Why the Cheapest Fence Quote Often Costs the Most
When getting a new fence installed, we always recommend obtaining at least three quotes. Comparing prices is a great way to understand your options, but it's important to remember that not all fencing quotes include the same level of work.
Two contractors can quote on the exact same fence, using the same materials, yet have considerably different prices.
So where does that difference come from?
Often, it's in the work you never get to see once the fence is finished.
1. What's Happening Below Ground Matters
A fence is only as good as the structure supporting it. Post installation is one of the most important parts of the job, yet it's also an area where installation methods can differ considerably.
Excavating appropriate post holes, allowing for ground conditions and using sufficient concrete all take additional time and materials.
For example, our typical post footing starts at 600mm deep and 200mm wide, with two 20kg bags of wet-mix concrete per post. Actual requirements can vary depending on the ground, fence design and site conditions.
Reducing footing sizes or concrete quantities can reduce installation costs, but it also changes the support being provided to the fence.
2. Concrete Takes More Than Just a Bag and a Hose
Not all concrete installation methods are the same.
Wet-mix concrete requires additional preparation, equipment and physical work compared with simply adding water to dry concrete in the post hole.
Consider what happens across a typical fencing job:
Purchasing and loading additional 20kg bags of cement.
Unloading and carrying those bags to individual post holes.
Mixing concrete using the appropriate equipment.
Placing and working the concrete around each post.
Cleaning and maintaining mixing equipment.
An additional bag of cement per post might not sound significant, but across 25 posts, that's another 500kg of material to transport and handle.
These are small decisions repeated throughout a job, and they add up in both labour and cost.
3. The Right Materials Make a Difference
It's not just about the fence sheets, palings or panels you see from the outside.
The supporting components matter too.
Post selection, corner construction, rails, channels and fixings all contribute to how the fence is assembled and supported.
For example, corners and changes in direction need to be properly considered when selecting and positioning posts. Using appropriate end and corner posts rather than treating every post as interchangeable can mean additional materials and installation costs.
These details might not be obvious once the fence is finished, but they're part of the overall construction.
4. Doing It Properly Takes Time
One of the biggest differences between fencing quotes can simply be the amount of time allowed to complete the job.
Digging deeper holes, handling additional concrete, mixing wet-mix and carefully positioning posts all take time.
There's also the consideration of allowing concrete to set sufficiently before continuing with the installation.
A contractor allowing for these additional processes will naturally have different labour costs to someone working to a much quicker installation method.
The finished fence might look identical from the street, but the work that went into building it may be very different.
5. What Should You Ask When Comparing Quotes?
Rather than looking at the final figure alone, take a little time to understand what's actually included.
Here are a few questions worth asking:
What depth and diameter are the post holes?
How much concrete is being used per post?
How is the concrete mixed and installed?
What type and size of posts are included?
How are corners and changes in direction constructed?
Are all necessary materials and installation components included?
Has the quote allowed for the actual ground conditions?
A reputable contractor should be able to explain their installation methods and how they've arrived at their price.
The Cheapest Quote Isn't Always the Best Value
We're not suggesting that the most expensive quote is automatically the best, or that a cheaper contractor necessarily cuts corners.
Every business has different overheads, labour costs and installation methods.
However, when comparing quotes, it's important to understand what you're actually paying for.
A lower price might represent a more competitive business, or it might reflect differences in materials, preparation, concrete quantities or installation time.
The important thing is knowing the difference before making your decision.
At Glovers Fencing, we believe a fence should be more than something that looks good on the day it's installed. The work behind it matters just as much as the finished result.
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