Working out what timber fretwork will cost for a verandah, gable or frieze is rarely a single number, and anyone who hands you one without asking questions is guessing. The real figure hinges on the pattern you fall in love with, the running length you need, the timber species and the finish. Here is how the pricing actually works, so you can budget your Melbourne restoration or new build with confidence.
Why Timber Fretwork Is Priced Per Lineal Metre
Unlike a fixed panel with a set price tag, decorative fretwork is quoted by the lineal metre, meaning the running length your project calls for in your chosen design. Two elements set that per-metre rate.
The Pattern
An open, simple lattice needs less cutting and less timber than a dense, lace-like design, so it sits lower on the price scale. The more intricate the lacework, the more machining and material go into each metre.
The Profile
A straight frieze run is the most economical shape. Arched fretwork, which curves to fit the opening between two verandah posts, involves extra shaping and assembly, so it always carries a higher rate than the equivalent straight design.
Guide Prices by Fretwork Pattern
The figures below are indicative rates per lineal metre for assembled LOSP treated pine, our standard heritage timber. They are a guide only and correct at time of publishing.
- FR4 pattern: around $151 per lineal metre
- FR8 pattern: around $197.50 per lineal metre
- FR5 pattern: around $203 per lineal metre
- FR2 and FR3 patterns: around $221 per lineal metre
- FR4 arched: around $439 per lineal metre
- FR1 pattern: around $607.67 per lineal metre
Standard-range patterns are simply cut to your measurements. Fully bespoke designs and heritage reproductions are quoted separately, because they involve original design and setup work.
A Worked Example: Costing a Six-Metre Verandah
Imagine a six-metre verandah frontage and see how the pattern choice swings the total.
- FR4 at $151 per metre works out to roughly $906
- FR5 at $203 per metre lands near $1,218
- FR1 at $607.67 per metre reaches about $3,646
Same frontage, same length, yet the spend more than triples. The pattern you select has the single biggest influence on your total. These figures exclude finishing and delivery.
What Pushes the Price Up or Down
- Total length: more lineal metres means a higher overall cost, though long continuous runs are often more economical per metre.
- Arched versus straight: curved panels spanning between posts cost more than straight frieze runs.
- Timber species: LOSP treated pine is the standard and most affordable choice; a hardwood upgrade lifts the rate.
- Finish: raw, primed and painted each cost differently, and pre-priming adds an upfront amount.
- Standard versus bespoke: catalogue patterns are cheaper than custom designs or one-off heritage reproductions.
What Your Fretwork Price Actually Includes
External fretwork is supplied in LOSP H3 Protim treated pine, which resists termite attack and fungal decay. That timber carries a 25-year guarantee, while every assembled product is backed by a 10-year manufacturing warranty. Each piece is made to your own measurements, and a full matching service is available if you are replacing damaged sections or extending an existing verandah. You can browse the full heritage range on our timber products page to see the patterns and profiles available.
Fretwork is usually a modest slice of a restoration budget, yet it delivers an outsized visual impact on any period home.
How to Get an Accurate Quote
To price your job precisely, we need a few details: the pattern you want (or a clear photo of fretwork to match), the total lineal metres or your verandah measurements, whether the run is straight or arched, and your preferred timber and finish. For arched fretwork, supply the opening width, the outside overall height and the centre overall height. With those in hand, a tailored quote is usually turned around within two business days.
Heritage Fretwork, Made in Melbourne
Classic Woodturning manufactures verandah posts, fretwork, friezework, balustrades and gable products at Bayswater and delivers Australia-wide. As part of the same family, our range extends the original heritage collection developed by Karem Woodcraft, so you can reproduce almost any period pattern from a photograph, measurement or original sample. For clear per-lineal-metre pricing on your project, call our workshop on 03 9720 7266 and we will help you plan it properly.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is fretwork priced per panel or per metre?
Per lineal metre. The cost follows the running length your project needs in your chosen pattern, rather than a flat per-panel rate.
Why does arched fretwork cost more?
An arch is shaped to span the curved opening between verandah posts, which takes more cutting and assembly than a straight frieze.
Does the price include timber treatment?
Yes. External fretwork comes in LOSP H3 treated pine with a 25-year guarantee against termites and decay.
Can you match existing heritage patterns?
Yes. Old patterns can be reproduced from photos, measurements or samples. Because that is custom work, it is quoted per project rather than at standard rates.
Do you deliver across Australia?
Yes. We manufacture in Melbourne and deliver fretwork Australia-wide.