Schools
Secure perimeters delivered around live school operations.
Commercial Fencing
Spear Top & Palisade FencingGold Coast, Tweed & Northern NSW
Anti-climb steel perimeter fencing for schools, secure compounds, council sites and any boundary that has to stop people getting over it.
- Gold Coast, Tweed & Northern NSW
- QBCC 15510481 | NSW 489457C
- Quotes within 48 hours
The Short Version
What is spear top and palisade fencing?
Both are steel perimeter systems designed around one job: making a boundary genuinely hard to climb. Spear top finishes each vertical picket in a point above the top rail. Palisade uses heavier, wider vertical steel sections - often profiled - bolted to horizontal rails, with the same pointed top treatment.
Spear top is the lighter, cleaner of the two and is what most people picture on a school boundary or a council site: black powder coated pickets, tight vertical rhythm, pointed tops. Palisade is the heavier industrial cousin - thicker sections, wider spacing, more brute presence - used where impact resistance and deterrence matter more than appearance.
Both defeat climbing the same way: nothing horizontal to stand on, nothing to grip, and a top you can't comfortably get a hand over. Neither screens the site, which is usually a feature - a perimeter you can see through is a perimeter that can be supervised and covered by cameras.
Where they differ in practice is cost and character. Spear top suits public-facing and education boundaries. Palisade suits compounds, substations, plant yards and anywhere the fence is going to take punishment.
When another system suits better
If pointed tops aren't appropriate - many internal school and public areas rule them out - a flat top steel picket system gives the same rigidity and appearance without the spear.
Steel Security FencingPurpose-built anti-climb
No footholds, no grip points, and a pointed top that resists getting a hand over.
Sightlines stay open
Supervision and camera coverage aren't blocked by the boundary.
Proven on school sites
The most common secure boundary system on Gold Coast school projects we deliver.
Takes punishment
Palisade sections handle impact and abuse that lighter systems don't.
Where It's Used
Sites we build this for.
Public Infrastructure
Treatment plants, utilities and council assets that sit unattended.
Secure Compounds
Plant, equipment and restricted-access areas within a larger site.
Industrial Sites
Frontages and high-risk zones where deterrence is the point.
Commercial Properties
Boundaries that need to be secure without looking hostile.
Builders & Developments
Perimeter fencing built into the program and handed over complete.
How Much Fence Do You Need
Four levels of deterrence.
Spear top and palisade sit at different points on the same scale. Pick the level that matches your site and we'll tell you the system, where it fits, and where it's the wrong call.
Schematic only. The figure is 1.75m for scale.
Level 2
1.8m spear top
- 1.8m panel height
- Spear tips
- 100mm pale spacing
Where it makes sense
Schools, childcare boundaries, community facilities and general commercial perimeters.
Where it's the wrong call
Under-spec for a site holding high-value gear overnight with no other security.
Your Options
Spear top vs palisade
The two systems solve the same problem from different directions. This is how we talk it through on site.
Spear top
Lighter vertical pickets, pointed above the top rail, powder coated.
- Best for
- Schools, council sites, commercial frontages, public boundaries.
- Appearance
- Clean and uniform - reads as a finished boundary, not as site fencing.
- Security
- Strong climb resistance from pointed tops and narrow vertical pickets.
- Impact resistance
- Good for its weight, but not built to take vehicle or plant contact.
- Relative cost
- Lower per metre than palisade for the same height.
Palisade
Heavier profiled steel sections bolted to rails, with pointed tops.
- Best for
- Compounds, plant yards, substations, industrial perimeters.
- Appearance
- Deliberately industrial - presence and deterrence over refinement.
- Security
- The stronger deterrent of the two, with heavier sections to defeat.
- Impact resistance
- Handles knocks and abuse that would deform lighter systems.
- Relative cost
- Higher per metre, driven by the section weight.
Shared decisions
These apply whichever system you choose.
- Height
- Set against the climb risk and any site or education-sector specification.
- Picket / pale spacing
- Narrower spacing where nothing should pass through the fence line.
- Posts
- Concreted in, or base-plated onto existing slabs and retaining structures.
- Slope handling
- Raked to follow the grade, or stepped where the ground is irregular.
- Gates
- Matching pedestrian, double swing and sliding gates built into the run.
- Finish
- Galvanised and powder coated - black is the standard commercial colour.
Exact heights, gauges and material specifications are set per project - we confirm them against your site, spec or engineer's drawings before quoting.
Which Fence Do I Need?
Start with the problem, not the product.
You don't need to know the terminology. Find the line that sounds like your site.
Recent Work
Spear Top & Palisade Fencing projects.
Have a similar project?
Request a Quote
Tell us about your spear top & palisade project.
A few details is all we need. We'll come back to you within 48 hours, and we can come out and look at the site if that's easier.
0480 462 426Gold Coast & Northern NSW | QBCC 15510481 | NSW 489457C
Why Wood Trades
Straightforward to deal with.
Commercial project focus
Industrial estates, schools, councils and public infrastructure - this is our primary division.
Gold Coast & Northern NSW
Locally based, with crews working across the Gold Coast and into Northern NSW.
Site visits available
We come out, look at the site and talk through what you actually need.
Builders & developers
We work alongside project managers and site supervisors, staged around your program.
Schools & infrastructure
DETE-spec school fencing and council spec work, with Blue Card accredited crews.
Multiple fencing systems
Spear top, palisade, chainwire, aluminium, Colorbond and acreage fencing.
Licensed & insured
QBCC 15510481 | NSW 489457C | fully insured for commercial work.
Quotes within 48 hours
Quotes issued within 48 hours of enquiry.
FAQs
Spear Top & Palisade questions.
The things people actually ask us before they commit to a job.
Spear top uses lighter vertical pickets pointed above the top rail and looks clean enough for a school or commercial frontage. Palisade uses heavier profiled steel sections and is built for industrial compounds where impact resistance and deterrence outweigh appearance.
What Clients Say
Reviewed on Google.
5.0 | 7 reviews
"Out of five fencers I contacted to rebuild the chainlink security fencing at Big Box Self Storage, Jordan was the only one genuinely interested in doing the job and was the most reasonably priced. Jordan and his team did an amazing job - just drive to the rear carpark of Harbour Town shops to see it. Thanks again Jordan and team."
"Wood Trades installed a patio on our granny flat. It turned out exactly as we discussed. We're very happy with the quality of work Jordan completed and will contact Wood Trades as our first choice for any future jobs. Jordan was very professional - turning up on time and leaving the job site tidy. Highly recommend."
"Jordan is the best trade we have ever worked with. So friendly, on time, great communication, super tidy work site and best of all brought all of my last minute and crazy ideas to life!"