There are many reasons why your fence installation costs can skyrocket. While there are ways to lessen the financial impact (do it yourself, cheaper materials), the extra work may not be for everyone, and sometimes the expense is unavoidable if you want quality. So what factors affect the price of fencing installation the most? Here are four of the worst offenders:
Choose the best materials
It goes without saying that fencing installation costs vary more depending on the material used. Here is a list of the average price per foot of the most common door materials:
1. Aluminum – approximately $40 per foot
2. Chain Link – Fluctuates with the price of steel, but averages $3-$6 per foot
3. Wood – ranges from $3 to $9 per foot
4. Vinyl: varies between $4 and $12 per foot
Remember, while affordability is important, you must first consider the primary purpose of your enclosure when choosing the best materials. You may also have additional factors to think about, such as maintenance, homeowners association rules, and municipal permitting laws.
Get tools to do it yourself
It is possible to tackle the work on your own. This can save you a great deal of money, but you also need to have the proper tools and equipment to ensure your door is level and structurally sound.
For example, to dig post holes, you will need a hand auger. They usually range in price from $15 to $100, or you can rent an electric auger for as little as $50 a day.
A manual post driver can be rented to drive the stakes into the ground for around $20 a day. The powered variant can be rented for $60 per day, but can cost up to $3000 to purchase. You should only make that kind of investment if your job is especially big, like fencing off a multi-acre farm.
Recruitment of professionals
These jobs can be time-consuming and require a lot of skill, which is why many less-skilled homeowners turn to highly-skilled contractors to keep things simple. However, hiring professionals will substantially increase your costs.
Fence installation is usually done in three stages. These stages are digging post holes, installing the posts, and applying the chosen fencing. Assess how long it will take the contractors to finish everything. Your prospective employer should provide you with a reliable schedule to use as a guide for labor expenses.
Most companies charge between $30 and $50 per hour for labor, however, there are several factors that can compound these average costs. First, does your property contain any unusual obstructions, steep slopes, or hard-to-reach areas? Or did the contractor have to check municipal permits or call the power company about the underground cables because he forgot to do so? These can be some expensive problems.
Believing that concrete is the only option
Even using concrete to install the posts adds to the expense. A more affordable option that can be used, which is just as effective, is a mixture of sand, gravel and cement.
In conclusion, to avoid overspending during fence installation, first take a good look at your yard before making any decisions and make an honest estimate of how much work and money would be involved. Then you can decide which material best suits the situation, whether it is worth using concrete, and whether it will be more profitable for you to do the work yourself or hire a contractor.
