replacing fence panels - what should it cost?

wallofbeans

Hi All,

I'm looking to get one side of my garden fence replaced. It's eight and half 6 foot wide panels currently, but they and the wooden posts are crumbling so I want to replace with concrete posts and new pressure treated panels. Any thoughts on the cost of this?

I've had one quote and I'm surprised by the amount, but maybe I'm just underestimating the going rates...

These are the kind of panels that I think will be fine:
https://www.diy.com/departments/premier-overlap-lap-pressure-treated-fence-panel-w-1-83m-h-1-83m-pack-of-5/5013053153376_BQ.prd

I'd also love to have any recommendations for companies to do this, in South London, and parts of Surrey or Kent that border the edges.

Thanks!

FreeBear

Can't/won't speculate on cost - Prices, particularly London, have just gone sill over the last 12-24 months.

One thing to add to your list is concrete gravel boards to keep the fence panels off the ground. This will stop the bottom of the panels rotting away before your eyes, and also allow you to use slightly shorter ones.

victor2

Going to increase the price a little more, but you are already considering more expensive panels, so look at "featheredge" panels with vertical slats. They are usually better made and last at least twice as long as the cheaper more traditional panels. Not so attractive on the rear side, but you'll probably only see the nice side anyway.

As above though, prices have gone crazy lately, so no use me saying what I paid for panels several years ago. +1 for gravel boards too.

wallofbeans

FreeBear said:

Can't/won't speculate on cost - Prices, particularly London, have just gone sill over the last 12-24 months.

One thing to add to your list is concrete gravel boards to keep the fence panels off the ground. This will stop the bottom of the panels rotting away before your eyes, and also allow you to use slightly shorter ones.

Yes, concrete gravel boards too. They were discussed and are in this quote.

But it's just over £2000 and I was imagining more like half that...

 

NeverTooLate

wallofbeans said:

FreeBear said:

Can't/won't speculate on cost - Prices, particularly London, have just gone sill over the last 12-24 months.

One thing to add to your list is concrete gravel boards to keep the fence panels off the ground. This will stop the bottom of the panels rotting away before your eyes, and also allow you to use slightly shorter ones.

Yes, concrete gravel boards too. They were discussed and are in this quote.

But it's just over £2000 and I was imagining more like half that...

 

I've just paid over £900 for the same thing for 4 fence panels in SE England - so I'd say it's about right. Had the same guy to do 8 panels a couple of years ago and it was around £1200.
Wish I'd done them all at the same time 

victor2

wallofbeans said:

FreeBear said:

Can't/won't speculate on cost - Prices, particularly London, have just gone sill over the last 12-24 months.

One thing to add to your list is concrete gravel boards to keep the fence panels off the ground. This will stop the bottom of the panels rotting away before your eyes, and also allow you to use slightly shorter ones.

Yes, concrete gravel boards too. They were discussed and are in this quote.

But it's just over £2000 and I was imagining more like half that...

 

It is a lot of work. Is it two men for one day, plus getting rid of the old fencing? Is the fence readily accessible from both sides?

Don't rely on just one quote though, unless it's highly recommended and/or a friend you trust.

As with all these things, if they're available next week, then they haven't got much work on or aren't actually available. Most tradesmen I know, and would use, are booked up for about 3 months.

TELLIT01

At B&Q prices you are at about £850 to £900 for panels, posts, gravel boards and concrete for the posts.  Add labour of 2 people for min 1 day if there are no problems and the total figure is heading towards £2k.  Removal of the old fence from site will be extra.

On the subject of price increases, we had a couple of raised bed done recently and originally hadn't intended to 'cap' them with anything.  We changed our minds and cost at time of quote was added.  We had agreed that we would cover any additional timber costs.  When the work was done, less than 2 months later, these 'caps' had increased by over 50%.  We saw the invoice!

diystarter7

Don't forget the weather boad as it is a false economy.
Always get extra-long posts and ensure they are at least 18 inches deep into the base and well cemented
Ask the fence guy about that and tell them, that is what you are paying for no excuses.

The nuber of times I've seen newish fences move and gradually drop because of lack of depth on posts.

We are looking at doing ours cant get anyone its going to cost thousands. Same for new gutters and new soffits etc, ie take down old stuff and new 6/7k quotes large EoT property.

diystarter7

btw as Victor2 sated, feather edged board better quality 

Weatherboards I mean 'gravel boards'

wallofbeans

victor2 said:

wallofbeans said:

FreeBear said:

Can't/won't speculate on cost - Prices, particularly London, have just gone sill over the last 12-24 months.

One thing to add to your list is concrete gravel boards to keep the fence panels off the ground. This will stop the bottom of the panels rotting away before your eyes, and also allow you to use slightly shorter ones.

Yes, concrete gravel boards too. They were discussed and are in this quote.

But it's just over £2000 and I was imagining more like half that...

 

It is a lot of work. Is it two men for one day, plus getting rid of the old fencing? Is the fence readily accessible from both sides?

Don't rely on just one quote though, unless it's highly recommended and/or a friend you trust.

As with all these things, if they're available next week, then they haven't got much work on or aren't actually available. Most tradesmen I know, and would use, are booked up for about 3 months.

The fence is accessible from both sides. And yes, getting rid of old fencing etc. 

I'm trying to get other quotes, but it's proving tricky. Someone was supposed to come today but didn't show up. I'll keep trying others though.

wallofbeans

diystarter7 said:

btw as Victor2 sated, feather edged board better quality 

Weatherboards I mean 'gravel boards'

So are feather edged cheaper? And do they come in that pressure treated light couloured natural wood colour?

I don't like the look of them as much, especially as I have decking and they'll create too many lines going in one direction, but could go for them if they are substantially better and cheaper or the same price.

Thanks all - this is so helpful!