Going Rate To Install Vinyl Fence

Emo

I'm in Ct. and I'm new to the fence business. Any one know the going rate to install 6' privacy or 4' picket. I read 70.00 a post but that sounds a bit low with all that you do before you start the job. Thanks

nywoodwizard

You can charge whatever you like,but thats the going rate in my neck of the woods,None of that per ft bullsh--.If you installed 2 post in one hour thats $140.00 an hour.I can install around 20 per day. thats $1400.00 - 160.00 per day for two helpers - $50.00 for sand and cement = $1190 for my days wage. I'm not complaining.If the job is only a few post,than you must charge a min to cover your days wage and expenses.Thats not including old fence take down or disposal,clearing the line of brush or debri,In which we charge $1.50 per ft for each.What is all you do before you start the job?

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eddymn

I'm in MN and new to the business as well. The way most fence companies mark up their material (lumber, etc), $70 a post is cheap! I charge $75 but I don't mark up the material. Woodwizard; thanks for the info on fence removal at $1.50 a foot. Where do you get rid of the old lumber? That is my predicament. Have you guys used instant post cement or do you use a mixer? I used instant post cement on my last fence and, man, what a timesaver! It is spendier, but I bet I could do 30 posts a day with that.

orionkf

What's with the per post stuff? Are people installing just post, or does that include materials and labor for the fence too?

TheFishGuy

You've got to definately charge a minimum...

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nywoodwizard

I go to a recycle place,cost about $75 a ton,they take anything, got rid of 60ft of wood yesterday for $30 bucks.No instant cement,ever,we buy sand and cement,and my cement mixer is 5 11" and 175 pounds.$70 a post is not considered cheap ,with all the competition.I'll take some of that action on 30 post a day,how much? I love fast money

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nywoodwizard

Why did i know to expect that question,Dig one hole place pole in ground,Supply and install concrete and install section.@ $70.00 per .Its the simplest pricing method.Most contractors confuse themselves with all that per ft nonsense.All my prices for fence are calculated by the post,Pvc ,Wood,chain link,ornamental aluminum.Chainlink has a per hookup cost also.No need to reinvent the wheel,its simple and it works.

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mawe54180

In my area (WI) all the fence guys quote by the foot, anywhere from $5.00 to $10.00 per foot. Not including ranch fence. You do have to have a minimum, and many charge a trip charge.
Mark

curapa

Ive never heard of charging by the post. My basic stockade wood fence starts at $13.50 per ft. and goes up from there. I don't do vinyl. I have done custom cedar fences in the $40 - $50 per ft. range. Materials are included in my prices.

I add any clearing or fence removal to my bid but I generally just judge the amount of time it will take and add my decided dollar amount to the bid. I wont remove any existing fence for less than $100 and the price goes up from there. The fence might come down quick but you have to consider the time you take to dispose of it also.

I'm confused is the $70 just labor or for the vinyl to? maybe I missed it. If its just labor that seems reasonable for me assuming there are enough posts. I have no problem setting 30+ posts per day.

nywoodwizard

Maybe i should clarify, All my "labor" is based on a per post basis. I do allot of custom PVC,there are tons of different styles which all have to be quoted differently. I have a price book from my local supplier with prices for all types of sections,posts, gates,and hardware for wood chain link and PVC. If all you do is one or two types of simple fencing installs and charging by the foot works thats fine. There are too many variables and upgrades on PVC fence/railings, Around 60 different styles of PVC fence/railings,about 15 different style gates,3-4 options on hardware,caps,post configurations,Stepping fence,custom mounting options on concrete or stone retaining walls the list goes on. So in preparing an estimate, first the post count decides the labor cost for basic installation,then price per section,post and gate are added, then if any options, upgrades/add ons,then fence removal and or cart away and/or land clearing.
Example: PVC railings
8 -Sections @ 68.85 ea
2 -Sections Stair railings $68.85 + $10 for each rail routed @ 35%
8 -40" post @ 8.86 ea add 25% for 5X5 upgrade
4 -48" post @ 11.50 ea add 25% for 5X5 upgrade ,routed for 35%
Add t-rail top upgrade @ 15.75 ea
Add baluster style pickets upgrade @ 85% per section
Add Galvanized rail channel upgrade $5 ea rail
Caps 12 @ $3 + solar cap upgrade @ $35 ea
Add $10 per post for concrete installation
Post labor 12 @ $70 per post
Add gate $125 + 50% for custom spacing upgrade
Gate hardware $50 + 40% for upgrade
Remove old railing 80ft @ $1.50 per ft/cart away 80ft @ $1.50 per ft

Per ft works with a simple fence or railing install, which i don't do often and sometimes its also misleading when you give a customer that type of pricing over the phone, the first number always sticks in there head. When a different total pops up after the job is looked at , they get weary. I never give prices over the phone, like lots of companies do. I go and look at every job ,discuss all options before hand. I prepare a complete and itemized list of each product being used and cost, give the customer a price and tell them specifically what there getting and walk them thru the installation procedure, Then file the estimate invoice for 60 days. Only when i get a deposit I'll give them a copy. It only takes me bareley10 min to prepare a fence/railing estimate,so i'll stick to what i do now.

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curapa

nywoodwizard,

I completely understand there are different ways to bid jobs and as long as you get your desired profit then there is nothing wrong with any way you do it. I personally have never heard of a per post charge for fencing, maybe its an area thing. Our methods are pretty much the same except I have worked my price into a footage cost. I know my material costs, when lumber prices change I get a fax from my supplier so I know when to adjust my footage price.

I have a material footage cost for plenty of standard and custom fences, I simply add my labor footage price to find my total. When I do a fence that is completely different from what I'm used to I simply figure up my material list and get my pricing sheet out, this helps because I go through the building process in my head to make sure I havent forgotten anything labor or material wise.

nywoodwizard

What is your install rate per ft ?

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curapa

My labor rate for a standard stockade is $7.50 per ft., shadow box is an additional $1.50 per ft., the price goes up from there depending what additional work is involved. I have over 20 different styles of fence on file with the pricing already worked out, my highest labor charge being $26.00 per ft. as of yet.
I should also mention that if a fence is under a certain footage my rates are higher.

nywoodwizard

Seams a little high for stockade. Compared to pvc fence that gets cemented in at no more than $10 per ft.

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curapa

Actually, I am very competitive in my area. The lowballers are charging $11 and the high priced are charging $16 or so. I am around the middle with the rest of the reputable fence companies at $13.50. In addition, my fences come with excellent customer service and warranty, next year my prices are going up.

$10 per ft. for vinyl is very low in my area, even if using the cheapest stockade panel. If a panel is $40 and a post is $12 + hardware, cement and caps you are only looking at $15-$20 profit per 8' section, unless material prices are way different in our areas I cant see $10 per ft even being worthwhile. We are talking about a standard 6' stockade panel right?

I started out doing vinyl fences but decided to give them up and focus on custom wood fencing. Personally I don't care for the vinyl fencing in both looks and reliability, but to each his own.

nywoodwizard

No, $10.00 per ft for labor only to install vinyl fence . I get my 6'x8' privacy vinyl sections for around $80.00,post $22.00 and #1 6'x8' spruce stockade for $35.00 ea and post $6.00 . I'm a little tired of the white PVC fence,its everywhere. My supplier carries the wood colored version but the price is ridiculous,there about $180 a section,post are doubled at 40+ ea and gates are between $300-400. I do like installing the PVC railings and do very well with it, decent profit margin,less work. A typical concrete stoop takes us about 3 hours and can do three a day easy, labor around 550-600 each for a 6 post stoop. I can't complain it feeds my fat azz

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curapa

Ahh, yeah $10 a ft. labor seems about right in these parts to for that style. I should also mention that I don't put up PT fence panels, everything I do is is built from scratch.., posts, 2x4's then individual fence boards. None of the PT panels I have seen are worth a crap, they begin sagging within a year and the boards are poorly fastened together.

nywoodwizard

Its funny you should say that here in new york nobody builds fence panels from scratch,at least not around me. It feel its to labor intensive and not worth it ,apparently so do most guys around here. Most custom cedar panels run around $80-90. I notice when i was in virginia beach a few weeks ago, presure treated was the only type i seen and all the fencing looks pretty much the same, some scalloped, but nothing really nice. Here we buy fence panels already made up ,mostly northen white cedar. all types of toppers ,spruce stockade is probably the most popular and economical. Some places have started to sell pt stockade,i don't see many people using it yet.

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curapa

Whats strange is that the only people in my area that put up panels are HO's that buy them from Home Depot trying to take the cheap DIY route. I find it very easy to build from scratch and much more reliable. I can set posts in a day and complete more than 200'+ of stockade in a day. The standard here is stockade PT or shadowbox PT.

I have done 300' of this style in two days, one day setting posts, one day building fence, two people, well worth the labor intensity.

nywoodwizard

Is that a cheap shot because i don't build my fences? I buy very good fence from one of the largest suppliers on long island and they will deliver any amount of fencing anywhere on long island from new york to montauk point for $25.
You cement your pressure treated wood post in ? Thats about 800 boards including the rails in one day right? Can't open that picture looks like about 18 or so boards per section plus rails ? Nails or screws? looks nice.

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