Robinia cleft palings
Cleft paling is a roll fence: wooden pales held together by twisted galvanised wires. As a cleft paling manufacturer, we make ours from robinia (black locust) in our own factory in Romania. It goes up without any treatment: robinia is naturally rot-resistant and a cleft paling fence lasts up to 30 years. Seven heights from 0.50 to 2 m, nine pale spacings, rolls of 5 or 10 m: you choose the paling that suits your project.
What is cleft paling used for?
Dune and coastal protection: it slows the wind, holds the sand and channels visitors.
Marking out paths and green spaces: it guides without closing off the landscape.
Rustic garden fencing: natural look, quick to install.
Landscaping: borders, flower beds, vegetable gardens.
Wildlife protection: fencing off sensitive areas.
To fence a pasture, a paddock or a game enclosure: robinia stakes and fencing for livestock.
Available heights: 0.50 to 2 m
0.50 m cleft paling: edging for flower beds and vegetable gardens. Pales not pointed as standard. Rolls of 5 or 10 m.
0.80 m cleft paling: tall edging, path borders. Rolls of 5 or 10 m.
1 m cleft paling: paths, green spaces, dune protection. Rolls of 5 or 10 m.
1.20 m cleft paling: dune protection, windbreak, low fence. Rolls of 5 or 10 m.
1.50 m cleft paling: garden fence. Rolls of 5 m (10 m with 7 to 9 cm spacing).
1.80 m cleft paling: garden fence, privacy screen. Rolls of 5 m.
2 m cleft paling: privacy screen, tall fence. Rolls of 5 m.
Alternating heights: within one roll, the pales alternate between 0.80, 1.00 and 1.20 m. After several trials, this is the mix we find most attractive.
Every height comes in all 9 spacings, from 1-2 cm to 9-10 cm.
The gap between pales ranges from 1-2 cm to 9-10 cm. Close-spaced, the paling screens views and blocks the wind; wide-spaced, it is lighter and cheaper: from 18 pales per metre (1-2 cm) down to 8 (9-10 cm). A 5 m roll, 1.20 m high, weighs 64 kg with 1-2 cm spacing and 23 kg with 9-10 cm. The most requested spacings are 4-5 cm, then 8-9 cm.
Every height and every spacing is available: our pales are in stock, and the paling is woven when we receive your order, at the height and spacing you choose.
Sizes
Heights: 0.50 / 0.80 / 1.00 / 1.20 / 1.50 / 1.80 / 2.00 m.
Rolls of 5 m (all heights) or 10 m (up to 1.20 m high, and 1.50 m with 7 to 9 cm spacing).
Spacings: 1-2 / 2-3 / 3-4 / 4-5 / 5-6 / 6-7 / 7-8 / 8-9 / 9-10 cm.
Pales: sawn robinia with a triangular section, perimeter 9 to 12 cm, width 3 to 4 cm, pointed.
Wire: hot-dip galvanised steel Ø 1.8 mm (min. 50 g/m² zinc, tensile strength 550 N/mm²), double-twisted, 2 to 5 rows of 4 wires depending on height.
All dimensions in the cleft paling technical data sheet.
Pallets, trucks and weight
Pallets: rolls delivered upright (depth 1.20 m, width equal to the paling height). 5 m rolls: 30 per pallet at 0.50 m; from 0.80 to 2 m, 12 per pallet with close spacing (1 to 4 cm) and 15 above. 10 m rolls: 14 per pallet at 0.50 m; from 0.80 to 1.20 m, 8 per pallet up to 5-6 cm spacing and 10 above.
Weight of a 5 m roll: from 9 kg (0.50 m, 9-10 cm spacing) to 107 kg (2 m, 1-2 cm spacing).
Full truck: 26 to 64 pallets depending on height, i.e. from 1,950 m of paling (2 m high) to 6,400 m (0.80 m, 10 m rolls). For example, at 1.20 m high: 3,000 m in 5 m rolls, 4,000 m in 10 m rolls. 0.50 m rolls cannot be compressed, so fewer fit on a truck than 0.80 or 1 m rolls.
Full tables (rolls per pallet, metres per truck, weight for each height and spacing): our products page and technical data sheet.
How to install cleft paling
Unroll the paling and fix it to posts, with staples or wire, on every row of wire. Use stronger posts at the ends and corners to tension the roll properly. For posts, see our robinia stakes; tips on choosing and installing: robinia fencing guide.
Why robinia cleft paling?
Cleft paling is traditionally made from sweet chestnut. Robinia is harder and more durable: natural durability class 1-2 (EN 350-2), Class 4 (standard EN 335), no treatment and no maintenance. Over time it turns silver-grey naturally; small splits and a slight bow in the pales are normal and do not affect performance. Robinia vs sweet chestnut: the comparison
Delivered by half or full truck all over Europe.
How we make our cleft palings
The cleft palings are stakes (sawn stakes) connected together by galvanized iron wire.
These stakes are produced in 2 different ways:
as the main product, sawing small logs of diameters (10-30cm) and lengths of 80 to 300cm.
as a secondary product, in the recovery of wood waste during the production of planed boards or stakes
Production of robinia stakes as main product
The logs pass through a 4-blade saw. It produces 5cm thick boards. These are sawn in a multi-blade saw which saws them into a square section (see the production of sawn stakes for more details).
An operator takes these squares and marks the defects (rot, black knots crossing, breaks, ...) with fluorescent chalk. The chalk traces are then read by an Opticut automatic cutting saw (also called "optimizer"). The woods are cut to the exact dimensions according to the heights of our cleft palings.
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Operator identification of defects and insertion of square robinia sections into the automatic cutting saw
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The square sections of robinia (future stakes) come out at the right lengths and without defects from the automatic cutting saw
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The square sections cut to the correct lengths and without defects are then sawn in a bandsaw and are transformed into triangular sections.
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The triangular sections are slightly pointed (= last stage of the production of the stakes )
2. Production of robinia stakes as a secondary product
Whatever the robinia sawing order: square-edged boards, outdoor tables, sawn stakes, square stakes, rafters, sleepers... there is a significant volume of losses. Yields can vary, for each m3 of finished product, there can be 0.5 or even 2m3 of wood lost. This wood is then passed through an automatic cutting saw, a band saw and a pointer to end up as stakes.
The stakes are placed on pallets and stored as they are. They do not go immediately into the trellising machines (= machines
who will braid the galvanized iron wires around the stakes and package them in rolls of 5 or 10m long). In fact, our customers have the choice between 9 different spacings between the stakes (between 1 and 10cm).
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Different spacings between the stakes in the wattle fences
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Stock of stakes ready to be put into the trellises
Trellis in action - making wattle fences
To find out more about robinia wattle fences: dimensions, packaging, weight.
Options
Unpointed pales (standard at 0.50 m), sanded pales, alternating heights (0.80, 1.00 and 1.20 m), FSC® 100% certification on request.
Ordering cleft paling
We supply professionals – landscapers, local authorities, fencing contractors, timber merchants, garden centres – across Europe by half or full truckload, ex works. Private customer, or only need a few rolls? Write to us: we will point you to a dealer near you. Request a quote
Frequently asked questions
Which height of cleft paling should I choose?
0.50 m for edging, 0.80 to 1.20 m to mark out a path or protect a dune, 1.50 to 2 m to fence a garden or screen a view.
What spacing between the pales?
From 1-2 cm to 9-10 cm. Close for screening and wind protection, wide for a lighter, cheaper fence. Most requested: 4-5 cm, then 8-9 cm.
How long does robinia cleft paling last?
Up to 30 years, with no treatment or maintenance. The wood turns grey naturally over time.
Do you have every size in stock?
Yes. Our pales are kept in stock and the paling is woven to order: all heights (0.50 to 2 m) and all spacings (1-2 to 9-10 cm) are available.
How many metres of cleft paling fit on a truck?
From 1,950 m to 6,400 m depending on height and roll length, i.e. 26 to 64 pallets. For example 3,000 m at 1.20 m high, in 5 m rolls.
Robinia or sweet chestnut cleft paling: which to choose?
Cleft paling is traditionally made of sweet chestnut. Robinia is harder and more durable: in the ground, count on up to 30 years depending on the soil for robinia, against 15 to 20 years for sweet chestnut, in both cases without treatment. Both woods turn grey over time. The comparison
Do you deliver across Europe?
Yes. We deliver throughout Europe by half or full truckload, direct from our factory in Romania. For a few rolls, see "Where can I buy a few rolls?" below.
How much does robinia cleft paling cost?
The price depends on height, spacing (the closer, the more wood), roll length and quantity. Request a quote
Where can I buy a few rolls?
We deliver by the pallet and by the truck. For a few rolls, write to us and we will put you in touch with a dealer near you.
Is your timber EUDR-compliant?
Yes. Our timber is harvested in Romania and traced in SUMAL; we file the due diligence statement as the first operator. Details and documents provided: our EUDR page.