What is the Easiest Fence to Install Yourself? Did you know: with the right tools and planning, vinyl fences are among the easiest fences to install yourself! This is due to the fact that you install this material with essentially a no-dig design rather than needing to dig posts bases and fill them with cement.
Treated pine tends to be the most affordable, and also durable wood option. Cedar tends to be a pricier wood for fencing, and redwood and teak are at the top end. Vinyl, wrought iron, brick or stone fences are the most expensive.
Chain link fences are typically less expensive than wood fences. That's because the material is less expensive and the labor hours required for installation are usually less. However, add-ons like gates, vinyl coating or fabric screens will all increase the total cost per foot of a chain link fence.
Wood fences cost about $11 to $45 per linear foot for professional installation. The cost to install vinyl fences professionally is about $15 to $40 per linear foot. For DIY installation, wood is a less expensive material at $1 to $10 per linear foot, while vinyl costs about $10 to $30 per linear foot.
In general, wood fences cost more than chain link fences. While the materials are pricier, wood fences also cost more to install because the installation takes longer. This all factors into a higher initial cost which goes up further when you add in the maintenance costs.
Redwood, cedar or pressure-treated pine last the longest. A fence can last about 20 years, if made of a turnout resistant wood. Then posts are usually the first to go; panels survive longer because they typically don't touch the ground. Fences must withstand year-round exposure to the element.
A lot of digging, cutting, and lifting panels or wood is involved. Installing a fence is a two-person job. Wood and chain link fences will be nearly impossible to complete well with just one person.
Unlike traditional fences, the innovative design of a no dig fence doesn't require augering and cementing of posts. Instead, the fence is secured by merely driving steel spikes into the ground. Once the spikes are installed, fence panels are attached by connecting the panel eyelets to the spike posts.
An inexpensive and easy way to add height to a fence is to insert tall bamboo canes or small stakes into the ground directly in front of the fence and string trellis wire across them. You can then grow plants up the fence and along the wire.
Allow More Time for Wood to Season
One thing that makes fall or winter the best time of year to install a wooden fence is the time it takes for the new wood to season properly. If a new wooden fence is exposed to harsh summer days too quickly, all that direct sunlight can cause the wood to warp or even split.
There are a lot of fence material types and styles to consider, but vinyl remains the top choice for a low maintenance fence.
Common prices for a residential backyard fence by linear foot include: 100 linear feet: $2,300. 150 linear feet: $3,600. 300 linear feet: $6,900.
So, how far apart should fence posts be? The standard spacing for fence posts is 8 to 25 feet apart, depending on the type of fence. A standard wood fence would require posts 8 feet apart, while a high-tensile wire could span 25 feet.
So, what is the answer then – is fencing an expensive sport? All in, fencing can cost anywhere from around $2500 per year if you are a non-competitive fencer to upwards of $20,000 for internationally competitive fencers. That range is massive, but it doesn't just jump.
If we assume that your property is equal on 4 sides, then it is as simple as taking the square root of 43,560 square feet. This gives you 209 feet on each side, which would require 835 linear feet of fence to enclose the entire acre property (209 feet times four sides is equal to 835 linear feet).
In most cases, chain link fences are the least expensive option. The component materials are reasonably priced, and installation is relatively simple. Chain-link fences made from galvanized steel are impenetrable by pets and rot, and provide a lot of visibility.
Metal and chain-link fences are ideal if you have a pooch that loves to dig since they can be buried, making it hard to dig under. Vinyl and wood fences are also a possibility, but since they cannot be buried, they require extra work to deter your four-legged escape artist.