Fencing can be vital, either for aesthetic or safety reasons, but that doesn’t make the cost any easier to swallow. While it’s far cheaper than most construction projects, installing a fence isn’t cheap, and it’s worth budgeting ahead of time to ensure that you can comfortably afford it.
But the cost between different fence installations can vary drastically, with many homeowners paying triple what they needed to so they got the perfect fence, rather than one that was 90% as good.
If you are willing to make some small sacrifices regarding the final product, your time input, and the date, you can reduce the overall cost of installing a fence noticeably.
Reduce the Materials Where Possible
Many homeowners make the mistake of thinking that the fence needs to be the same height all around. In fact, you might only need taller sections close to where your neighbor’s yard is, while on the sides and front you could reasonably half the height of the fence.
By reducing the height of the fence at certain points, you can cut down on the number of materials that you need for the project. This reduction will also impact your bottom line. Material costs are the overwhelming majority of most projects, and by reducing the materials, you use the overall cost will plummet.
Consider why you are installing a fence and ask yourself what the minimum height would be at any given point along the fence line to achieve your goal. If you need to keep young children in a secure area, 6 feet is overkill. A fraction of that would be adequate.
Another method to reduce the material used is to use gaps between materials rather than having them attached. On a vinyl fence this could mean having a gapped fence, and with wrought iron, you might decide to increase the distance between posts to reduce the number of materials.
Plan to Prevent Mistakes
Nothing is more costly than a mistake. Should you encroach on land that is not yours, fail to submit a permit or make a planning mistake, you will need to tear the fence down and start again.
Planning prevents pathetically poor performance. If you want to avoid mistakes, which we are sure you do, you need to have a clear plan of what you want to achieve so that we are clear precisely what you are looking for and where the boundaries are.
Consider Cheaper Materials
If you are on a particularly tight budget, then you might consider changing to a material which you can purchase for far cheaper. The most expensive that we offer is wrought iron, which is costly to produce and tremendously heavy which makes it expensive to ship.
The next cheapest option would be vinyl and depend on the type of vinyl that you desire this could significantly reduce your overall spend.
Even cheaper than both vinyl and wrought iron is chain link fencing which uses the minimal material to achieve a safe space for your children and pets to enjoy without risk. Chainlink is also relatively quick and easy to install, reducing the labor costs further.
For families on a tight budget, the cost of chain link fence is the ideal solution, especially if your goal is increased security rather than privacy. However, to add extra privacy, you might consider planting bushes along the line to turn the chain link into an opaque and green surface.
Secure Necessary Permits Yourself
Although not always necessary, you might require a permit or other regulatory checks for the fencing, particularly if it is very tall. If you don’t secure these yourself, we will be forced to do this, which takes us time and therefore costs you money. Applying for these permits is simple, and it’s often easier if you do this.
Book in the Slow Season
If cost is the most important factor in the buying decision, you might consider waiting until the slow season so that you can save a little money. Many companies will offer slight discounts on their time and possibly the materials during the slower months of the year which typically run from December through to February.
