There are many reasons why your fence installation costs can skyrocket. Though there are ways to lessen the financial impact (doing it yourself, cheaper materials), the extra work may not be for everyone, and sometimes expenses are unavoidable if you want quality. So, which factors affect the price of fence installation the most? Here are four of the worst offenders:
Choosing Top Materials
It goes without saying that fence installation costs vary the most by the material used. Here is a list of the average price per foot of the most common gate materials:
1. Aluminum - approximately $40 per foot
2. Chain-link - fluctuates with the price of steel, but averages $3 - $6 per foot
3. Wooden - varies between $3 - $9 per foot
4. Vinyl - varies between $4 - $12 per foot
Remember, though 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, homeowner's association rules, and municipal permit laws.
Getting Tools To Do It Yourself
It is possible to tackle the job on your own. This can save you a great deal of money, but you must also have the right tools and equipment to ensure that your gate is level and structurally sound.
For example, for digging post holes, you will require a manual auger. These typically range in price between $15 and $100, or you can rent a power auger for as little as $50 per day.
A manual post driver for driving the stakes into the ground can be rented for about $20 a day. The powered variant can be rented for $60 per day, but can cost as much as $3000 to purchase. You should only make that type of investment if your job is especially large, such as enclosing a multi-acre farm.
Hiring Professionals
These jobs can take a lot of time and require a lot of skill, which is why many homeowners that are not so handy turn to highly-trained contractors to make things simpler. Hiring professionals, however, will drive up your costs substantially.
Fence installation is usually done in three stages. These stages are digging post holes, installing the posts, and applying the chosen fencing. Evaluate how long will it take the contractors to get everything done. Your prospective company should give you a dependable timeline to use as a guideline 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 of all, does your property contain unusual obstructions, steep slopes, or difficult to access areas? Or, did the contractor have to check on municipal permits, or call the electric company regarding underground wires because you forgot to? These can be some pricey issues.
Believing 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 sand, gravel, and cement mixture.
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 fits the situation, if it is worth using concrete, and whether it will be more cost-effective for you to do the job yourself or to hire a contractor.
