Colorbond or Garrison? Here’s the short answer. Colorbond wins on privacy and price for your side and rear boundaries. Garrison wins at the front, where you want to see out, watch the street and make climbers think twice. Plenty of Perth homes end up with both.
But your block might flip that answer, so let me walk you through it. I’m Bobby. I started MKB Fencing in 2019, and my own crew installs both systems across Perth. I’ll compare cost, privacy, security, look and upkeep, and then I’ll cover the front fence rules that catch plenty of homeowners out.
Colorbond vs Garrison at a Glance
Scan this first. Then keep reading for the detail behind each row.
| Colorbond | Garrison | |
| What it is | Solid steel sheet panels | Open, heavy-duty steel with vertical posts and solid rails, topped flat or pointed |
| Our price | From $110 per metre + GST, supply and install (1.8 m) | From $240 per metre, supply and install (1.8 m) |
| Privacy | Full | Almost none, so you see straight through |
| Security | Solid barrier that hides your yard from the street | Heavy steel and pointed tops make climbing hard, and cameras see the whole boundary |
| Look | Wide colour range, clean modern lines | Galvanised or powder-coated finish, classic look |
| Upkeep | Rinse it and check for scratches | Needs no regular painting, so just check the finish for chips |
| Best spot | Side and rear boundaries | Front fences, corner lots and security-sensitive blocks |
What Is Colorbond Fencing?
Colorbond is solid steel sheet fencing. You get genuine Colorbond panels, posts and rails in standard or premium colours, so you can match your roofline or go neutral. The standard height is 1.8 m, and I price taller fences after a site visit. A standard install takes 1 to 2 days. Our Colorbond fencing in Perth service covers the lot, including matching gates.
What Is Garrison Fencing?
Garrison is the see-through option. It’s a heavy-duty steel security fence, and we top it flat or pointed. Steel needs no regular painting, and it takes impacts better than wood or aluminium. We set the posts in deeper, wider footings than a standard fence, which is a big reason Garrison costs more.
The standard height is 1.8 m, and we go up to 2.4 m for high security. With proper footings it usually lasts over a decade, and we back it with a 1-year warranty on materials and workmanship. Need a gate to match? We fit sliding security gates to Garrison panels. See our Garrison fencing in Perth page.
Colorbond vs Garrison Cost
Colorbond costs less, and the gap is big. We charge from $110 per metre + GST, supply and install, for a standard 1.8 m fence. A 20 metre boundary runs about $2,200 + GST before site factors. Garrison starts from $240 per metre, supply and install, so it lands at a little over double. Why the gap?
Colorbond uses standard framing, while Garrison needs reinforced framing and deeper, wider footings.
Want the full breakdown? Our Colorbond fencing cost guide and Garrison fencing cost guide cover every line.
What Our Price Covers
Those numbers are starting prices, not a fixed quote. Your Colorbond price covers genuine panels, posts and rails, a soil check, standard height and colour, and installed by my own crew. Removal, gates, premium colours and coastal hardware come on top.
I need to see your site first, so I book a free on-site quote instead of guessing.
How to Compare Fencing Quotes
A cheaper quote isn’t always cheaper. Check that each quote:
- Shows the per-metre rate separately from add-ons
- Uses genuine Colorbond material
- Includes a soil check before the final price
- Names who installs the job and what warranty applies
For a Garrison quote, send me the fence length, fence type, gate spots and a few site photos. You get a site measure, spec advice, compliance notes and an itemised breakdown.
What Pushes the Price Up
Perth dirt matters most. Sand in places like Alkimos and Yanchep drains fast, so footings go wider or deeper. Clay in the foothills swells and shrinks. Limestone in the western suburbs needs mechanical breaking. What holds a post in Ellenbrook might not hold in Scarborough, so I test your soil before I quote. Beyond soil, these things add to the bill:
- Slope and tight side access (a sloped Ellenbrook block can add several hundred dollars)
- Old fence removal, with licensed asbestos removal priced separately for older fibro fences
- Gates, and our Colorbond gate cost guide shows what to expect
- Premium colours and privacy slats, which pair well with slat fencing
- Coastal fixings within about 1 km of the coast, because the BlueScope Colorbond warranty needs corrosion-resistant hardware
- For Garrison, extra height, anti-climb and anti-cut options, and your choice of finish
Splitting the Cost With Your Neighbour
Building on a shared boundary? Under the Dividing Fences Act 1961, you and your neighbour split the cost of a sufficient fence, and your council decides what counts. If you build something dearer, like Garrison, before your neighbour agrees, you can only claim half the cost of a sufficient fence.
So Colorbond usually keeps both households happy. Chat to your neighbour first, and read our Dividing Fences Act guide to learn how to send a notice.
Privacy: Solid Panels vs Open Steel
Colorbond gives you full privacy. Your neighbours can’t see your backyard, and you can’t see theirs. Garrison gives you almost none, because you look straight through the gaps.
Here’s the trade-off most people miss. A solid fence blocks views in and out, while an open fence keeps the boundary visible. Want the washing line and the Sunday arvo barbie private? Go Colorbond. Want to show off the front garden? Go Garrison.
Security: Which Fence Is Harder to Get Over?
Garrison takes this one on climbing. The heavy steel frame and pointed tops make a climb hard, and you can add anti-climb and anti-cut options on top.
Colorbond still makes a solid barrier. But it hides a burglar from the street once they get over, and that’s the catch. Pick based on what worries you more: someone climbing in, or someone sneaking about unseen.
Look and Street Appeal
Colorbond gives you the bigger palette, so you can match your roof, gutters or front door. Garrison goes classic, topped flat or pointed, and it suits older character homes.
Upkeep and Durability in Perth
- Colorbond: Hose it down now and then and check for scratches. Within about 1 km of the coast, use corrosion-resistant fixings to meet the BlueScope Colorbond warranty.
- Garrison: Steel needs no regular painting. Check the finish for chips now and then, because galvanised and powder-coated finishes age differently.
Winter storms push harder on solid panels than on open Garrison, so footings matter, and we spec them to your soil.
Front Fence Rules in Perth
This part often decides the whole thing, so read it twice. Under the R-Codes, a front fence in the primary street setback can stay solid only up to 1.2 m. Above that, the fence must be visually permeable, up to 1.8 m. That means a full solid Colorbond front fence usually needs council approval.
Some councils go further. The City of Vincent, for example, doesn’t allow sheet metal fencing in the primary street setback at all. An open Garrison fence usually fits these rules better, but your council has the final say. So call them before you buy anything.
Which Fence Suits Your Block?
| Your situation | Our pick | Why |
| Side and rear boundary | Colorbond | Full privacy at the lower price |
| Front fence | Garrison | Open design suits the front setback rules |
| Corner lot | Both | Garrison facing the street, Colorbond around the backyard. Check your council on the second frontage. |
| Acreage | Garrison | Keeps views open and shows who’s coming up the drive |
| Security-sensitive property | Garrison | Heavy steel and pointed tops, plus a visible boundary |
| Rental or investment property | Colorbond | Lower cost and very little upkeep |
Can You Use Both?
Yes, and plenty of Perth homeowners do. Run Colorbond along the side and rear boundaries for privacy and price. Then run Garrison across the front for street view and security. The dearer fence only goes where it earns its keep, and we can quote both in the one visit.
Colorbond vs Garrison FAQs
Is Garrison fencing good for residential homes?
Yes, especially at the front, on corner lots and on acreage.
Can you have a Colorbond front fence in Perth?
Often, but a solid fence in the primary street setback usually needs council approval, and some councils ban sheet metal there. Check with yours first.
Which is more secure, Colorbond or Garrison?
Garrison stops climbers better, and cameras see the boundary. Colorbond blocks the view in, but it also hides anyone who gets over.
Does Garrison fencing give privacy?
No. The open design lets everyone see through. If you need privacy, pick Colorbond or add slats.
Why Choose MKB Fencing?
My own crew does every job, with no subcontractors. We install both fences, so we have no reason to push one. I check your soil and site in person, then give you an itemised quote. Want to see our work first? Browse our project gallery.
Get a Free Fence Quote in Perth
Ready to sort your fence? We cover Ellenbrook, Joondalup, Wembley, Midland, Wanneroo and the suburbs around them. Book your free on-site quote and we’ll tell you straight which fence fits. Prefer a chat? Call me on 0430 479 361, Monday to Friday, 8 am to 5 pm or Visit Our Google Business Profile