Fence Installation

Macdaddy4738

Macdaddy4738

Well-Known Member
Joined
Jun 1, 2005
I'm getting close to submitting an offer on my first house here next week or so. I will need a fence installed. I'm toying with the DIY route, but from my extremely rough GIS measurements (and what I can remember in my head), the fence will be around 300 linear feet. I think it will be roughly 5-6 runs, and the yard runs slightly downhill away from the home, although the grade isn't incredibly steep.

SO, any ballpark figure on a fence cost, installed, by a professional? I'm looking at 3 gates, one around 10' to fit my Jeep through, another around 4'-5' to fit a riding mower through, and the other doesn't matter too much, probably 3'-4' width. I would prefer a wood privacy fence. Vinyl isn't in the budget right now, and chain link just isn't attractive to me. No setback on fence regulations here, but I'll keep it about 2'-3' off the property line.

Is this even remotely possible to do yourself? I'd have to either rent or buy an auger (probably rent as I wouldn't have much of a use after I finish it). I honestly have no experience with a project of this size, and for the most part, I would be installing this myself.
 
You will need help w the auger unless you rent one of the ones you ride on. Most any fence co. will come out and give you a free estimate. I built my front facing fence out of wood and the rest w 5' field fence for pretty cheap and my brother worked w me on the auger and wire for beer.
 
I had lowes install our chain link, but they do all kinds, and will come measure it and give u free estimate.
 
We just had one installed in our back yard about a year or so ago. We hired Seegars for the job. I think it was about $5,500, but I can't remember. I think the total length we decided to fence in came to about 350' with two 4' wide gates, and one 12' wide double gate to get a truck through. It is a 4' high black ornamental aluminum fence.
 
Black chain link fence looks pretty nice.

And, it's VERY low maintenance and more affordable than wood.

With some decent landscaping and selective plants, you can have very nice yard and be very private.



We have 5' black chain link fence and we have been very strategic with landscaping and have a pretty secluded and private back yard. You can even plant some vines and weave in the chain link fence and create even more privacy.
 
The only thing my neighbor has done that impressed me so far is he had chain link installed and then took a spray gun and painted it black with the Professional Lowes paint. It looks very nice so far. Even though CL itself will be around for a very long time without the paint. I'd only do wood for privacy.

Be sure to locate your irons and stretch a string and stay a couple inches off!

I installed all my fence myself and there's a lot of it. Wood is monotonous and a helper is a huge plus. CL is easier by yourself. CL is cheaper in the long run for wood will require maintenance. I dug all my holes by hand. I run circles around post hole diggers with a good short shovel. Ground is always softer in the winter time.
 
I did 430ft of 6 ft fence about 2 years ago. I was quoted around $16 per ft. with no gates. I used tractor supply gates. I have 2 10ft gates and 1 12ft gate. I wish I did all 3 12ft gates. Also you need to factor in staining it. That was roughly $1000 for satin alone.
 
rockcity said:
Black chain link fence looks pretty nice.

And, it's VERY low maintenance and more affordable than wood.

With some decent landscaping and selective plants, you can have very nice yard and be very private.



We have 5' black chain link fence and we have been very strategic with landscaping and have a pretty secluded and private back yard. You can even plant some vines and weave in the chain link fence and create even more privacy.
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I've thought about this. What is the approximate cost difference in chain vs. wood? It's not so much about privacy for me, it's really about having a fence to keep my dog in, and other dogs out.

Fabrik8 said:
I think the problem is that it's hard to get someone to do an estimate on a house that you don't yet own?
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Haha yes! My issue is that I have a limited budget on "need to buy" items if I get it, so I need to sort of figure out how to spread that money around. I know I need a new washer and dryer for it, some extra furniture, and the fence.
 
I'd expect that a black chain link fence would be 50% the cost of wood and even less for vinyl.

Here is mine with euonymus woven throughout.

image.jpg


The gate there is 10' wide
 
Nothing to add other than make your gates on the longer side. 12' for vehicles, 5' for mower/atv & 4' for people...you'll thank yourself for it later!
 
Craigslist is your friend for a cheap washer and dryer. If you've never owned a house make sure you're prepared for a lot of trips to lowes/home depot that won't seem like much until you realize you've spent $500 in a week little by little.
 
rockcity said:
I'd expect that a black chain link fence would be 50% the cost of wood and even less for vinyl.

Here is mine with euonymus woven throughout.

View attachment 195489

The gate there is 10' wide
Click to expand...
That's actually quite nice. I might be sold on the chain link. Did you have it installed or do it yourself?

This will be my first home. I'm completely overwhelmed with the process so far but I'm learning. The hard part is realizing all your plans probably won't ever happen!
 
When I priced CL a few years ago it was only like $1/ft or something to have it installed.

X2 on buying used washer/dryer. If u check around there is likely a store locally that sells used/refurbished appliances. I bought a set used for $200, used it for 5 yrs. It was older, I had to spend $10 to repair it at 5 yrs
 
We are supposed to close on our house soon and I'll be going black CL. I have the same problem with getting an estimate too. I installed the fence at my last house but can't remember what it cost me. Bought it from a salvage company so saved some coin there too. Make sure to cement every post, not just the corners.

@rockcity how long did it take for the vining to cover like that?
 
If it's really just for the dog... an underground/electric fence is way cheaper and easier to install...

Whatever cash you think you need to have on hand for misc odds and ends after you buy the house - multiply it by 3.
It's not just stuff to fix or change, it's also things like having to buy a shop-vac, and yard tools, and paint brushes, and curtain rods, and...

Craigslist is your friend, buy as much stuff used as you can.
 
I spent about 10 yrs in the fence industry. I can help with any part of it.

If you have someone do it, you need to compare apples to apples. Ask about wall thickness, post depth and concrete. Don't be afraid to pick a random post and ask them to pull it and see if they are lying to you about depth and concrete.

I would recommend black chain link and bottom tension wire. Get 2 1/2' SS20 terminal posts and 2" 0.065 line posts (especially if you have a big dog) but you could get by w 1 5/8" lines. You want powder coated posts and not Vinyl coated.

Generally speaking you should be about 12/lf for 4 ft tall Blk chain link and 16 for 6 ft tall wood privacy fence. It can range a buck or two depending on grade, corners and gates. Vinyl will be even more. IMHO vinyl is garbage ( even the high end stuff is trash)

I can help you with DIY info for anything (just pm me). Heck even send me the quotes and I'll be able to tell who I'd use if they put any info on it. The above knowledge is enough to put the estimator in check.

I'd avoid Lowes or home depot because they use subs who work for bottom dollar. With that you get poor workmanship and lots of shortcuts. Stick with a brick and mortar company and get several estimates. You get what you pay for.
 
GotWood said:
@rockcity how long did it take for the vining to cover like that?
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Believe it or not, that was a single vine on each side of the gate about 24" long when I transplanted it. I planted it like 5 years ago but it's been the same for the last couple. I take the hedge trimmer to it about once to twice a season to make sure it stays nice. Beyond that, it's pretty low maintenance now that it's established.

I also have it all the way down the side fences on the side of the house. It grows really fast. As it grows, I weave the vines about once a month in the summer through the fence. The main vines are about 3" diameter now. All the sprouts are easy to root and transplant. It makes great ground cover as well and chokes out most all weeds.
 
Macdaddy4738 said:
That's actually quite nice. I might be sold on the chain link. Did you have it installed or do it yourself?

This will be my first home. I'm completely overwhelmed with the process so far but I'm learning. The hard part is realizing all your plans probably won't ever happen!
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The builder installed the fence. I've done chain link enough to know to hire someone to do it professionally.

I like the vegetative cover better. Low maintenance and it adds some nice landscaping options.
 
RatLabGuy said:
If it's really just for the dog... an underground/electric fence is way cheaper and easier to install...

Whatever cash you think you need to have on hand for misc odds and ends after you buy the house - multiply it by 3.
It's not just stuff to fix or change, it's also things like having to buy a shop-vac, and yard tools, and paint brushes, and curtain rods, and...

Craigslist is your friend, buy as much stuff used as you can.
Click to expand...

I need a fence. An electric fence won't keep other dogs out, and mine is really only my best friend. She gets funny around other female dogs, especially if they get up into our yard.

I have a pretty good stash of stuff now. My shop-vac is a little on the smaller side though, but it gets the job done. I'm responsible for yard maintenance here, so I've got all that good stuff.

NOW, on to used appliances! I was very lucky to have a front load washer/dryer left here for me by the landlords. The washer kicked the bucket maybe two weeks ago, and they purchased a cheaper used top loader. No big deal right? FREAKING WRONG. This thing is absolutely disgusting. It may have been stored outside. Every time the bucket fills, it's full of random dirt and debris. I decided to strip it down and clean it, and discovered that at some point it was most definitely infested with cockroaches. The thing is awful. I can't get the agitator off to remove the wash barrel either...
 
I've had used washers and dryers for 20 years, refuse to buy new. I'm only on my 3rd set. Buy the basic knob style washers and dryers, they are simple and cheap to fix. Roper is actually good stuff kinda like a Jeep with plenty of aftermarket support. And make sure you buy XL sizes and take comforters to laundry mat.

I have learned over the years that is not how much you make or spend but how much you keep that counts.
 
Just called a local fence co for a ballpark estimate. 5'black CL will run about $11 l/f plus gates. I believe I need somewhere in the 350' range which works out to over $4k. That's too much in my book. I bet I have less than $2k in mine when I'm done.

And you'll think a professional company did it!
 
GotWood said:
J
And you'll think a professional company did it!
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You are a professional company... just happens to be another profession...
 
GotWood said:
Just called a local fence co for a ballpark estimate. 5'black CL will run about $11 l/f plus gates. I believe I need somewhere in the 350' range which works out to over $4k. That's too much in my book. I bet I have less than $2k in mine when I'm done.

And you'll think a professional company did it!
Click to expand...

Will it be done out of tongue and groove hard wood?
 
Bump to this post. I got a quote this morning from a local guy. I measured the fence to be around 400 lf. With 4 foot black chain link, 3 gates (a 12' double, 5' and 4') I was quoted at $3,500, including labor. I'm thinking that's a pretty good deal.
 
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