labour cost for fencing

I've seen someone struggle for three days putting up a fence and then a couple of years later two guys put up the same length of fence the other side of the garden in around half a day. The length of time taken could be down to tools used, type of ground and just brute strength that comes with doing it day after day for a long period.

In a rural location I've also seen how fast posts can been installed with farm machinery.

About 18 months ago to supply and erect 4 1/2 6x6 pressure treated lap panels in existing posts was £450.00+VAT. About 10 years before that I'd had 10 replacement panels put in along one side of the garden, and at the back had to have 10 completely new holes dug, posts erected, and panels fixed. I /think/ that whole lot was just over £1900. It took two days; the side fence required two guys (the posts, although in decent condition, had been moved somewhat by tree roots so fixing the fence panels to them wasn't straightforward). The one at the back was done by one guy in a day!

It will also depend on what posts are used. If it's wood posts or a concrete spurs (or repair studs which a wooden post is screwed to), then one guy can dig a hole, and set the post in it. After any postcrete is set, he can fix the full-length wooden post to it, measure to the next post position and dig the hole, etc. He can then fix the fence panels to the posts.

If it's full-length slotted fence posts it's almost certainly a 2-man job, as lifting a 2-metre panel up to slide it into a slot is pretty difficult for one person (particularly if there's a strong wind blowing!).

Can actually be done by one person if you know how!

Cut 3 x 3ft long wood battens

Screw these in vertically so that they are about 1/4 of the way in from both side and that they are screwed into the 2nd and 3rd cross struts.

YOu have then make yourself two temporary handles.

Then set up a decorators platform that is just over half way up the fence height.

You then stand on teh decorators platform and then lift up and place panel into the slotted posts and lower into place

Then remove the temporary battens.....

BTDTGTTS! :-)

I think folk are rather missing what I’m asking here, which is for a ballpark figure for cost per hour for the labour of erecting a fence. Probably any similar semi-skilled labour task. What would one pay for grass cutting, weeding say?

Tim

Part of the problem asking for an hourly rate is that for a decent job you probably need to employ someone that erects a fencing for a living and they wouldn't be necessarily available as a general labourer. For certain types of fencing its a panel at a time and not digging all the holes first etc.

Most if not all companies would quote a price based on the length of the fence rather than an hourly rate. That rate would vary depending on a survey of the job.

Two years ago:

Materials bought separately.

HTH

My neighbour fancied a career change to doing general handyman work, and replacing my fence panels was his first job (with me holding the other end of them). He charged £15ph.

Theo

It depends on where you are. Last summer we employed 2 people to cut our grass. Two men with mowers for about 1 hour cost us £75..

Thanks. That’s helpful.

Tim