Treated pine
Lap & Cap
Palings overlap so there is no sight line through the face, and a capping rail runs along the top to finish the fence and protect the paling ends.
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Treated pine
Treated Pine Lapped Only Timber Fencing
Overlapped palings without the capping rail. The privacy of a lapped fence with a plainer top line.
- Material
- Treated pine
- Paling layout
- Overlapped (lapped) palings
- Capping rail
- No
- Posts
- Timber or 65mm x 65mm steel
- Common heights
- 1.5m, 1.8m, 2.1m, 2.4m
- Matching gates
- Pedestrian, single, double, driveway
What a lapped only fence is
A lapped only fence overlaps the palings the same way a lap and cap fence does, so the face of the fence is closed and there is no straight gap to see through.
The difference is the top. There is no capping rail, so the paling tops themselves form the top line of the fence.
It sits between single paling and lap and cap. You get the closed face of a lapped fence, without the extra material and the finished top line that capping provides.
How it is built
- Posts set out, dug and concreted.
- Rails fixed between posts, sized for the finished height.
- Palings fixed with a consistent overlap so the face closes up along the whole run.
- Paling tops cut and aligned to the intended top line, since nothing covers them afterwards.
Privacy and appearance
Close to lap and cap. The overlap closes the sight line through the face of the fence, and unlike a single paling fence, seasonal timber movement does not open up gaps between palings.
Height considerations
Common finished heights are 1.5m, 1.8m, 2.1m and 2.4m, measured to the top of the palings. Final height is confirmed at the site measure against ground levels and any existing retaining.
Lapped Only projects
Our own installations across Sydney. Tap any photo to see it larger.
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Tall treated pine timber privacy fence built along a rear boundary at a Sydney property
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Long run of treated pine timber fencing installed beside an established hedge at a Sydney property
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Treated pine timber fence behind a planted garden bed at a Sydney home
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Treated pine timber fence built beside a dark rendered wall along a Sydney side boundary
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Treated pine timber fence on an elevated Sydney property with water visible in the distance
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Treated pine timber fence behind established shrubs in a Sydney back garden
Structure
Posts and rails
A timber fence is only as good as what holds it up. Post depth, post type and rail spacing are decided by the height of the fence and what the ground is like.
Posts
- Timber or 65mm x 65mm steel posts.
- Each post set 600mm deep and secured with at least one full 20kg bag of concrete.
- Posts can be filled with concrete up to one third of their length for extra strength.
Rails
- Horizontal rails carry the overlapped palings, with rail count set by the finished height.
- Because there is no capping rail to straighten the top, the paling tops are set out carefully as they go on.
Gate integration
Gates that match this fence
Gates are built lapped to match the fence, with the paling tops finished to the same line. Pedestrian, single, double and driveway gates can all be built lapped.
Replacing an existing fence
A common replacement choice where the old fence has failed and the owner wants a closed, private face without the additional cost of capping. Old fence and footings removed, line re-established, new fence built.
Site conditions
- Sloping ground: stepped or raked, with the paling tops set to the intended line.
- Above retaining or block walls: workable, though a capped top line reads better where the fence is highly visible.
- Rock, roots and services: assessed on site as they affect post positions.
Access
More material than single paling and less than lap and cap. Narrow access, steps and locked yards all affect how material reaches the fence line.
Installation
- Free site measure and quote on site.
- Existing fence removed and disposed of where included.
- Posts set out, dug and concreted.
- Rails fixed, palings fixed with a consistent overlap.
- Paling tops finished to line, gates hung, site cleaned up.
Lapped Only questions
What is lapped only timber fencing?
A timber fence with overlapping palings and no capping rail. The overlap closes the sight line through the fence and the paling tops form the top line.
Is lapped only as private as lap and cap?
Through the face of the fence, yes. Both overlap the palings. The difference is the finish at the top, not the privacy of the face.
Why choose lapped only instead of lap and cap?
When you want the closed face of a lapped fence but the top of the fence is not a visible feature, so a capping rail is not worth the extra material.
Sydney
Lapped Only fencing across Sydney
We supply and install lapped only fencing across Sydney, from Western Sydney and the Hills through to the Inner West, the north and the south. Each quote is based on a site measure, because boundary length, access and ground levels all change what the job involves.
Other timber fencing systems
Same trade, different face. Here is how the alternatives differ.
Treated pine
Single Paling
One layer of palings fixed side by side to the rails. The most common timber boundary fence in Sydney and the most straightforward to repair paling by paling.
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Hardwood Single Paling
Single paling construction using Australian hardwood palings. Denser and heavier than treated pine, with a different colour and grain that weathers to grey unless it is coated.
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Free site measure & quote
Get lapped only quoted for your boundary
Tell us the length, the height and how many gates. Add photos of what is there now and you will get an estimate that reflects your actual site.
NSW Fencing Licence 269038C · ABN 76 612 245 594