New Fence Installation in Saffron Walden - Costs and What Affects the Price

What a New Fence Installation Typically Costs

Timber panel fencing in pressure-treated softwood, supplied and installed, typically costs in the region of £80 to £120 per metre. Close-board (feather-edge) fencing costs more because each board is fixed individually and the labour time is greater - expect to pay in the range of £100 to £150 per metre. These figures include posts, concrete, gravel boards and all fixings. They do not include removal of an existing fence.

For a typical rear garden run of 15 metres in lap panel fencing, a realistic budget is £1,200 to £1,800 for the fence itself. A 20-metre close-board run would sit in the range of £2,000 to £3,000. These are useful starting figures for budgeting purposes, but they are not substitutes for a site-specific price once someone has visited your property and seen the actual ground conditions.

Removing the Old Fence - an Extra Cost to Budget For

If there is an existing fence to come out before the new one goes in, this adds to the overall cost. Removing old fence panels, pulling out concreted posts and disposing of the material properly typically adds around £10 to £20 per metre of existing fence removed. On a 15-metre run that is an additional £150 to £300.

Post removal is the variable within this. A post that was set in a large concrete base takes significantly more time and effort to remove than one set in compacted soil. If the old posts were put in professionally and concreted to the correct depth, removing them is more work than lifting out a post that was only driven in with a hammer.

What Pushes the Cost Up

Several site-specific factors can move a fence installation cost above the typical ranges above. Understanding them in advance helps you have a more useful conversation with any contractor before they price the job.

• Sloping ground - on a level boundary, panel fencing installs quickly. On a slope, close-board fencing needs to be stepped or raked to follow the contour, which takes more time. Each bay may need individual levelling and cutting.
• Tree roots and buried rubble - digging post holes through root systems or through old concrete bases that were left in the ground takes more time and sometimes specialist equipment. This is one of the most common reasons a job costs more than the initial estimate.
• Access difficulties - if materials cannot be brought directly to the fence line by vehicle, they have to be hand-carried. On properties where access through the house is the only route, or where a narrow side passage limits what can be moved, it takes longer.
• Longer runs with multiple corners or changes of direction - straight runs are the quickest to price and to install. A boundary with several changes in direction requires more careful setting out and often results in short, awkward bays.
• Ground that is very soft or waterlogged - posts need to go deeper in soft ground to achieve the same stability as a shallower post in firm ground. Deeper posts mean larger concrete pours and more material cost.
• Taller fences - standard garden fences are 1.8 metres. If you want 2.0 or 2.4 metres of height, posts need to be longer and set deeper, panels or boards are more expensive, and the fence presents a larger surface area to wind loading. Some properties also require planning permission for fences over 2 metres, or over 1 metre on a boundary fronting a highway.
• Premium materials - composite fencing, hardwood, or concrete posts in place of treated softwood all carry a higher material cost. Composite fencing in particular can cost from £150 per metre upward depending on the brand and height.

What Brings the Cost Down

• Level, clear ground with easy access - the most straightforward sites are the most cost-effective to work on. If the old fence is already gone and the ground is flat and accessible, installation is quicker.
• Standard panel sizes on a straight run - a long straight boundary with no corners and standard 1.83-metre panel widths minimises material waste and sets out quickly.
• Re-using sound posts - if only the panels or boards have failed and the posts are still plumb and solid, it may be possible to replace just the infill sections. This is worth asking about at the site visit. A screwdriver test on the post base will confirm whether the post is genuinely sound below ground.
• Choosing lap panel fencing over close-board - where the site is level and privacy rather than longevity is the main requirement, lap panel fencing is the most cost-effective option per metre installed.

Getting a Price That Reflects Your Actual Site

The most reliable way to get a useful fence price is to have someone come and look at the boundary in person before any figure is given. Quotes given over the phone or based on a rough metre count without a site visit often miss ground conditions, access issues or disposal costs that change the final number significantly.

When you receive a price, check what it includes. A well-specified quote will state the fence style, post material, post depth, whether gravel boards are included, and what happens to the old fence if there is one. Comparing quotes that include different specifications is not a straightforward comparison.

Boundary Ownership and Planning - Two Things to Check Before You Spend

Before committing to any spend on a new fence, confirm that you own the boundary in question. Title deeds and Land Registry plans show which boundaries belong to which property. Installing a new fence on a boundary that belongs to your neighbour creates problems that cost more to sort out than the fence itself.

For fences over 2 metres in height, or over 1 metre where they adjoin a road or footpath, permitted development rules require planning permission. It is worth checking with your local planning authority before ordering materials for anything taller than a standard garden fence.

The Fencing Styles We Install in Saffron Walden and the Surrounding Area

We install a range of fencing styles for homeowners in Saffron Walden and the nearby area. Each style suits a different combination of budget, purpose and ground conditions, and the right choice for your boundary is one we can help you work out once we have seen the site.

To arrange a visit and get a specific price for your fence in Saffron Walden, call us and we will book a time to come and look at the boundary properly.