Custom Hardwood Screening Sydney
Built For Privacy. Designed For Light. Made To Last Decades.
Most screens either block everything out or let too much in. SB Higgs Projects builds custom hardwood timber screens across Sydney's North Shore, Northern Beaches and Inner West, striking that exact balance between privacy, shade and visual separation. Every panel is designed by a licensed, insured NSW carpenter who treats slat spacing and timber selection as the real craft, not an afterthought.
NSW Licensed Carpenter, Licence No. 474662C
Free On-Site Design Consultation + Fixed-Price Quote
Custom Fencing Design, Never Off-The-Shelf
Spotted Gum, Blackbutt & Treated Pine Options
Hardwood Chosen For Sydney's Climate
Workmanship Warranty + Customer Satisfaction Guarantee
Sydney's Timber Screen Experts, Built On Real Craftsmanship
A timber screen does one job well when it is built right: it gives you privacy without shutting a space away from the street, the neighbours or the sun. Spaced battens or slats let light and air pass through while blocking a direct line of sight, which is the difference between a screen that feels like a wall and one that feels like part of the garden.
Homeowners across Sydney turn to timber screens for outdoor entertaining areas that back onto a neighbour's yard, pool surrounds that need shade without going dark, entries that want street appeal, and boundaries where a full fence feels heavy. The same idea works indoors too. A slatted timber panel can divide a living space, soften a stairwell or bring warmth to a wall, creating separation without ever feeling closed in.
That is why
SB Higgs Projects treats every screen as a design decision, not a standard product pulled off a shelf. We walk the site, talk through what privacy actually means for your space, and choose a species and slat spacing that suits your home before a single post goes in the ground.
Free On-Site Design Consultation + Fixed-Price Quote
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30+
Years Combined Trade Experience
350+
Projects Completed
100%
Building Code Compliant
5-Star
Google Rated
The SB Higgs Difference On Every Screen
A timber screen either becomes a genuine architectural feature or an afterthought bolted onto a fence line. SB Higgs Projects works from the first assumption, and the difference still shows years after the final panel goes up.
Designed For Your Site
Every property carries a different sightline, sun angle and neighbour to work around. We plan post positions, screen height and slat spacing against your actual yard, so the finished structure fits your home rather than a standard template.
NSW Licensed & Fully Insured
Every screen project runs under NSW Licence No. 474662C and full public liability cover. That keeps your build genuinely compliant and protects your property, not just something that looks good from the street.
Premium Hardwood Species
We choose from Spotted Gum, Blackbutt and other premium Australian timbers based on strength, grain and long-term durability. You get the species suited to your project, never whatever happens to sit in stock.
Fixed Price, No Surprises
Timber species, measurements and scope get locked in before the first post goes in. The figure you approve at the quoting stage is the exact figure you pay once the screen is finished.
Warranty You Can Rely On
Should a screen need attention after handover, we return and put it right. Our workmanship warranty reflects a genuine standard we hold ourselves to, not paperwork shelved once the invoice is paid.
Compliance Handled For You
Height limits, boundary rules and bushfire zone requirements get checked and managed on your behalf. Compliance runs quietly in the background, so it never becomes the reason your screen project gets delayed.
Our Latest Timber Screen Projects Across Sydney
A courtyard screen in Balmain solves a different problem than a pool-side screen in Mosman. One blocks a direct view from next door's balcony, the other filters afternoon sun while keeping the breeze moving. Below are recent builds across the North Shore, Northern Beaches and Inner West, each one shaped by its own boundary line, sun path and privacy brief.
Timber Screen Packages Built For Your Project
A single boundary screen and a
full outdoor renovation call for different levels of planning. Some projects need nothing more than a quick consultation and a clean install, others need screening designed alongside
decking and
structural work from day one. We scope every job around your site, your budget and how the space actually gets used.
Important Note
Timber screen pricing across Sydney shifts with screen length, species and site access. A real number only comes from a free site visit, never a phone guess.
Free With Every Enquiry
Site Walkthrough & Screen Design Consult
We inspect your property before recommending any species, checking sun direction, sightlines and existing structures so the final design genuinely suits your home.
- Full property and sightline walkthrough
- Sun, shade and airflow assessment
- Species options explained face to face
- Bushfire and council guidance included
- Zero-obligation, fixed-price quote
Best for homeowners still comparing timber screen builders across Sydney.
Most Requested
Custom Hardwood Screen Build
From relaxed horizontal profiles to vertical battens that lift a low space, we design and install slatted, battened and louvred screens matched to your privacy needs.
- Layout planned around your home and neighbours
- Spotted Gum, Blackbutt, Merbau or treated pine
- Pre-drilled panels for a clean, secure fit
- Slatted, battened or louvred profiles available
- Every panel checked before we finish up
- Backed by our workmanship warranty
Best for a new privacy screen, feature wall or entry statement.
Large-Scale Projects
Multi-Structure & Architectural Screening
For projects where screening has to work alongside a new deck, pergola or wider renovation, planned as one structure from the start rather than bolted on later.
- Structural planning across decks, pergolas and screens
- Engineering input for sloped or exposed sites
- Integrated cleanly with existing landscaping
- Coordinated with other trades where required
- Clear staged timeline start to finish
- Compliance paperwork managed end to end
Best for larger renovations or full outdoor living transformations.
Our Build Process
From First Sketch To Final Screw
Posts and panels look straightforward from the street. What actually happens between your first phone call and the final walkthrough decides whether the screen stands true for decades or starts working loose within a season.
Tell Us The Brief
Send a photo, a rough sketch or just a sense of what the screen needs to do, whether that's privacy, shade or a feature wall. This gives our team a head start before we ever step on site.
Free Site Visit
A licensed carpenter walks your property, reads the sun path and sightlines, and talks through species and spacing options with you directly before anything gets locked in.
Confirm Species & Price
We finalise the timber species, slat profile and layout, then issue a fixed-price quote covering materials, labour and finishing, so the plan matches your property and your budget exactly.
Frame Goes In First
Posts go into the correct depth, checked with a level and measured for true spacing. Rush this step and the entire structure pays for it later, so we never do.
Panels Fitted & Squared
Rails go up, then the pre-drilled panels, fastened by hand with galvanised screws. Every panel gets checked square against the frame before we move to the next.
Handover & Care Guide
We check every fixing point, confirm the screen sits level and secure, then talk you through the oiling routine that keeps the timber looking sharp for years to come.
Best Timber For Screening: Species, Character & Durability
The right timber for your screen isn't picked off a swatch card. It's decided by three things working together: what the weather will throw at it, how much upkeep you're prepared to put in, and the finish you actually want people to see.
| Timber Species | Best For | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Spotted Gum | Premium natural finish on exposed screens | Distinctive grain, naturally resistant to rot and termites |
| Blackbutt | Lighter, contemporary homes | Stable and durable, often bushfire-rated for BAL zones |
| Merbau | Screens wanting a deeper, richer tone | Warm colour, needs early sealing to manage tannin bleed |
| Treated Pine | Budget-friendly screening | Practical softwood option once properly chemically treated |
Class 1 and 2 Australian hardwoods, including Spotted Gum and Blackbutt, commonly last 15 to 25 years or more above ground when installed and maintained correctly. That durability comes from natural resistance to warping, insect damage and rot, which is exactly why these species dominate exposed screening applications across Sydney rather than cheaper imported alternatives. For properties in bushfire-prone areas, it is worth checking BAL zone requirements early, since certain species and detailing are better suited to higher-risk locations.
Different projects place different demands on timber. A boundary screen exposed to full weather, a feature wall under a covered patio and an indoor divider should not automatically use the same material. We apply hands-on experience across hundreds of Sydney projects to recommend the species that suits your site, not whatever happens to be easiest to supply that week.
Keeping Your Timber Screen Looking Its Best
A well-built timber screen rewards a small amount of care with decades of good looks. Hardwood screens generally need re-oiling every six to twelve months, depending on sun exposure and how coastal your property sits. Before applying oil, wash the timber down with water to clear dust, salt and grime, then apply a screening oil once the surface is fully dry to maintain the timber's natural colour and protect the grain.
A small gap left between the base of the screen and the ground goes a long way toward preventing rot, since it stops moisture pooling against the timber after rain. Regular oiling also slows warping, keeps the boards stable through temperature swings, and protects the natural character that first attracted you to hardwood over composite alternatives. Skip maintenance for a few years and the timber will still hold structurally, but the rich colour fades to grey far sooner than it should.
Serving Sydney's North Shore, Beaches & Beyond
From Mosman to Manly, Cremorne to Chatswood, our team has hands-on experience in the suburbs we serve, not a service area printed off a map. Neutral Bay, Northbridge, Cammeray, the wider North Shore, Northern Beaches and Inner West all fall within reach, and every single job runs through the same licensed process, from your first phone call to the final walkthrough on your property.
Ready To Give Your Property The Screen It Deserves?
A weekend job with a nail gun won't protect your privacy, lift your outlook or do your street appeal any favours, not for the long haul. What you actually want is a structure that looks right the day it goes up and still stands true years from now. That starts with a free consultation with a licensed Sydney screen-building team, followed by a fixed-price quote with nothing buried in the fine print. Built once. Built properly. Backed by service that stands behind every panel we fix into place.
Why Book With SB Higgs Projects?
- NSW Licensed Carpenter, Licence No. 474662C
- Free On-Site Consultation With Every Enquiry
- Workmanship Warranty On Every Screen
- Fixed-Price Quotes, No Hidden Surprises
- 350+ Decks & Carpentry Projects Across Sydney
Timber Screens Sydney
Frequently Asked Questions
What is a timber screen?
A timber screen is a structure made from spaced timber boards, battens or panels, built to create privacy, shade and visual separation without fully enclosing a space. Unlike a solid fence, the gaps between boards let light and air pass through while still blocking a direct line of sight. Sydney homeowners use timber screens around outdoor entertaining areas, pool surrounds, boundaries and entries, and increasingly indoors as a feature wall or room divider.
What is the recommended spacing for timber screens in Sydney?
Spacing depends on how much privacy you need versus how much light and airflow you want to keep. A common starting point is a gap roughly equal to the width of the board itself, which balances privacy with breeze. Tighter gaps suit a boundary screen that needs to block a direct sightline into a neighbouring yard, while wider spacing suits a feature screen where shade and character matter more than full privacy. We confirm exact spacing on site, since sun angle and sightlines vary from property to property.
How to build timber screening in Sydney?
Building a timber screen starts with setting posts to the correct depth and true spacing, since this step decides how straight and stable the finished structure sits. Rails go on next, followed by the screen panels, which are pre-drilled and fastened with galvanised screws for a clean, secure fit. Every panel gets checked with a level before moving to the next, and the finished screen typically gets one coat of oil to protect the timber before handover.
What timber to use for screening in Sydney?
Spotted Gum and Blackbutt are the most common choices for exposed Sydney screens, thanks to their natural resistance to rot, termites and warping, along with a genuinely premium finish. Merbau suits homeowners after a deeper, richer tone, though it needs early sealing to manage tannin bleed. Treated pine remains a solid, budget-friendly option for screens under cover or with lower exposure, provided it carries the correct treatment rating for the application.
Do timber screens need council approval in Sydney?
Many timber screens qualify as exempt development in NSW provided they meet height, boundary and site requirements, similar to fencing rules. Taller feature screens, screens on a shared boundary or projects in heritage or bushfire-prone areas can require additional checks. We confirm the right approval pathway during your free consultation, so compliance never holds up your project.
Elevate Your Outdoor Space, Built To Last
Contact us and send through a few photos of your property for a free, no-obligation consultation. Whether you are starting from a bare boundary or replacing a tired old fence, we will help you get a timber screen built once, built properly, and built around your home.
Licensed NSW Carpenter · Free On-Site Consultation · Fixed-Price Quotes · Workmanship Warranty
