Anyone in the know regarding Garden Fencing?

[Thinwhiteduke]

Just had a quote off a chap recommended to me for approx 75 feet of 4 ft high fencing (traditional closeboard overlapping panels) including new concrete posts + gravel boards. Job includes removal and disposal of approx 50 foot of existing hedge and 25 foot of old fence / concrete posts.

Ive had a total price quote of £960...which sounds reasonable to me....but the missus is kicking off on one saying she reckons its a 'bit steep'.

Like I say this chap is a friend of a friend, Ive seen his work and its good, anyone else think the price quoted is within reasonable limits?

[Sheepskin Stu]

How long is the job going to take?

[big fat yorkshire pudding]

I do a lot of this at work.  First things to ask are what's the split between labour/materials, how many hours at what amount per hour, then you can figure out if it's too much, lump sums just don't really give you a good idea.  I mean that could be reasonable, but if he's charging you for 50 hours at £20 an hour there's too many hours so a saving.  IF it's 5 hours at £200 an hour then you know the rate's too high.

[RobTheRover]

If you are happy with the price, isn't that all that matters?

As a comparable, the neighbours and I had a new double sided overlap fence erected 2 years ago and it cost us £150 each for about 40 feet, but reusing most of the old posts and gravel boards. I suspect based on what I paid, yours isn't a million miles off the going rate.

[Nudga]

I do a lot of this at work.  First things to ask are what's the split between labour/materials, how many hours at what amount per hour, then you can figure out if it's too much, lump sums just don't really give you a good idea.  I mean that could be reasonable, but if he's charging you for 50 hours at £20 an hour there's too many hours so a saving.  IF it's 5 hours at £200 an hour then you know the rate's too high.

Some jobs are based on the actual size of the job and not by the hour.

Anyway, sounds like a good price to me, there's a lot of work involved.

[Sheepskin Stu]

Does it include any other erections?

[charleydrfc]

thats a hard one to answer

[keepmoatman]

concrete posts / gravel boards on average £1 per foot.overlap  panels twist badly in the sun ,
my advice get vertilap panels more sturdy and longer lasting .

[Thinwhiteduke]

I do a lot of this at work.  First things to ask are what's the split between labour/materials, how many hours at what amount per hour, then you can figure out if it's too much, lump sums just don't really give you a good idea.  I mean that could be reasonable, but if he's charging you for 50 hours at £20 an hour there's too many hours so a saving.  IF it's 5 hours at £200 an hour then you know the rate's too high.

Some jobs are based on the actual size of the job and not by the hour.

Anyway, sounds like a good price to me, there's a lot of work involved.

It is a fair amount of work a x 50 foot mature hedge approx 4 foot high to fully remove, there is an old steel reinforced concrete fence 'within' the hedge to dispose of as well.

At opposite side of garden another 25 foot concrete post fence to remove and dispose of.

Keepmoatman - they are vertilap panels, finished article will look as below:


[attachment=622]mainvertilap02.jpg[/attachment]

This is what we have on either side at the moment:


[attachment=623]IMGP2336.JPG[/attachment]


[attachment=624]IMGP2332.JPG[/attachment]

[pkt_drfc]

Personally i think it is a good price for the work involved just get another quote to compare but i would say the quote you have got you will find is the cheapest.

[Thinwhiteduke]

Personally i think it is a good price for the work involved just get another quote to compare but i would say the quote you have got you will find is the cheapest.

Not too concerned with getting the cheapest as long as its in the right ball park.

Like I say, he's a good lad who's a friend of a friend, and does good work.

My father in law went for the cheapest option aq couple of years back to eventualyl find a) the panels had been stolen from somebody elses fence a couple of miles away, and b) the whole thing began leaning and resembled a zig zag pattern 9 months later - at which same the mobile contact for the installer was no longer in use.

[pkt_drfc]

Personally i think it is a good price for the work involved just get another quote to compare but i would say the quote you have got you will find is the cheapest.

Not too concerned with getting the cheapest as long as its in the right ball park.

Like I say, he's a good lad who's a friend of a friend, and does good work.

My father in law went for the cheapest option aq couple of years back to eventualyl find a) the panels had been stolen from somebody elses fence a couple of miles away, and b) the whole thing began leaning and resembled a zig zag pattern 9 months later - at which same the mobile contact for the installer was no longer in use.

Sounds like the same person who installed my fence and the same problem was gone as soo as i tried to contact him a bloke called Nev

[River Don]

It's a bit of work to keep in shape but the hedge looks nice.

[Thinwhiteduke]

It's a bit of work to keep in shape but the hedge looks nice.

Looks nicer than it is, its two thirds dead, some serious rot within it, multitude of ants nests, buried concrete posts  / barbed wire etc.

[ScillyRover]

It's a bit of work to keep in shape but the hedge looks nice.

Looks nicer than it is, its two thirds dead, some serious rot within it, multitude of ants nests, buried concrete posts  / barbed wire etc.

Do you live next door to 'Moorlands' Nick ?

[RobTheRover]

It's a bit of work to keep in shape but the hedge looks nice.

Looks nicer than it is, its two thirds dead, some serious rot within it, multitude of ants nests, buried concrete posts  / barbed wire etc.

Do you live next door to 'Moorlands' Nick ?

No, its to keep all the dirty freeloaders out! ;-)

[big fat yorkshire pudding]

I do a lot of this at work.  First things to ask are what's the split between labour/materials, how many hours at what amount per hour, then you can figure out if it's too much, lump sums just don't really give you a good idea.  I mean that could be reasonable, but if he's charging you for 50 hours at £20 an hour there's too many hours so a saving.  IF it's 5 hours at £200 an hour then you know the rate's too high.

Some jobs are based on the actual size of the job and not by the hour.

Anyway, sounds like a good price to me, there's a lot of work involved.

Indeed, luckily I have a big book for that to tell me what the prices should be, I'd be screwed without it but works a treat - our subcontractors hate me that's for sure, I don't budge.

[ScillyRover]

I do a lot of this at work.  First things to ask are what's the split between labour/materials, how many hours at what amount per hour, then you can figure out if it's too much, lump sums just don't really give you a good idea.  I mean that could be reasonable, but if he's charging you for 50 hours at £20 an hour there's too many hours so a saving.  IF it's 5 hours at £200 an hour then you know the rate's too high.

Some jobs are based on the actual size of the job and not by the hour.

Anyway, sounds like a good price to me, there's a lot of work involved.

Indeed, luckily I have a big book for that to tell me what the prices should be, I'd be screwed without it but works a treat - our subcontractors hate me that's for sure, I don't budge.

Hope you don't take OfFence at this BFYP but is this the book ?

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Art-Science-Fencing-Nick-Evangelista/dp/1570280754/ref=cm_lmf_tit_2/278-1247953-7498432