One of the biggest reasons why most homeowners choose to install their own fence comes down to the costs of hiring a fence contractor. However, most homeowners do not even bother getting an estimate from a contractor because they assume that it will cost them too much. Instead, they estimate how many materials they need and set out to do all of the work on their own.
But how much does hiring a fence contractor actually cost?
In most cases, the fence itself is not all that expensive. The contractor is not building the fence, but rather installing it. Fence contractor The hardware stores are the one selling the sections that are already assembled. These sections then need to be firmly attached to the posts located along the boundary of your property. It is the installation of these posts which is the most time-consuming process.
The most important factor regarding the cost of hiring a fence contractor has to do with the size of your yard. The fence sections are eight feet long and a post needs to be placed in the ground at each joining point. The more posts that are needed to support the fence, the more holes that have to be dug and more concrete that needs to be mixed.
Then there is the addition of gates. Most yards will need at least one gate, while some yards may need several of them. Each gate will be an added expense. Larger gates, like those needed for vehicles and boats, need extra reinforcement and thus will cost more than a pedestrian gate.
Next there is the factor regarding materials. Do you want a wooden, composite, aluminum or wrought iron fence? A wooden fence is one of the cheapest and prettiest, but they do not last long. Aluminum fences are durable and will last a long time, but they do not look good. Composites looks like wooden fences and are just as pretty, but last much longer than wood and aluminum fencing. Then there is wrought iron which will last hundreds of years if properly maintained.
In general, the cost of installing a fence is calculated by the linear feet of fencing that will be installed. The costs associated with hiring a fence contractor include this linear calculation but add in the cost of the labor needed to install the posts that will support the fence. While a fence contractor may cost you more, they are guaranteeing their work as well as assuming any and all liability should something occur while the fence is being installed.