Vertical Blade Fencing in Melbourne: A Guide to Aluminium Blade Front Fences and Gates

Walk down almost any street with new builds in Melbourne and you'll spot them: tall, slim aluminium blades standing side by side, giving a home a clean, architectural edge. Vertical blade fencing has become one of the most requested looks for modern front fences, and it's easy to see why. It looks sharp, it lets light through, and it pairs beautifully with matching driveway and pedestrian gates.

At Latitude Fencing & Gates we design, fabricate and install aluminium vertical blade front fences and gates for homes right across Melbourne. In this guide we explain what makes a blade fence different from a slat fence, why aluminium suits Melbourne conditions, and how to plan a blade fence and gate that suit your home.

What Is a Vertical Blade Fence?

A vertical blade fence is made from slim aluminium profiles that stand upright, side by side, held between top and bottom rails. The difference between a blade and a slat comes down to which way the profile faces.

Our slats are 50x10mm. When they're fixed on the wide 50mm face, you see the flat face from the street and the gaps are small, around 10mm. That's a flat slat fence. When the same profile is turned and fixed on the narrow 10mm face, the depth of the blade faces outwards and the gaps open up to around 50mm. That's a blade fence.

Turning the profile changes the whole look:

• Depth and shadow: blades throw lines of light and shade across the fence through the day, which gives it a lot of character.

• Changing privacy: looking straight on you can see through the gaps, but from an angle the blades close up visually, so the fence feels more private as people walk past.

• A lighter feel: the open gaps let breeze and light through, which suits front gardens and keeps the home visible from the street.

If you'd like a closer, flatter look instead, see our horizontal slat fences and aluminium fencing pages.

Why Aluminium Blades Suit Melbourne Homes

Melbourne weather can swing from hot sun to rain and cold in the same week. Powder-coated aluminium handles that well:

• Low maintenance: no sanding, staining or repainting. An occasional wash keeps it looking fresh.

• Won't rot or warp: aluminium stays straight and true, so the neat lines of the blades stay neat.

• Made to measure: we fabricate every fence in our own Melbourne workshop, so panels are built to suit your frontage, levels and posts.

• Colour that lasts: powder coating gives an even, durable finish in a wide range of colours.

Matching Driveway and Pedestrian Gates

One of the best things about vertical blades is how well they carry through to gates. A sliding driveway gate, a swing gate or a pedestrian gate made from the same blades makes the whole frontage look like one design.

We build blade gates to suit how your driveway works:

• Sliding gates for driveways with room along the fence line.

• Telescopic sliding gates where there's less room to slide.

• Swing gates for driveways with space to open inwards.

• Bi-fold gates, one of our specialties, for short driveways where a swing gate won't fit.

Driveway gates can be automated with a motor, remotes and access options like keypads or intercoms. See our automatic driveway gates and side gates pages for more.

Design Tips for a Blade Front Fence

Choose your colour

Black and charcoal are the most popular choices for blade fences, especially on modern homes with render, cladding or dark window frames. Lighter colours can suit brick and period homes. Browse our fencing colours for ideas.

Think about the base

Blades look great on their own, or sitting on a rendered or brick base with piers. A solid base adds privacy at ground level while the blades keep the top light and open.

Plan the details early

Letterboxes, intercoms, house numbers and lighting can all be built into the fence or piers. Planning these at the start gives a much tidier result than adding them later.

Check the height and rules

Front fence height rules vary between councils and properties. We can talk you through what your council may require when we visit.

Why Choose Latitude Fencing & Gates?

• We build it ourselves: design, fabrication and installation are all done by our own team, so the fence and gates are made to fit your site.

• Gate specialists: from sliding and swing gates to bi-fold gates and full automation.

• Free site measure: we come out, measure up and talk through options, then quote.

• 5-year workmanship warranty: see our warranty page for details.

Vertical Blade Fencing FAQ

What's the difference between vertical slats and vertical blades?

They can use the same 50x10mm aluminium profile. Fixed on the wide face, it's a flat slat with small gaps. Fixed on the narrow face, it's a blade with wider gaps and more depth.

Is a blade fence private?

It's semi-private. You can see through the gaps when looking straight on, but the view closes up from an angle. If you need more privacy, a solid base or a flat slat design may suit better.

How much does a vertical blade fence cost in Melbourne?

It depends on length, height, gates, colour, automation and site conditions. Because every frontage is different, we quote after a free site measure.

Can my blade driveway gate be automated?

Yes. We can automate sliding, swing and bi-fold blade gates and add remotes, keypads or intercoms.

Is aluminium blade fencing hard to maintain?

No. An occasional wash with mild soapy water is usually all powder-coated aluminium needs.

Get a Free Site Measure and Quote

Ready for a sharp, modern frontage? Get in touch with Latitude Fencing & Gates for a free site measure. We'll talk through blade layouts, gates and colours, then give you a written quote. Request your quote today or visit latitudefencing.com.au.