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<\/figure>\n\n\n\nThe boards are waterproof, moisture-resistant, and insect-resistant. They carry a 15-year warranty and come in a range of colours with a woodgrain or brushed finish. You can install panels in a closed style for full privacy, semi-open for airflow, or open for a decorative screen effect.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Post spacing of 0.8\u20131.4 m comes straight from our load testing \u2014 so it holds up in real conditions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Scoping a job and want the full spec sheet first? View our composite screening product<\/a> to check warranty terms, colour options, and post compatibility before you quote.<\/p>\n\n\n\n This is a manageable job for two people with basic tools and a free weekend. The key is knowing your system before you start \u2014 not halfway through.<\/p>\n\n\n\n You don’t need specialist tools. Here’s what to have on site before you begin:<\/p>\n\n\n\n One practical note on drilling: if you’re cutting near a board edge, pre-drill first. Composite boards can crack at cut ends if you drive fixings without a pilot hole. It takes an extra 10 seconds and saves a board.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Most install guides skip this step entirely. Before a single board goes up, you need to know what each component does.<\/p>\n\n\n\n A complete composite screening system includes:<\/p>\n\n\n\n LastElegance offers every one of these components as part of one complete system. Order the full set from a single supplier, instead of chasing parts from different sources. Request a quote<\/a> for a full system package \u2014 boards, rails, clips, and trim, supplied together.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Before you dig, call Dial Before You Dig at 1100<\/strong>. It’s a free service that maps underground utilities, and it’s a legal requirement on most Australian sites. Check your local council setback rules too \u2014 boundary fencing rules vary by state and council area.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Measure the full run and mark each post position with a stake. Start from a fixed point \u2014 a wall, an existing structure, or a corner post \u2014 so your line stays square from the start.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Post spacing drives the whole layout. The recommended range is 0.8\u20131.4 m centre to centre<\/strong>, with a maximum of 1.6 m. In exposed or coastal sites, keep fence posts at the tighter end of that range.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Panel width should match your post spacing so board cuts stay predictable. Confirm this before you order.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Dig post holes to about one-third of the post height. A 2.4 m post needs a roughly 800 mm hole. Set each post in ready-mix concrete, then check plumb on both faces before the concrete sets. A post that’s plumb on one face but not the other will cause alignment problems when the rails go in.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Leave posts to cure for at least 48 hours<\/strong> before loading boards. Most composite fence failures trace back to boards loaded onto posts that weren’t fully set.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Using a grooved post profile for the slot-in system? Make sure the groove faces inward along the fence line. That’s where the board edges engage.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Once posts are cured, attach the base capping rail using angle brackets. Leave a 10\u201315 mm clearance gap<\/strong> from the ground. This gap stops moisture from wicking up into the base of the system \u2014 skip it, and you’re giving water a direct path in.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Use aluminium rails at the base where they’re specified. They’re lighter than steel and won’t corrode at ground level where moisture contact is highest. Fix brackets at both ends of each rail span, and check the level across the full run before moving up.<\/p>\n\n\n\n This is where the clip system earns its keep. Feed each board into the groove of the post on either side, working from the bottom up. As each board sits in position, lock it with a spaced clip fastener before adding the next.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The stainless steel clips do two jobs: they hold the board in place and set the gap between composite fence slats. For a closed install, boards sit tight together. For a semi-open or open decorative screen style, the clip spacers set the gap automatically \u2014 no measuring each row.<\/p>\n\n\n\n No face screws needed. The screening material surface stays completely clean.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Keep a spirit level handy as you work up. Small adjustments now are easy. Fixing a run of boards that have drifted out of level is not.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Once all boards are in, fit the top capping rail over the top edge and fix it to the posts. This locks the whole run and gives the top of the screen a clean finish.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Post caps go on after the capping rail is in place \u2014 not before. Get the top rail fixed and level first, then press the caps down over each post.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Post caps aren’t cosmetic. They seal the top of each post and block water from sitting inside the post cavity. Water ingress at the post top is a real long-term failure point \u2014 sealing it takes 30 seconds.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Post skirts go around the base of each post to cover the concrete pad. Edge trims run down the side of any exposed board end at a corner or wall junction. These are part of the complete system \u2014 included, not optional extras.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Before you sign off on the job, it’s worth checking the most common composite screening install mistakes<\/a> \u2014 a few of the details in this guide catch out even experienced installers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Two post options work with composite screening: aluminium alloy<\/strong> or composite<\/strong>. Both use the same rail and board system \u2014 the difference is load capacity and visual finish.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Aluminium posts are the stronger choice in coastal areas or open sites where wind matters. Composite posts give a cleaner visual result because the post colour matches the boards \u2014 no contrast between post face and fence.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Steel posts can work, but they need composite post inserts<\/strong> to create the grooved channel the boards slot into. Without composite fence post inserts, the boards have nothing to engage with. Confirm insert compatibility before you order steel posts.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Wind is a design factor, not an afterthought \u2014 especially in coastal Queensland, WA, and SA. Fence design in Australia generally sits under the wind action guidance in AS\/NZS 1170.2, the standard engineers use for structural wind loads.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Post spacing controls how much wind load each panel span can handle. Our spec range is 0.8\u20131.4 m centre to centre<\/strong>, with a hard maximum of 1.6 m, based on our own product load testing. For exposed sites, aim for 0.8\u20131.0 m spacing.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Exceeding 1.6 m compromises structural integrity in a strong gust.<\/p>\n\n\n\n One thing to watch: composite screening material acts like a sail in the wind. A closed install \u2014 no gaps between boards \u2014 catches more wind than a semi-open or open decorative screen. If your client wants full privacy on an exposed site, tighter fence post spacing is the answer. Don’t try to solve a wind problem with better fixings alone.<\/p>\n\n\n\n A standard run goes up in a single day with a two-person crew \u2014 that’s not counting the 48-hour post-cure, but the actual board and trim work moves fast.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The clip system is why. Cut boards to length, slot them in from the bottom, clip each one in place, and add trim. It’s assembly, not construction. For contractors, that speed translates to lower labour cost per job compared to timber framing or Colorbond.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Lock in your colour at the order stage \u2014 composite screening colour options are confirmed before the job starts, not on site. Get samples to your client early and confirm before you order.<\/p>\n\n\n\nWhat You Need Before You Start<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Tools You’ll Need<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
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Know Your System \u2014 Rails, Clips, and Trim<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.lastelegance.com\/au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/composite-screening-hardware-parts-flat-lay-1024x633.jpg\" "\\"\\"")
<\/figure>\n\n\n\n\n
Prepare the Site<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
How to Install Composite Screening Panels: Step by Step<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Step 1 \u2014 Plan and Mark the Fence Line<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Step 2 \u2014 Set Your Posts<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.lastelegance.com\/au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/composite-screening-post-hole-dug-in-lawn.jpg\" "\\"\\"")
<\/figure>\n\n\n\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.lastelegance.com\/au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/composite-screening-post-set-in-concrete-footing-1024x683.jpg\" "\\"\\"")
<\/figure>\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\nStep 3 \u2014 Fix the Base Rail<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
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<\/figure>\n\n\n\nStep 4 \u2014 Slot In the Screening Boards<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
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<\/figure>\n\n\n\nStep 5 \u2014 Add the Top Capping Rail<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.lastelegance.com\/au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/composite-screening-installation-top-capping-rail-1024x683.jpg\" "\\"\\"")
<\/figure>\n\n\n\nStep 6 \u2014 Fit Post Caps and Edge Trims<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
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<\/figure>\n\n\n\nWhich Post Type Works Best?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Feature<\/th> Aluminium Post<\/th> Composite Post<\/th><\/tr> Wind and load rating<\/td> Higher<\/td> Moderate<\/td><\/tr> Visual finish<\/td> Powder-coated metal<\/td> Matches board colour<\/td><\/tr> Best for<\/td> Coastal, high-wind, commercial<\/td> Residential, sheltered sites<\/td><\/tr> Corrosion resistance<\/td> Excellent<\/td> Excellent<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n\n\n\n Wind and Post Spacing in Australia<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
How Long Does the Install Take?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n