Not as simple as we thought
Introduction:
Welcome to our fence installation series where we tell you about our process for the project. This post is designed to give you the high level overview starting with the price breakdown. Subsequent posts will delve deeper into how we had to get the yard ready for the fence, what was included in the installation, pain points, and quality control.
Project Overview:
- Cost: $4,706
- Year of Installation: 2018
- Location: New England
- Material Used: Wood
- Total Length: 152 linear feet
- Cost per Linear foot: $31
- Alternative Option: $5,965 for white vinyl
- Contractor: The Big Box Store (trying not to get sued)
- Special features: 1 gate
- Fence height: 6 feet
Why We Chose a Big Box Store:
- Financing: The total cost of $4,706 was substantial for us at the time. The Big Box Store offered a financing plan that allowed us to manage payments without stress, thanks to a 0% APR deal on the store credit card.
- Convenience: Our full-time office jobs and limited PTO made it challenging to gather multiple quotes from local contractors. In hindsight, of course the team selling the work and sending us the contract to sign was going to be pretty professional. However, the delivery and installation teams were not communicative and did not adapt well to anything slightly outside of the standard process.
Background: When we first moved in, our yard was partially open, which was lovely for views but less ideal for privacy and keeping our dogs contained. With future plans for kids, ensuring a safe play area was essential. After giving it some thought, we decided that building a fence would give us some privacy from the neighbors. It would be really nice to let the dogs run and play while we grill burgers and enjoy the yard.
Yard Conditions Before the Project: When we first moved in, our yard felt like a patchwork of history—sections of old fences from different eras intertwined with overgrown shrubs that had seen better days. The greenery included several aging trees surrounding the house, many in poor health. While we’re generally hesitant to remove trees, safety became a concern. A particularly large tree, alarmingly close to our house, once fell and narrowly missed the living room where I was sitting. This incident made it clear that managing the landscape was not just about aesthetics but also about ensuring safety. In retrospect, I wish my reaction to the tree incident was less of a knee-jerk and instead I took the time to maybe save some of the healthier trees to keep the character of our yard.
Decision Process: Originally, we preferred a white vinyl fence to complement our white colonial-style home. We also had heard from friends and family that vinyl fences require less maintenance which was appealing to us. However, the higher cost of $5,965 was more than we were prepared to spend. We opted for a wood fence as a cost-effective alternative.
Installation Details: The installation was completed in about 3-4 days. The two big components of the job were sinking all the fence posts and then affixing the pickets. The process was not as straightforward as we had hoped, the installation team was slow and kinda rude, and we had some other unexpected hiccups. More on that in our next post.
Reflections: The fence installation initially seemed perfect with its bright, natural-colored pickets. However, we’ve noticed a few issues over time:
- Inspection Oversight: We didn’t inspect all the materials thoroughly. Several posts and crossbars were not correctly installed, which has led to some parts of the fence becoming crooked over the years.
- Maintenance Lapse: We never sealed or painted the fence, causing the wood to look tired and worn. This spring, we plan to power wash and stain the fence and will share the costs and tips from this experience.
Note about Pricing Then and Now: In 2018, we spent $4,706 on our fence. Prices tend to change over time, and after recent economic shifts, we’re beginning to see signs that suggest a return to more stable, normal price levels. While it’s uncertain, there’s a possibility that costs could realign closer to what we saw in 2018.
Conclusion: Stay tuned for more posts in this series where we dive deeper into each aspect of our fence project, including how we prepared the yard for the installation and all the benefits of hindsight. Whether you’re planning your own fence installation or just interested in the process, we hope our experience will be helpful to you.
Please leave a comment below if this post was helpful, if you have a question or if there is anything specific you’d like us to include in our next post. If you or someone you know had a fence installed recently and you’d like us to showcase your story please reach out! We would love to share your story too.
Before the installation and toward the end of prep/cleanup:
After the installation
Side view:
Lodge Boss 