Fence building cost?

[mr2mike]

Someone asked me to replace a fence of theirs. I have no clue what to quote them at. Any idea what going rates are? Research from a few years ago on here it was $35-$40/sq ft.

[TL911]

Still about the same...

[Kloubek]

So... wait. You're quoting a job, but don't have a clue about the industry?

Sounds like you're a little out of your element...?

[ExtraSlow]

PM spikers, get a quote from him, add 15% on top, that's what you should charge to pimp him out.

[ExtraSlow]

EDIT: I'm pretty sure Mike's not looking to start a fence-building business. I read this as he's looking to help out a buddy with a one-time thing.

[CapnCrunch]

It depends on the fence style.

[mr2mike]

But with just 4x4 posts not 6x6. PT and 6' fence boards.

Building something like this. I'll work out the materials needed and get a quote on material cost. Then get a figure for my time. I have to include removal of old fence and taking that to the dump, etc.
That's why I'm wondering what is this $35-40 per sq ft include? Removal of old stuff? It's not cheap to take stuff to the dump.

I'm helping someone out who owns the place but lives overseas. Not looking to step into starting a fencing company.

Why I was after a typical charge is that I don't want to rip the guy off with over quoting and I don't want to undersell myself.

[Seth1968]

Another thing to consider is the depth of the posts and the type of concrete to use.

I've only built one fence, but using the regular slow drying concrete seemed like a real pain in the ass. So, I used Quickcrete and I'm glad I did. I layered the bottom of the hole with a couple of inches of gravel, set in the post, plumbed, and I only had to stand there for about 10 minutes before I could let the post go without movement.

My water table was at about 18" and I set the posts in to a depth of 24".

[ExtraSlow]

Does anyone have any expereince witht he expanding foam for fence posts? Seems like it would be easy to use, but possibly not as durable as concrete.
http://www.homedepot.ca/product/post-fix/832491

[G-ZUS]

Originally posted by ExtraSlow
Does anyone have any expereince witht he expanding foam for fence posts? Seems like it would be easy to use, but possibly not as durable as concrete.
http://www.homedepot.ca/product/post-fix/832491

Buddy used it a few months ago, so far so good but who knows how long it will last for

[Kloubek]

Originally posted by ExtraSlow
EDIT: I'm pretty sure Mike's not looking to start a fence-building business. I read this as he's looking to help out a buddy with a one-time thing.

My bad. I read it that maybe he was a home improvement contractor and hadn't quoted for a fence before.

(Sorry Mike - I've seen you on here before, of course, but have no idea what you do)

[mr2mike]

Originally posted by Seth1968
I've only built one fence, but using the regular slow drying concrete seemed like a real pain in the ass. So, I used Quickcrete and I'm glad I did. I layered the bottom of the hole with a couple of inches of gravel, set in the post, plumbed, and I only had to stand there for about 10 minutes before I could let the post go without movement.

Thanks for the advice and I think the quickcrete will be a weather dependent thing (yes, its more money too for that stuff).

Holding the post plumb?? You're doing it wrong.

Use fence boards to hold it plumb and move on to the next.
Check every so often while it's setting.
From there, I'll probably do a dump run while it's setting up and just come back the next day to finish it off.

[mr2mike]

Originally posted by Kloubek


My bad. I read it that maybe he was a home improvement contractor and hadn't quoted for a fence before.

(Sorry Mike - I've seen you on here before, of course, but have no idea what you do)

No worries.
If I was a contractor wouldn't I just increase my quotes until I didn't get any bites for work then slowly lower them until I did? Isn't that what they do? lol

[ExtraSlow]

If you were a contractor, you'd also have to increase your level of distain by at least 87%.

[Seth1968]

I stood at each post for about 10 minutes, but I wasn't constantly holding it. I had 2 large bricks on adjacent corners, and checked out its position about every minute.

Anyway, that was about 3 years ago, and it turned out perfect. It didn't even flinch through those hurricane like conditions we had last year.

[BrknFngrs]

Can't comment on the specific pricing, but I would assume it would be quoted in linear feet as opposed to sqft as well

[avishal26]

$40 / ln. foot is about right. Not including removal of old posts though.

Depending on how solid the old posts are, you may have to use a small bobcat to pull those out...

[FraserB]

Originally posted by ExtraSlow
PM spikers, get a quote from him, add 15% on top, that's what you should charge to pimp him out.

I agree with this. Get Spikers to quote it and do the work, then add some juice on the top and that's your final amount. Everyone wins. Spikers makes some cash and you make a percentage for having the connections to get the job in the first place.

[ExtraSlow]

Plus, I think spikers needs a pimp . . .errrr . . . business manager to handle his affairs.

[CapnCrunch]

Originally posted by ExtraSlow
Does anyone have any expereince witht he expanding foam for fence posts? Seems like it would be easy to use, but possibly not as durable as concrete.
http://www.homedepot.ca/product/post-fix/832491

It's a lot more expensive too.

I just did all my fence posts using regular bags of concrete mix. I just dumped the bag in, poured the correct amount of water in after the bag, and then gave it a quick stir with some 2x2's I had laying around. By the time the post hole is full you can't move the post at all. I didn't even need to brace the posts, even though I did.