Are you planning to install a new fence in your backyard this year? Here is what you can expect to pay for your next project from a local fence contractor like Illinois Fence Company in the state of Illinois, specifically in Orland Park, IL, and the surrounding suburbs of the greater Chicagoland area.
So you have decided that you want to install a new fence in your backyard. But you are probably wondering at this stage in the process how much a new fence is going to cost you, right? Well, we are going to cover how much you can expect to pay based on the materials you choose to have installed. Many people don't realize that the fence material you want is the single most significant factor that influences how much the final project costs overall.
People choose to have fences installed for a variety of reasons. Parents, for instance, are primarily concerned with fencing in their yard to provide a safe space for their children to play. Pet lovers are looking to protect their furry friends from other animals. And in some cases, people want to add an extra level of privacy in the yard, especially in situations where you have nosy neighbors. So the question is, how much is a new fence going to cost you? Well, the answer is, it depends.
The cost of your new fence depends on a variety of factors, such as, but not limited to:
Unlike other home improvement projects, having a new fence installed, in most cases, isn't going to add much, if any, value to your home. But that doesn't stop 100's of thousands of homeowners from installing new fences every year. There are many benefits to installing a new fence, and it is sure to increase the overall enjoyment of your backyard living space.
According to Home Advisor, the world's largest home improvement website in the United States, you can expect to pay anywhere between $1,648 on the low end to roughly $4,000 on the high end, with the average price being approximately $2,700. As mentioned, the pricing depends on various factors, which we will discuss below. Still, especially in Illinois, you can usually expect to pay $24 to $43 per linear foot. The national averages of material and labor help get a general idea of your next project's cost. Your actual prices will vary depending on where you live in the country.
So by now, you might be wondering, what goes into the final price of a new fence? You want to make sure that when you are comparing estimates from local fence companies, that you take the following line items into account:
The material you choose for your upcoming fence installation is a crucial factor in understanding the cost of your next home improvement project. The cost of materials and labor can vary significantly, with your location being a primary determinant, ranging from $24-43 per linear foot plus extras such as additional gates, hardware, and removal of existing fence and dirt haul. This variation is due to the diverse options available for fence installation. Here's a breakdown of average costs by material type:
Wood - $5,496 to $7,113
Vinyl - $7,254 to $9,387
Aluminum - $5,496 to $7,113
Chainlink - $4,478 to $6,982
Wrought Iron - about $2,500
Steel - $10 to $350 per eight-foot section
Wire - $1 to $3 per linear foot
The next thing you want to consider is the desired height of the fence, as this, too, will significantly affect your overall costs. How tall do you want the fence to be? Are you primarily concerned with nosy neighbors? In the fence industry, "privacy" is a term, in most cases, used to describe a 6ft tall solid fence (wood or vinyl), which provides the most separation from the outside world of your backyard. Keep in mind, the taller the fence, the more it's going to cost per linear foot. Privacy fences are ideal if you do a lot of entertaining in your backyard and own a patio, pool, or hot tub.
If you are looking for the cheapest fence option available, you are going to want to consider chain link fencing. While it does not offer any privacy from neighbors and in most cases, it's not very tall; it does do a great job of keeping pets and children in the backyard. Again, if you are looking for the most affordable option, then chain link fence material is going to be the best option for you.
So at this point, you might be wondering what you can do to save money on your next fence installation project? Below is a list of ways that you can reduce your overall cost:
Another way to save money is to see if your homeowners' insurance will cover some or all of your next fence installation. Unfortunately, this method only works if your fence was recently damaged. Insurance does not cover normal wear and tear. But if a storm damaged your fence, in most cases due to high winds, then you may be eligible to submit a claim. Keep in mind when opening a homeowner's claim that most likely, you will have to pay a deductible. You want to make sure there is a significant amount of damage before opening a claim against your homeowners' policy.
Up until this point, we talked about what you can expect to pay for a new fence. But now we want to transition into talking about what you can do to protect your investment long term. The initial cost of the fence is just the start. What many people fail to realize is that there are going to be annual maintenance costs if you want your fence to last for many years to come. Your upkeep costs will vary depending on the type of fence material that you choose to have installed.
For instance, if you decide to have a wood fence installed, you are going to want to apply a weather-resistant sealant. These sealants are known for protecting fences against moisture from penetrating the wood, especially in parts of the country that are prone to lots of rain or snow. While these sealants are not perfect, they could add years of life to your fence. We highly recommend that you apply these weather-resistant sealants annually for the best results.
Harsh weather conditions are not the only threat to your fence. You will also want to take precautions against termites and other bugs eating away at your wood fence. Your local hardware store will sell sprays that will keep these pests away. In some cases, it is a good idea to pressure wash your fence annually to remove any harmful mold or residue from the surface of the fence.
And lastly, regardless of the type of material you have installed, you are going to have to perform routine repairs. These repairs can be as simple as replacing broken fence pickets and in more extreme cases, having to replace the actual posts themselves. What you will see over time is that the fence will start to lean or be uneven due to the posts becoming weaker over time. Sometimes you will need to hire a local fence repair company to come out and replace posts to extend the life of the fence. The good news is that most reputable fence companies offer some type of limited lifetime warranty on fence material to protect you against material defects. In some cases, there is also a short term warranty (1-5 years) to protect you against faulty craftsmanship during the fence installation process.
Well, there you have it! Now you have a better understanding of what the average cost to build a fence is for your backyard. Please feel free to contact us for more information about your next fence installation project.
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