How much does it cost to fence a yard?

staceyv • Oct 16, 2005 6:26 pm
I'd like a wood fence, the kind you can't see through- about 6' high, to cover a big open yard. I can't even guess how big...maybe 50 feet on each side of a big square area?? ( so a total of 200 feet of fence)

Yeah, I'm retarded about this stuff.
I've tried going on websites and they all want me to sign up for a consultation. Can't find a damn price...

Is wood a lot more expensive?
Are installation fees outrageous?

I've been dreaming of a yard for about 10 years.
I found a great little apartment with a HUGE yard and the owner says it would be okay to put up a fence. It would increase his property value, so I don't see why not.
I'll work out an agreement with him before we put it up so I can either take it with me or be partially reimbursed...

Okay, so..Prices?
staceyv • Oct 16, 2005 6:46 pm
By the way, I've had WAY too much coffee and am impatiently awaiting your responses :)
SteveDallas • Oct 16, 2005 7:00 pm
Well, measure the perimeter where you want to have fence, then head down to Home Depot/Lowe's/Whatever and price some stuff. They have modular sections. That'll give you a materials cost. If you can put it in yourself, you're all set. If not, well, you're going to have to get a contractor to come look at it and give you an estimate whether you like it or not.

It's possible you will need a permit or something like that in some towns.
Griff • Oct 16, 2005 8:26 pm
330 feet of Redbrand goat fence will set you back about $220, but think of the cheeses!
seakdivers • Oct 16, 2005 9:37 pm
More info needed. Wood fence? If so, pine, cedar, fir? Privacy, picket, lattice topped, split rail, or maybe even neighbor friendly fence?
There is also vinyl fencing with the same style options.
Then there's chain link, which you can get in a variety of heights, and wrought iron fencing as well. (You can even get vinyl fencing that looks like wrought iron!!)
Bamboo fences are popular, as are reed/ rush/ dried wheatie-whatever fences.
Depending on what material you choose, the amount of posts you will need will vary..... which changes how many pier blocks, cement, sonotubes or whatnot you need to buy.
Then you have to take into consideration if you want any gates, and if so - how many.... blah blah blah.

Trust me - we just built our house, and we looked into fence costs as well. I gave up and bought $1500 worth of trees. (we are talking Alaska here - nothing is cheap)

Ooooh..... and most importantly, do it yourself, or hire someone?
staceyv • Oct 16, 2005 9:50 pm
Wow seak, I feel like I'm in good hands.
To answer your questions:
Cedar wood, solid board, picket
80-160 feet of fence depending on price
1 gate
hire someone.
If installation is very expensive, I might hire someone to just put the posts in and do the rest ourselves.

(I've been doing my homework!)
xoxoxoBruce • Oct 16, 2005 11:57 pm
You better check the zoning regulations to see what you are allowed. Most places have a restriction on at least height. :)
seakdivers • Oct 17, 2005 12:38 am
So you are looking at a clear (no knots) cedar picket fence? Do you want painted, stained, or left to age? And the gate - just a regular swing gate with a latch, or something else? And as Bruce mentioned, height issues will affect you zoning-wise, but it will also effect you price-wise.
hehehehe.... aint I a pain in the ass?

If you want to look at some lumber prices (probably not in your area) check out dunnlum.com

It's Dunn Lumber in Washington State, and we bought all of our framing lumber, plywood, insulation (with lots to spare), sheetrock/ greenboard, roof trusses (with a few hitches), vapor barrier.....the list goes on..... for a 2400 sf house for $27K.

Regardless of what decision you make, shop around and buy the materials on your own - you will save money.
staceyv • Oct 17, 2005 4:31 am
I can deal with a 5 ft fence. I'd probably get whatever wood is cheapest. Unfinished is fine, regular gate is fine. As long as it doesn't let my chihuahuas leak out...

Can I do this for under $2000?
dar512 • Oct 17, 2005 10:51 am
Hey Stacey - I got the impression somewhere that you guys were renting. Is that right?
staceyv • Oct 17, 2005 12:15 pm
[QUOTE=I found a great little apartment with a HUGE yard and the owner says it would be okay to put up a fence. It would increase his property value, so I don't see why not.
I'll work out an agreement with him before we put it up so I can either take it with me or be partially reimbursed...
QUOTE]

that's correct.
dar512 • Oct 17, 2005 12:39 pm
I would carefully consider whether this is really going to be worth it for you. For the kind of fence you're talking about, you have to sink some fairly substantial posts into concrete. You won't be taking those puppies with you. So at least part of your investment is going to be lost when you move.

Might still be worthwhile if you plan on renting there for a long time, but I'd work it out on pencil and paper first.
jinx • Oct 17, 2005 12:47 pm
I agree with dar, stacey. Why don't you put your fence money towards a down payment on your own home with a fence? Why buy a fence for your landlord when you're already paying his mortgage?
You should qualify for an FHA loan (2.75% down payment) and HUD offers grants to first time home buyers.
staceyv • Oct 17, 2005 1:39 pm
Don't I wish...We don't have a 2.75% downpayment.
I quit my job because all my hair fell out from stress.
I have a $2000 savings bond that my grandfather gave me and told me to get whatever I want.
All I want is a friggin fenced in yard. That's it.

We are going to have to wait a few years before we can start thinking about buying a house or even renting more than an apartment with a yard.

And no, there aren't any apartments in our price range with a fenced in yard. This apartment I looked at yesterday had a HUGE yard and was exactly in our range.
I just thought I could work with that.
jinx • Oct 17, 2005 2:05 pm
Just looking at prices it seems like 200ft of 6ft stockade fence is going to cost you almost $2K, and then it will need to be installed.
I don't want to be pain in your ass, but if you have $2K and HUD is offering up to $10K (ADDI), why wait a few years to buy? A few years of equity can mean a lot of money. If waitressing is too stressful, why not buy a multi-family and try your hand at being the landlord?
Ok. I'll shut up now.
Clodfobble • Oct 17, 2005 2:36 pm
staceyv wrote:
Don't I wish...We don't have a 2.75% downpayment.
...
I have a $2000 savings bond that my grandfather gave me and told me to get whatever I want.


$2000 is already the same as a 2.75% down payment on a house that costs about $72,000. How much are houses in your area?
shoot • Oct 17, 2005 3:18 pm
I have to agree with Clod, it is amazingly easy to buy a house right now, and at least a hundred times easier to buy a new one than a used. The government is offering grants and all sort of things. New housing builders know all the tricks, and you could very well wind up in a new house and get up to 2500 in cash, that you dont have to ever pay back , in the form of a grant. If you have 2000 dollars at least call a couple of new home builders, not the custom builderrs mind you, the big boys who build a thousand houses in a year could very possibly have a home for you. Back to the fence thing, you may want to consider chain link, the eye appeal isnt as great but the functunality is the same and the price can be a lot easier on the wallet nad, if it comes down to it, you can take most of it with you if you decide to move, gl :}
staceyv • Oct 17, 2005 4:13 pm
hehehe, you can't even find a trailer around here for $78,000.
Any house worth buying is going to cost around $250,000.

I wanted a wood fence because I LOVE privacy. I want to be able to lay out in the summer in my bikini and grill out and whatever else without anyone in my face.
I want complete privacy.

I'd be willing to settle for a smaller fenced in area- say about 60 feet of fencing...
Happy Monkey • Oct 17, 2005 4:28 pm
staceyv wrote:
I'd be willing to settle for a smaller fenced in area- say about 60 feet of fencing...
I'd be willing to bet that your landlord wouldn't be a fan of that plan.
footfootfoot • Oct 17, 2005 4:36 pm
How much does it cost to fence a yard?

Ask Griff's kid, but IMO it is not really a fair contest, even if the yard does have a size advantage. I mean how fast can a yard move anyway?
BigV • Oct 17, 2005 4:51 pm
Fence Panel 6'x8' I didn't see exactly how this panel would be erected, but I reckon you would attach it to posts ($8 each) set in concrete, maybe $5/bag, and you could get by with about 1/2 to 1 bag per panel. So, we're up to 61 + 8 + 5 = $74/8 ft section. Let's round up and say about $10/foot. That should cover the incidentals fasteners, etc.

I built about 200 feet of fence similar to this, without the latticework top in our back and side yards. It was several years ago, but it still looks great. Anyway, I built it from scratch. I bought the concrete, I had my own wheelbarrow, I had my own post hole digger, screwgun, hammer, level, saw, etc. But since I just bought the materials fence boards, posts, hardware, the cost/foot was MUCH less.

Count up the distance, count the number of 6" wide boards that will consume, two 2x4s every 8 feet, plus posts, dist/8 plus one. guesstimate the number of fasteners, but a box of screws is about $10. Could be two boxes. However, generally speaking, a fence is an easy project, not hard, you can see your progress, you can stop in the middle for darkness, weather, work week, etc. The tools are simple and inexpensive. It's gratifying to see your effort change a pile of wood into a tangible product. You only have to be slightly handy to make a straight fence and right angle corners. And it's a lot cheaper, maybe as low as $4/foot.

Spend the rest on suntan lotion and dog biscuits.
staceyv • Oct 18, 2005 6:37 pm
While we're on the subject of "how much does it cost..."
How much does it cost to heat a large, 2 level 4 bedroom house with electric heat in the winter in new england??

Is $275 a month a decent estimate? (including electricity used for other purposes as well)
(We might rent this house along with my mother and her fiance)
footfootfoot • Oct 18, 2005 10:05 pm
staceyv wrote:
While we're on the subject of "how much does it cost..."
How much does it cost to heat a large, 2 level 4 bedroom house with electric heat in the winter in new england??

Is $275 a month a decent estimate? (including electricity used for other purposes as well)
(We might rent this house along with my mother and her fiance)


OK StacyV seriously now, you can probably call the power company and ask them what the average usage is for the address,

When I lived in CT, in an electrically heated house it cost a friggin fortune and we went through 5 cords of firewood. For a 700 sq ft house.

If the house is really well insulated it may not be that bad.
cloin • Feb 18, 2008 10:08 pm
hello everyone,

i was reading through this thread and am struck by 2 questions. first, i am also looking to put up a fence but my backyard is sloped downhill quite steeply, best ideas for keeping it level on a very non-level yard.

secondly, stacey, thanks for starting the discussion but i don't understand how you can't find a home worth buying if you are willing to rent an apartment. especially if you are looking for privacy. my wife and i just bought a beautiful home for under $100,000 and if we had wanted to we didn't need a penny down. i have wasted $16,000 in the last two years and i can honestly tell you i am going to be saving $200 a month buy purchasing my home. I live in pittsburgh, pa, i can't imagine that in OH that you can't find a suitable home for a reasonable price.

good luck with the fence.
thanks for any info you all might have.
xoxoxoBruce • Feb 18, 2008 11:02 pm
Welcome to the Cellar, Cloin. :D
Flint • Feb 19, 2008 12:15 am
I think the fee for fencing anything is based on how hard it is expected to be to unload it. Like, is this yard hot?
lumberjim • Feb 19, 2008 12:35 am
cloin;433187 wrote:
a beautiful home for under $100,000 and if we had wanted to we didn't need a penny down. i have wasted $16,000 in the last two years and i can honestly tell you i am going to be saving $200 a month buy purchasing my home. I live in pittsburgh, pa, i can't imagine that in OH that you can't find a suitable home for a reasonable price.

good luck with the fence.
thanks for any info you all might have.


i think she was in new england at the time of that post, cloin.....though i dont recall her saying she had moved to ohio. maybe she's in the witless protection program now.
TheMercenary • Feb 19, 2008 11:39 am
I have put up plenty of fences, including the one currently around my house. Measure the exact distance you need to the near 6 inches. Add about 6 feet for errors. If you buy all the bits separate and do the work yourself it will be labor intensive, but much cheaper. Most pre assembled fence blanks are on a 6 foot length. We went to 10' 2x4's between the posts and 6' high cedar dog earred box fence style. You can buy the pieces individually at any big box hardware store. You will need a 8 foot 4x4 post every ten feet. I put cement in mine but if you are renting I would not do that. All you need are nails a hammer, measuring tools, pencil, and a good circular saw, Oh and a few cases of beer for a fence rasing party on a long weekend. Nothing less than a 6 foot high fence will give you the privacy you are looking for. Don't forget to pick a spot for the gate and make it wide enough to get what ever you need to into the back yard (i.e. riding lawnmower) I can post a pic of mine if you like.
HungLikeJesus • Feb 19, 2008 12:06 pm
TheMercenary;433311 wrote:
I have put up plenty of fences, including the one currently around my house. Measure the exact distance you need to the near 6 inches. Add about 6 feet for errors. If you buy all the bits separate and do the work yourself it will be labor intensive, but much cheaper. Most pre assembled fence blanks are on a 6 foot length. We went to 10' 2x4's between the posts and 6' high cedar dog earred box fence style. You can buy the pieces individually at any big box hardware store. You will need a 8 foot 4x4 post every ten feet. I put cement in mine but if you are renting I would not do that. All you need are nails a hammer, measuring tools, pencil, and a good circular saw, Oh and a few cases of beer for a fence rasing party on a long weekend. Nothing less than a 6 foot high fence will give you the privacy you are looking for. Don't forget to pick a spot for the gate and make it wide enough to get what ever you need to into the back yard (i.e. riding lawnmower) I can post a pic of mine if you like.



Don't you need some kind of post-hole digger? I think that would be the hardest part.
xoxoxoBruce • Feb 19, 2008 12:17 pm
And if you find a good one, consider marrying her.
LabRat • Feb 19, 2008 1:56 pm
dude, doesn't she raise chiuauas? popsicle sticks are like 5 bucks a case of 10000 at michaels...
euphoriatheory • Feb 19, 2008 5:04 pm
Stacey, my husband and I are in an apartment in New Hampshire right now where our heat is electric... as well as the stove, and, heck, pretty much everything that works. We're about 1,000 sq. feet, and we average only $80/month in electric. (That price, of course, skyrocketed in December when our Christmas lights were on the whole time... we paid nearly $100 that month.) Still.... I'm not certain that it'd be as painful as you think. It depends on the electric company--I'd definitely check and see who currently provides electric to that apartment!
Undertoad • Feb 19, 2008 5:08 pm
It's harder to fence in Chihuahuas, because you need netting over the top or else the hawks will take them.
Undertoad • Feb 19, 2008 5:09 pm
Oh yes, and this thread is old, I believe that Stace is no longer dwelling with us.
glatt • Feb 19, 2008 5:19 pm
Undertoad;433411 wrote:
It's harder to fence in Chihuahuas, because you need netting over the top or else the hawks will take them.


:lol:
monster • Feb 19, 2008 9:51 pm
Undertoad;433412 wrote:
Oh yes, and this thread is old, I believe that Stace is no longer dwelling with us.



She pops in every now and again. Her hair's grown back and she had bred her first champion was the last update, I think...
TheMercenary • Feb 21, 2008 8:58 pm
HungLikeJesus;433327 wrote:
Don't you need some kind of post-hole digger? I think that would be the hardest part.

Yes. I thought about that after the fact. I just figured that it would have been intuitive. You obviously have it.
Undertoad • Jan 18, 2011 11:27 am
Undertoad;433411 wrote:
It's harder to fence in Chihuahuas, because you need netting over the top or else the hawks will take them.


You thought I was joking.

Chi survives owl attack

Midwestern Chi owners, take note. As we know, owls are assholes.
monster • Jan 18, 2011 11:51 am
Why does the headline say "Locals are THRILLED about an owl attack on a Chiuauauatever?
Pete Zicato • Jan 18, 2011 11:58 am
monster;706353 wrote:
Why does the headline say "Locals are THRILLED about an owl attack on a Chiuauauatever?

Have you ever met a Chihuahua?


Mean little buggers.
Shawnee123 • Jan 18, 2011 12:17 pm
Chi. Hua. Hua.
wolf • Jan 18, 2011 12:22 pm
Shawnee123;706360 wrote:
Chi. Hua. Hua.


Thank you Les Nessman, and now back to Dr. Johnny Fever ...
Shawnee123 • Jan 18, 2011 12:56 pm
"I can go in. I can go out. I can go in. I can go out."

:lol:
HungLikeJesus • Jan 18, 2011 2:41 pm
He's married to god?

"Thank God he had the coat," said Kalomiris, who mentioned he has his wife to thank for the purchase. "Otherwise he might have been hurt."[LEFT][COLOR=#000000]
Source: http://www.nbcchicago.com/news/weird/Chihuahua-survives-owl-attack-in-Crystal-Lake--113882069.html#ixzz1BPxEInMj
[/COLOR][/LEFT]
monster • Jan 18, 2011 2:45 pm
HungLikeJesus;706413 wrote:
He's married to god?


it's a civil union
TheMercenary • Jan 18, 2011 8:30 pm
staceyv;191786 wrote:
I'd like a wood fence, the kind you can't see through- about 6' high, to cover a big open yard. I can't even guess how big...maybe 50 feet on each side of a big square area?? ( so a total of 200 feet of fence)

Yeah, I'm retarded about this stuff.
I've tried going on websites and they all want me to sign up for a consultation. Can't find a damn price...

Is wood a lot more expensive?
Are installation fees outrageous?

I've been dreaming of a yard for about 10 years.
I found a great little apartment with a HUGE yard and the owner says it would be okay to put up a fence. It would increase his property value, so I don't see why not.
I'll work out an agreement with him before we put it up so I can either take it with me or be partially reimbursed...

Okay, so..Prices?
All depends on the size of the yard and the size of the fence in height. A 2 foot fence on a yard that is 15 x 15 feet is a lot cheaper than one on a yard that is 300 x 200 ft. Really.
monster • Jan 18, 2011 9:32 pm
.
footfootfoot • Jan 18, 2011 10:12 pm
TheMercenary;706529 wrote:
All depends on the size of the yard and the size of the fence in height. A 2 foot fence on a yard that is 15 x 15 feet is a lot cheaper than one on a yard that is 300 x 200 ft. Really.

Stacy done gone Merc. She don't take kindly to no one spitting on her husband's soul.
BrianR • Jan 19, 2011 10:14 am
say what, now?
footfootfoot • Jan 19, 2011 10:16 am
Someone posted something that her husband found offensive to him. He accused that person of "Spitting on his soul" much to the amusement of the rest of the cellar.
Pete Zicato • Jan 19, 2011 10:17 am
You had to be there.
Pete Zicato • Jan 19, 2011 10:17 am
monster;706418 wrote:
it's a civil union

Illinois hasn't legalized deity marriage.
glatt • Jan 19, 2011 10:26 am
Pete Zicato;706623 wrote:
You had to be there.


And you can be!

http://cellar.org/showthread.php?t=5081

But the thread is really not worth it without the context of the time. I guess you really did have to be there.
Shawnee123 • Jan 19, 2011 10:30 am
footfootfoot;706622 wrote:
Someone posted something that her husband found offensive to him. He accused that person of "Spitting on his soul" much to the amusement of the rest of the cellar.


Seems to me a fence might rightly be the solution. A 2 foot fence on a yard that is 15 x 15 feet ought to do quite nicely in keeping spit away from one's soul, and a lot more cheaply than one on a yard that is 300 x 200 ft.

Now, where's that thread from a few years back where the lady was asking how much cord she would need for the lamp that she planned to put into her living room? I think I've finally figured out the answer! :genius:
TheMercenary • Jan 19, 2011 1:36 pm
footfootfoot;706543 wrote:
Stacy done gone Merc. She don't take kindly to no one spitting on her husband's soul.


Sorry mate. Missed that. Thanks.
footfootfoot • Jan 20, 2011 11:14 am
Oh and you did. She was a hoot while she was here. Crazy as the day is long.
monster • Jan 20, 2011 12:49 pm
Wait, didn't she buy her puppy from Nirvana?
monster • Jan 20, 2011 12:53 pm
Arsen got over it, anyway...

http://www.cellar.org/showpost.php?p=397075&postcount=32

staceyv;397075 wrote:
LJ, my hole is fine and so is my family, thanks for asking:thumb:
And now for the long answer:
Arsen and I just celebrated our fourth wedding anniversary in September and two years of quitting smoking this month.
Our "kids" are tearing up the show ring. I just got back from a trip to Chicago- 16 hours on the road to bring my chihuahuas to the Chihuahua Club of America's national specialty. 300+ chihuahuas! And just as many wacky owners. It was FUN!
My hair has finally grown back to where it was 2 years ago before it all popped out. I bleached it platinum blonde and I feel young again! (Okay, I'm only 31 but still...)

Glatt, here is like my fifth post. Is that better? :)

Arsen's soul has finally healed. He'll be proud to know that he made it into the Cellar Quotationary!
footfootfoot • Jan 20, 2011 3:12 pm
monster;706981 wrote:
Wait, didn't she buy her puppy from Nirvana?

I think she was considering it, but not sure if Nirvana went ahead.
Sundae • Jan 21, 2011 3:56 pm
footfootfoot;707023 wrote:
I think she was considering it, but not sure if Nirvana went ahead.

I understand that she did, and there was some bad blood there.
Shame - I miss Stacey. Just been all stalkerish and checked out her puppy breeding website.
She seems to be doing really well - still with Arsen, breeding and showing dogs and still as slim and beautiful as ever.
ZenGum • Jan 22, 2011 3:29 am
Couldn't help but notice. In 2005:

You should qualify for an FHA loan (2.75% down payment) and HUD offers grants to first time home buyers.


...if you have $2K and HUD is offering up to $10K (ADDI), why wait a few years to buy? A few years of equity can mean a lot of money. If waitressing is too stressful, why not buy a multi-family and try your hand at being the landlord?


it is amazingly easy to buy a house right now, and at least a hundred times easier to buy a new one than a used. The government is offering grants and all sort of things. New housing builders know all the tricks, and you could very well wind up in a new house and get up to 2500 in cash, that you dont have to ever pay back , in the form of a grant. If you have 2000 dollars at least call a couple of new home builders


Then in 2008 ...
my wife and i just bought a beautiful home for under $100,000 and if we had wanted to we didn't need a penny down. i have wasted $16,000 in the last two years and i can honestly tell you i am going to be saving $200 a month buy purchasing my home. I live in pittsburgh, pa


What could possibly go wrong with people buying houses with no deposit? I mean, so long as prices keep rising, no problem, right?

Hindsight is a wonderful thing, ain't it?