How Many Cost Factors Affect Fence Installation

Posted by admin in Aug, 2016

You’ll want a solid estimate for your project before you begin the build. There are five major cost considerations:

1. Parts: You can either acquire some of them yourself or rely on the fence contractor to get them and be charged later. While they will charge a markup fee, they receive discounts that could make the entire process cost-effective for you.
2. Permits: You will have to contact your local municipality to see if a permit is required. The average building permit costs about $800.
3. Utilities: You will have to verify the fence doesn’t interfere with their services. It’s possible the fence could strike underground pipes or wires. Call 811, which exists in every state, notes that not calling could lead to costly repairs on the part of the homeowner.
4. Grading: There’s a chance your costs could be higher for a fence installation if the land is sloped higher because it makes installation more difficult.
5. Labor: Expect to be charged per linear foot for materials and have labor and materials charged together.

Note that the different materials each have unique installation costs depending upon their build complexity.

• Chain-link fences are especially cost-effective.
• The install cost of wood fences fluctuates depending upon the type of wood used.
• Vinyl is more expensive than wood or chain-link.
• Specialty materials such as aluminum and wrought iron cost the most.

Two additional considerations with regard to installation are fence height and property size.

Fence Height

The most popular fence size is six feet. This height provides enough view obstruction that only a small percentage of people can see over it while few pets can hurdle it. Presuming that you choose one of the most popular fence materials, wood or vinyl, you should expect to pay $7 to $19 per linear foot unless you select add-ons such as fancy patterns and ornamentation. Those can raise the price significantly.

Property Size

Even if you don’t hire an installer, you should still evaluate your project as having a set cost per square foot. Also note that if you measure improperly, you may unintentionally schedule a build on a portion of land you don’t own. This can lead to legal issues if there is a dispute about property rights. As such, it’s critical that you properly measure the size of the property. Any miscalculation will have tremendous financial ramifications, and you also may wind up short on materials, forcing another trip to the store. Consider hiring a land surveyor to measure your land for $300 to $700. Ask to see their measurements for the land as a second form of verification for your own calculations. At this point, you should have a good idea how willing you are to perform the work on your own.