Homeowners seeking to improve their property’s privacy often choose six or 8-foot-tall privacy fences. Short 3-foot decorative fences like quaint wrought-iron and white picket options also exist.
If the ground where you want a fence is on an incline, a fence company may need to regrade the landscape, raising installation costs. Your city, county, or homeowners association may also require a permit.
Cost of Materials
Depending on your specific needs and the type of fence you choose, the materials can add up quickly. For example, a steel fence is a great low-cost alternative to wrought iron and comes in various styles. However, a high-quality custom wrought iron fence can run up to $5,000 per linear foot.
Wood fences come in various sizes and styles, from composite to cedar to teak and redwood, but the prices are all relatively similar on average. Vinyl fences cost more than wood but are virtually maintenance-free and can be recouped over the fence’s life.
Depending on your jurisdiction, you may need a building permit for a new fence, which costs between $400 and $800. Before digging, a buried utility survey is also required to ensure that the fence will not interfere with or damage a service line. Lastly, a land survey may be needed to ensure the fence is on your property.
Cost of Posts
The type of posts you choose affects your fence building cost. Wood posts are the cheapest, but they rot and deteriorate quickly. Galvanized steel posts are more expensive, but they last twice as long. Their high tensile strength helps to minimize fence damage after severe storms.
A quality wood post has a tight grain, is free of peeler cores, and has been treated with a high-quality water-resistant preservative to keep it healthy. A good quality timber fence post is quite heavy – typically 38 pounds per foot or more.
Most fencing projects require digging many deep holes along the length of the fence. Where soil is wet, rocky, hardpan, or contains buried utilities, your contractor will have to spend extra digging and backfilling these holes. A local fence builder knows the neighborhoods where this can occur and will be able to include these costs in their quotes. This will also add to the overall time of the project.
Cost of Installation
The labor to build a fence can be costly, particularly for those who choose to hire professionals. A fence requires digging holes and installing posts, which takes time and skill.
If the fenced area is hilly or rocky, installing will take more work and increase costs. Also, if the land must be graded to make it flat, that will add to the cost.
Fence building can also be complicated because it may require a permit, and HOA or city regulations could affect the height of the fence. A qualified contractor will know if a permit is needed and will be able to procure it on your behalf.
When budgeting for your fence project, measure the area to determine how much material and labor you need. Be sure to include the cost of any gates you want to be included in the design. Before beginning the construction process, call 811 to have your utility lines marked so they are not hit during construction.
Cost of Landscaping
Adding a fence to your property is a significant undertaking and requires professional installation. The cost to install a fence includes materials and labor. Costs can vary widely depending on the property’s size and the project’s difficulty.
Landscaping costs may also increase your fence installation price. If your property has a lot of rocks, hard soil, or other obstacles, digging holes for fence posts will be more difficult and time-consuming. This can add an extra $125 to your total project cost.
You should also factor in the additional costs of buried utilities, which could cost an average of $400 to $540. You should call 811 before starting the project to have a surveyor come out and mark where buried utilities are located on your property. Then you can avoid accidentally digging into them during the fence construction process. You should also consider the cost of gates, which can add an extra $150 to $1,000.
