How to Save Money on a Fence

Planning and budgeting alone for a fence can take time and can be intimidating. Factors such as fencing materials, design style, and square foot can also be taken into consideration.

In need of a fence? Our guys at Big Easy Fences can help you out. We offer fences ranging from wood to metal for every home in New Orleans.

Tips On How To Save Money on a Fence

If you don’t want to deal with the whole budget thing, you can call a fence contractor to help you out. The tips can be useful if you want to do the overall cost or want some ideas from an expert.

1. Reduce the Materials

Many homeowners make the mistake of thinking that the fence needs to be the same height all around. Fence materials are prized for their dimensions, so the smaller they are, the cheaper they will be.

There are also certain wood types that are cheaper, such as treated pine, that are popular among homeowners. This is also the type of wood used in picket fences.

2. Plan Ahead

Think about your vision and the purpose of your fence installation. Come up with your own checklist such as:

The current state of your fence. Are you planning to replace it or get a new fence?

Fence type: wood fence, wrought iron fencing, or chain link fences. You can check out our list of fences.

3. Consider Cheaper Materials

The cheapest way to replace a fence is to opt for a chain link fence. Here’s how to upgrade your chain link fence to make it a bit less boring.

More materials include:

• • • • • Pallet fencing
          • • Split rail
• Bamboo
• Split rail and mesh
• Concrete
• Barbed wire
  • • • • • • Recycled materials
            • Lattice
            • Wattle

4. Secure Permits Yourself

Some fence contractors include securing city permits in their service. But if you want to save money, you can take care of the permits yourself.

5. Book in the Slow Season

Another trick that you can do is schedule your fencing activity in the off season. Try to avoid building during the spring and fall because the demand is at its peak during these months.

Factors Affecting The Price of Fence

Fencing Material

The material of the fence that you will be using is one of the biggest factors that will affect the total price.

This can be attributed to how some materials can be more durable than others. Also, some of these can be harder to source due to the scarcity of the material. Both of these greatly affect the price of the fence.

• Wood– Wood is one of the most popular and most used fencing materials everywhere you go. Homeowners who use this material prefer its natural look. This would definitely match almost all types of landscaping or garden that you have on your property. However, this is pricier compared to your other options.
• Chain Link – A chain-link or sometimes called wire fence, can be the cheapest fence you can purchase. For $2-3 dollars per foot, you can already find some stores selling this material. The chain link is made out of woven coated steel.
• Aluminum – For easy installation and less maintenance, an aluminum fence is one of the better options. Here’s how to maintain an aluminum fence.
• Wrought Iron – Like the aluminum fence, the wrought iron fence is easy to install. This can be the most stylish and best designed compared to other materials. This is because wrought iron is very malleable and durable. However, you’ll be paying more for this.
• Stone or Concrete Fence – The concrete fence will give you the best privacy and even security because of being rock solid. Moreover, this can last for a very long time without requiring much maintenance.
• Vinyl – Despite the higher cost, a vinyl fence is very popular for many homeowners because of its sturdiness and flexibility.

Other material options include bamboo, PVC, and plastic.

Related: A Beginner’s Guide to Fences

Size or Perimeter of Lot

Since most fence materials are measured and priced by the foot, the total size or perimeter of the property to be enclosed is a huge factor. The larger the size is, the costlier it will be. It will be your choice as a homeowner if you want to surround the whole house or property with a fence.

For full protection, doing so would be better. However, if you are opting for some picket fence to enhance your curb appeal, installing it on your front yard would suffice.

Height of Fence

Like the perimeter size, the height of the fence will also be a factor in. The taller it will be, the more you have to pay. In most cases, the height of the fence will depend on what you want. Maybe you can opt for a taller fence if you want more privacy and security. On the other hand, it can also depend on the prescribed length or height of the material you chose.

Labor Expenses

Labor costs can take up the biggest amount of your fencing budget. You can definitely install it on your own to save money if you have expertise in doing such an activity. But here can be a lot of problems and obstacles in installing the fence that you probably won’t even think about. First, the installation can take a long time if you are a beginner. Second, there can be challenges such as topography and the landscape of the yard.

Maintenance

In planning and buying a fence, maintenance can be considered already. Will the material of your choice require frequent painting and staining? Does it need to be treated like wood?

Make Fence Installation Easy

If the idea of getting a fence stresses you out, let our crew at Big Easy Fences help you out. We offer free estimates on all services to help you get the best fence for your home.

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