Best Fencing Designs For Hot Weather Conditions

It’s been a particularly wetter and windier summer than we were hoping for here in Australia’s southern and eastern coast. But for those of us who were able to invest in great fencing for combatting heavy winds well before the spring and summer storms started, chances are your garden spaces are still looking picture perfect, and ready for the last few weeks of summer sun and backyard barbies before autumn rolls around.

But what about those of us who live out in the outback? For those living in the hot and arid regions of central Australia, we know all too well that windy weather during the hot season is a different kettle of fish to blustery weather during wintertime – especially if you’re living in regions that are naturally arid (i.e. experiencing minimal annual rainfall).

For arid regions, it’s becoming increasingly important that you invest in fencing supplies that are designed to withstand extreme hot weather conditions. Having the right fences installed on your bush property can help protect your residence during hot weather conditions or from any wear and tear caused by a lack of moisture, minimising your risks of having to organise emergency home repairs during seasonal weather extremes.

Best Fencing Designs For Hot Weather Conditions

That’s precisely why we’ve decided to prepare a guide for the best fencing designs for hot weather conditions. Here’s our definitive list of the best fencing designs for properties in arid regions across Australia.

• PVC fencing for fighting thermal mass
  
• Aluminium slat fencing for light filtration
  
• Colorbond fencing for superior fire resistance
  
• Why aren’t timber fences suitable for hot or arid climates?

Read on to help guide you through the unique process of securing ideal fencing for your bush or desert home.

PVC fencing for fighting thermal mass

Living sustainably in arid regions means considering the impacts of thermal mass whenever you look at anything related to home design. And for those not in the know, thermal mass relates to the ability of build or construction materials to absorb and release heat. Using materials that are able to store heat can be beneficial for desert homes that may require cooling during daylight hours and heat retention to maintain comfortable temperatures from chilly dusk to bracing dawn.

But you’re unlikely to spend time in your backyard after dusk, which is why you don’t necessarily need fencing that’s able to absorb heat. If anything, properties in arid areas will benefit more from investing in PVC fencing, as PVC materials don’t conduct heat as much as timber fences. As PVC isn’t a great heat insulator, it’s perfectly suited for use as a fencing material in arid environments, where the primary focus is less to insulate heat and more to maintain cooler temperatures in garden spaces.

Of course, direct solar exposure in your garden is still a factor that’s worth considering here. After all, there’s only so much shade that your fencing can provide. Or is there? With our PVC full privacy fencing, you can reduce the total availability of direct sunlight during particular periods during the day, which can also help not only keep your garden temperatures low, but also ensure that you comfortably use your garden space without having to contend with harsh light or glares. These PVC fences also won’t rust, fade, or warp in direct sunlight.

Aluminium slat fencing for light filtration

Most of the advice Aussie homeowners receive when it comes to keeping properties cool in arid environments is to simply keep their blinds and shutters drawn during the day. That way, harsh sunlight doesn’t enter your living spaces, which can help keep your interiors cool. But what if you want a little natural light?

You shouldn’t have to choose between admiring your garden spaces and keeping your home cool. Thankfully, our aluminium slat fencing ensures that you don’t have to choose! Providing the perfect balance between shade and light filtration, these aluminium fencing panels are well-suited to arid environments for a few noteworthy reasons. Their pre-powder coating provides these fence slats with a nonporous finish, which makes them not only naturally sun and UV-resistant, but also resistant to mildew, mould, and fungal growth. And like all of our products, these aluminium slat fences are also compliant with all relevant Australian fencing standards and regulations.

And speaking of being able to admire your garden spaces (even in warmer than average temperatures), you should also consider thermal mass when selecting surface materials for your front and backyard. Concrete and bitumen are able to absorb startling amounts of heat during hot days, which is why you can cook an egg on the road in most hot and arid regions in Australia. Thankfully, Trex composite decking doesn’t have this issue.

With Trex decking, you can say goodbye to heat waves warping your wooden deck or harmful UV rays causing wood discoloration. For that reason, we strongly recommend you pair your aluminium slats with some composite wood decking. The horizontal lines, bars of sunlight, and total reduction of thermal mass will all work together to ensure that you can enjoy your ideal garden spaces all day long – even at high noon!

Colorbond fencing for superior fire resistance

There are about 7 different climates across Australia, ranging from cool temperate climates to hot and humid equatorial climates, with a large desert region right in the middle of this island continent. Surrounding that desert climate, you can expect to find grassland climates, which are actually also classified by their higher temperatures and arid conditions. There’s just one major distinction between desert climates and grassland climates: the presence of bushland, and thus, the increased risk of bushfires.

If you’re one of the millions of Australians that live in bushland climates, investing in fire resistant build materials for your home is absolutely paramount. That’s why Australian homeowners are more likely to consider Colorbond fencing for their properties than outdated timber fencing.

The heat-treated BlueScope steel that’s used to produce Colorbond fencing panels is actually also completely fire resistant, with an ignitability index of 0. This means that your Colorbond fencing panels may actually help protect your property in the event of a bushfire.

Colorbond steel is also painted, rolled, and tested for fire resistance right here in Australia, so you can expect these fences to be built specifically for arid Australian weather conditions and high-risk grassland climates. On top of all this, our Colorbond fencing panels here at Outback Fencing are also 0.35mm thick, making us one of the only Australian retailers where you can purchase thicker and genuine Australian Colorbond steel fencing.

Why aren’t timber fences suitable for hot or arid climates?

So why aren’t timber fences a wise investment for properties in hot or arid weather conditions? Well after this exploration of the best fencing designs for arid regions, it should all be pretty clear. Traditional timber fences simply don’t respond well to higher temperatures. Not only are they at a higher risk of catching fire, but the timber materials themselves are also more susceptible to cracking or warping when exposed to extreme heat.

Truth be told, traditional timber fences also don’t hold up very well in temperate climates either (think, Melbourne, Sydney, and Adelaide). This is because the higher moisture content in the air can rapidly lead to timber fences accruing mould, mildew, and fungal growth. Why pay hundreds of dollars for a timber fence that won’t have a usable life greater than 10 years at best?

Simply put, timber fences just weren’t built for Australia’s unique biomes. If you want to ensure that you make a great investment in your fencing, then going with the durable fencing designs we’ve outlined above is guaranteed to provide you and your bush property with the best results.

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Knowing the environment you’re shopping for is key when it comes to any element of home design. And whether you’re looking for the best fencing for coastal areas or arid areas, our expert team at Outback Fencing is here to provide tips and recommendations for the best fencing designs.

Have any more questions about the best fencing designs and supplies we have on offer? Then simply contact our team for more information on any of our products.