square metre.

Supply vs installation

When we refer to supply, it is the cost of cladding boards with trims and accessories such as starter strip, internal and external corners, J trims around openings, and any feature profiles.

Installation refers to labour, allowances for access, height, removal of existing cladding, scaffolding, and job complexity. It varies between homes, installed pricing is usually quoted after a site measure or photo review.

Different vinyl cladding options

Three

Here we’ll explain how to install hoop iron straps as diagonal wall bracing in timber framing. Please keep in mind to always follow your project bracing plan, engineer details, and product instructions.  The NCC and relevant Australian Standards requirements should also be taken into consideration.

Tools and materials you’ll need

-Hoop iron strap, punched or unpunched (you can get your hoop iron straps here)
-Fixings such as nails or screws, and washers
-Tape measure, pencil or marker, chalk line
-Metal cutting shears
-Hammer or drill driver depending on fixings
-Hoop iron tensioner tool if specified for the system
-PPE including gloves and eye protection

Step 1: Mark the brace line

Mark the intended diagonal brace line across the wall frame. The strap typically runs diagonally across studs from the bottom plate area up to the top plate area, following the bracing layout on the drawings.

Step 2: Position the hoop iron strap

Lay the strap onto the frame along the marked diagonal line.

Moisture problems in Western Australian homes rarely come from one dramatic leak. More often, they build up quietly through small gaps, poorly connected layers, and condensation that has nowhere to go. Perth and the Southwest can swing between hot dry spells, winter rain, coastal salt air, and cool nights that trigger condensation, all of which creates pressure.

Good moisture management is not about making a house perfectly airtight. It is about using wraps, flashings, and sealing together so water is deflected, drained, and dried correctly.

Why moisture control matters in WA conditions

In WA, homes deal with three main moisture loads:

-          Rainwater during storms, especially wind driven rain at walls, windows, doors, and roof to wall junctions.

-          Ground moisture and rising damp risks, influenced by site drainage, paving levels, and subfloor ventilation.

-          Condensation from internal humidity, hot showers, cooking, clothes drying, and unvented roof spaces.

Key Takeaways

• Metal roofing is suited to Australian conditions, handling heat, winds, rain, and bushfire risk more effectively than traditional roofing materials.
• Modern metal roof sheets are designed for long service life, often lasting several decades with minimal maintenance when installed correctly.
• Reflective coatings help reduce heat absorption and support better energy efficiency.
• Secure fixing systems give metal roofing strong resistance to high winds making it a reliable option in coastal areas.
• Metal roofing is non-combustible, making it a safer choice for homes in bushfire-prone regions.
• Steel roof sheeting is fully recyclable and often made using recycled content, contributing to lower environmental impact.
• While upfront costs can be higher, metal roofing delivers strong long-term value.
   

Metal roofing has become one of the most popular roofing choices for new residential builds, renovations and rural properties as it perfectly suits Australian conditions. With harsh sun, strong

Metal door frames have become a popular choice across Australian residential, commercial and industrial builds. They are durable, straight, termite resistant, and far less likely to warp or crack compared to timber frames. In Western Australia especially, where heat and dry conditions can cause issues over time, metal door frames are often a more reliable option. Understanding the different styles of metal door frames available can help builders, renovators and trades choose the right product for each project and avoid costly mistakes on site.

Why choose a metal door frame?

Metal door frames are widely used because they are:

• Ideal for both residential and commercial applications
• Durable and long-lasting
• Resistant to moisture, termites, and movement
• Suitable for brick, block, steel, and stud walls
• Require minimal maintenance

Common metal door frame styles

Standard pressed metal door frames

These are the most used metal door frames in Australia. They’re typically pressed steel frames

Roof flashings might not be the most visible part of a roof, but they are one of the most important. Get the flashing wrong and you will almost certainly end up with leaks and water damage. Choosing the right roof flashing comes down to understanding your roof type, how water moves across it, and what conditions the building will face.

Below is a practical breakdown to help you select the right flashings for different roof types and situations.

Start with the roof material

The first step is matching the flashing material to the roof itself. Mixing incompatible materials is one of the most common causes of premature corrosion.

Metal roofs

For metal roofing, flashings should generally be made from the same or a compatible material as the roof sheets.

Best options include:

• Colorbond steel flashings for Colorbond roofs
• Zincalume flashings for Zincalume roofs
• This helps prevent galvanic corrosion and ensures performance while matching appearance.

Tiled roofs

Tile roofs rely heavily on flashings

The cement industry in Western Australia is undergoing a wave of consolidation, innovation and infrastructure upgrades. All of this has a dramatic effect on concrete costs, housing, and infrastructure for 2026 and beyond. In this article, we’ll recap all the most important events regarding the cement industry.

Major consolidation in WA, new owners, new structure

In a big shakeup for the WA building materials sector, Cement Australia, including Holcim Australia and Heidelberg Materials Australia, completed its acquisition of BGC Cementitious as of 1 October 2025. The acquisition gives Cement Australia control of BGC’s cement operations, transport, and related assets reshaping the competitive landscape in WA’s cement market.

The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) announced it will not oppose the acquisition after the parties adjusted the original structure to ease competition concerns.

In practice, this consolidation is likely to reshape supply chains in multiple sectors

When you're on a job site, grey cement usually refers to the standard general purpose masonry cement used for slabs, footings, brickwork, renders, blockwork, driveways and pathways. Name any normal concrete or mortar job in Western Australia and chances are grey cement was used.

Why the colour?

Grey cement is essentially a type of hydraulic binder, manufactured by heating limestone and clay in a kiln, creating clinker, which is then ground with gypsum. This process produces what’s known as Portland cement (OPC), also the most common cement worldwide. 

The characteristic grey colour comes from iron oxides in the raw materials. Because of its composition and process, grey cement is robust, reliable, and suitable for structural and general building applications common in residential and commercial construction.

It’s a default on most job sites, but why?

It does almost everything and well

If you check the product range from Cockburn Cement, their “General Purpose Grey” cement is described