There’s no reason you should be confused about why your fencing quote is priced the way it is.
You should be able to compare quotes with full confidence and without worrying about being overcharged. Today, we’ll break down 10 factors that influence the cost of your new fence so you can do exactly that.
By being aware of them, you can ensure you get the best value for money and stay on budget.
(Which is very important if you’re planning on hiring contractors any time soon)
1. Length Of Fence (How Many Metres)
The most important factor is the length of your project and how many metres you want installed.
Fence installs are priced per metre. Depending on the fence you get, each metre you want can add $100 – $400 to the total quote. E.g. a 10-metre Colorbond fence (at $140 per metre) will cost $1,400, while 30 metres of that same fence will cost $4,200 to install.
The longer the fence you want installed, the more expensive it’ll be.
2. Fence Style
“So, what type of fence are you looking for?” – Said the contractor over the phone.
And how much it costs to install that fence will depend on how you answer him. There’s a big cost-per-metre difference between a brush fence and a colorbond metal fence. And there’s a big price difference between a glass pool fence and a chain-wire fence.
Why?
Because each type of fence has its unique manufacturing price.
It’s far cheaper to produce a bundle of twigs (brush fence) compared to Colorbond metal.
The type of fence you want has a huge impact on the total installation cost.
3. Ground Conditions
Are there any plants or trees that need clearing from the fence line?
Any annoying stumps in the way?
Is the digging ground uneven or as tough as concrete?
Answering “yes” to any one of those questions means there’s more work involved for the contractors. And unless you hire a charity to put up that fence, you will get charged for that extra time and effort.
Take a look at your yard and see if there’s anything that could hinder work on your fence.
4. Adelaide Contractors You Hire
Each fencing company in Adelaide will price their services differently.
One group may charge $200 per metre for a classic post and rail fence, another might charge $120 per metre. While most companies hover around the industry standard price, we always recommend comparing quotes from different companies to find the one that meets your budget.
5. Where The Materials Come From
Just like each contractor has their price, so do fencing supply companies.
Examples of well-known fencing suppliers are Stratco and Colorbond. They both sell the same high-quality materials but at different prices. The quoted material cost will differ depending on who the contractors buy those materials from.
Some fencing contractors buy cheap materials from low-grade suppliers.
(Which ultimately lowers your material cost)
While others aim to buy the highest quality materials from the best suppliers.
This cost depends on the fencing company you hire and where they order supplies from.
6. Old Fence Removal
Need an old fence removed before a new one goes up?
Well, there’s a cost for that too. You might get charged for each metre of fence that needs tearing down. Some contractors do that. Others charge based on how much work is involved to remove the fence.
You may find “fence removal” as its own cost on your fencing quote.
Because of labour and dumping fees, fence removals can be priced between $300 – $600.
7. Dumping Fees
If anything needs to be cleared from your property and taken to the dump (trees, bushes, shrubs, an old fence, etc.), you’ll need to cover disposal fees.
It’s usually not a hefty cost.
The contractors take the trash to the dump and pay the toll fee out of your bill.
Alternatively, you can organise a skip bin for your property and pay them separately.
8. Number Of Fence Posts & Sheets
It’s worth mentioning that fencing supply companies charge per unit of material. You get charged for every fence post and fence sheet your contractors need for the job. The longer your fence is, the more posts and sheets you need, which adds to the total material cost.
9. Site Accessibility & Difficulty
Not every site is flat, clear, or easy for putting up a fence.
Some have narrow pathways, limited space for work equipment, or obstacles in the way of the fence line. More time, effort, and sometimes even manpower are needed to navigate hard-to-access sites.
Having a difficult project site can add to the total price because of how difficult they are to work in.
10. Labour & Time To Complete
Fencing companies rarely charge by the hour, but the estimated job completion time adds to the total price. However, you won’t ever see “time” itemised on your quote. It’ll just come under the usual labour costs.
The more work that’s involved, the more time it takes to complete.
The more time it takes to complete, the more the project will cost.
Look at your project and think:
“How long would it take a group of 2 – 3 people to complete?”
Conclusion
Just to summarise before wrapping up, here are the 10 key factors that impact the cost of your fencing installation in Adelaide:
- Length of Fence
- Fence Style
- Ground Conditions
- Contractor Rates
- Material Suppliers
- Old Fence Removal
- Dumping & Disposal
- Number of Fence Posts/Sheets
- Site Accessibility
- Labour & Time to Complete
Armed with this knowledge, you are now well-positioned to initiate conversations with reputable fencing companies. So why not start now? Feel free to call us (or another local company) to arrange a quote for the project you have in mind.
Or, if you’re still researching costs associated with getting a new fence…
>> Read our full guide to fencing costs in Adelaide (2024) <<