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So it's finally come to this. After a great deal of thinking and decision-making, you've come to a conclusion that, yes, you do need to get a fence installed.
Well, that should be easy, right? Just call "the guy," and it should all be sorted out from there. Maybe so. But let's not forget that, for the average person, how much a fence costs (including specific "hidden costs") is often a mystery.
But it doesn't have to be that way. You don't have to run a gauntlet of costs and headaches, especially if you have to go in blind and not know what the road looks like ahead of time.
This is why we've created this handy guide to give you a general idea of how much a fence of any kind is likely to cost based on trends and our own expert knowledge.
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The Big Question is - Why?
The best first question you should always be asking yourself when jumping into the world of fence installation should always be - why?
● Why is the fence needed?
● Why are you going with a specific material?
● What purpose will this fence serve once it's completed?
● Why are you going with a specific material?
● What purpose will this fence serve once it's completed?
They're simple yet fundamental questions that you should answer at all stages of the build. Often, staying on point and focused on the fence's purpose will help you know what you need and keep the installation as fiscally efficient as possible. These answers will also help dictate what kind of fence you're going to build.
For example, a picket fence might be appropriate to keep small children and dogs safe from going beyond the boundaries of your property but might also not be the best choice for those looking to enjoy some added privacy or security in their home.
Nailing the Basics
So, you've got your premise down and know the reasons behind the fence you're planning to build. But just what are the costs associated with fence construction, and what should you be looking out for when creating a budget? For that, you need to take the following information into account:
● Type of material
● Measuring the size of the property perimeter
● Installing gates
● Labor costs (Traditionally $30-$80 per hour)
● Checking local zoning laws and obtaining a permit.
● Checking for underground utilities
● Digging hardware and dirt removal from the premises
● Removing an old fence.
● Measuring the size of the property perimeter
● Installing gates
● Labor costs (Traditionally $30-$80 per hour)
● Checking local zoning laws and obtaining a permit.
● Checking for underground utilities
● Digging hardware and dirt removal from the premises
● Removing an old fence.
It's a lot to manage, but these are the most essential aspects of fence building overall, so they can't really be skipped. This information will give you a good idea of the fence's final price and can be used to compare quotes between the local fence companies you contact.
Fencing Material
Given the impact of your choice of material on the final cost, it's essential to expand on this topic as the differences in pricing between materials can be vast in variety and scope. As a broad brushstroke, a fence will usually cost between $10.00-$75.00 per linear foot. However, as previously mentioned, these prices can vary wildly depending on a variety of factors.
To help, we've broken down a more detailed deep dive below:
Vinyl Panels:
● Average per panel $35.00 - $108.00
Vinyl Panels:
● Average per panel $35.00 - $108.00
Wooden (Cedar or redwood)
● Redwood:
○ Pickets: $1.5 - $10.00 per picket
○ Panels: $65.00 - $195.00 per panel
● Cedar:
○ Pickets: $1.00 - $6.00 per picket
○ Panels: $55-185.00
● Treated Pine:
○ Pickets: $0.90 - $5.00 per picket
○ Panels: $45.00 - $175.00 per panel
● Redwood:
○ Pickets: $1.5 - $10.00 per picket
○ Panels: $65.00 - $195.00 per panel
● Cedar:
○ Pickets: $1.00 - $6.00 per picket
○ Panels: $55-185.00
● Treated Pine:
○ Pickets: $0.90 - $5.00 per picket
○ Panels: $45.00 - $175.00 per panel
Aluminum:
● 2 Rail standard gauge with posts: average $85.00 - $105.00
● 2 Rail heavy gauge with posts: average $110.00 - $130.00
● 3 Rail standard gauge with posts: average $95.00 - $110.00
● 3 Rail heavy gauge with posts: average $160.00 - $180.00
● 2 Rail standard gauge with posts: average $85.00 - $105.00
● 2 Rail heavy gauge with posts: average $110.00 - $130.00
● 3 Rail standard gauge with posts: average $95.00 - $110.00
● 3 Rail heavy gauge with posts: average $160.00 - $180.00
After materials, it's also essential to think about your fence's height and, next to the material type, the size of your fence will dictate cost considerably.
Again, this is also a question of what the purpose of your fence is. Will it be for security? Privacy? In any case, the fence's height will be a vital factor in your build, with the taller your fence being directly proportional to an increase in cost.
Again, this is also a question of what the purpose of your fence is. Will it be for security? Privacy? In any case, the fence's height will be a vital factor in your build, with the taller your fence being directly proportional to an increase in cost.
Maintenance Maintenance Maintenance
Often when we speak of fence builds, maintenance is, unfortunately, a rarely discussed issue at the time of the fence planning process.
In addition to any initial build costs, maintenance costs will also be a factor when budgeting, as these are usually an annual concern. Maintenance costs are also something that we highly recommend to never skip or gloss over. As ensuring you take care of your investment should be a primary concern once it's completed.
In this aspect, the choice of material becomes extremely important, with the costs of maintenance being affected heavily by material choice.
For example, Vinyl fences are traditionally quite forgiving from a maintenance standpoint, and so costs associated with vinyl fences in the long term can be small. The same goes for aluminum, which is famously much more formidable than its counterparts in wrought iron and steel.
However, wooden fences are much more maintenance-heavy, with the wood likely to suffer from harsh weather conditions without proper maintenance and treatment. This primarily happens in the form of water sealants that, when applied, can manage the wood's exposure to moisture, which will quickly cause deterioration if left unchecked.
Similarly, bugs such as termites and ants can be a massive issue if not evicted from your wooden fence. This is often a simple precaution and can be achieved by only applying an insect spray of sufficient strength to ward off intruders. Pressure washing your fence is also highly recommended as this will also remove most forms of harmful molds and residue.
Money-Saving Tips
Now, if you've read this far and haven't been scared off yet, then congrats! Here are a few handy tips that can help you keep the costs down of your next fencing project:
● If you have an old fence, try removing it yourself before you decide to call a professional. It's often much more comfortable to disassemble a fence than install one.
● Choose a cheaper material - such as vinyl.
● Don't go overboard with locks and gates. Keep things simple and practical.
● Try having your fence installed in the offseason for many companies (this usually occurs in the winter).
● If you have an old fence, try removing it yourself before you decide to call a professional. It's often much more comfortable to disassemble a fence than install one.
● Choose a cheaper material - such as vinyl.
● Don't go overboard with locks and gates. Keep things simple and practical.
● Try having your fence installed in the offseason for many companies (this usually occurs in the winter).
Finally, suppose you're finding that the reason for building a new fence is because your previous fence was damaged. In that case, you should be able to, at least partially, cover the costs of your new fence using your own homeowner's insurance.