Fence costs

Looks like we are seeing around $35/55 per lin ft, good neighbor/Eichler sided.
Sound right from what you have seen?

Best I've seen for plain "city legal" fence is $16.50 linear feet -- new growth redwood (common lumber). This was $1,800 for 110 linear feet, plus $150 for a gate - - contractor was hard working San Jose guy whose daughter was translater.
He did a smaller, $900, job for me -- basically, I prepaid $450 in lumber and he built it for me so his labor & hardware/cement was another $450.

Your job is more specialized -- there are some out there who will say Eichler sided fencing is simple -- but your standard fence guy will struggle with it. 2 years ago, a recommended fence company couldn't figure out my quote request for a courtyard fence using ipe wood -- it was to be a fence with 1-inch gap spacing & complementary detail fitting of Eichler -- I go the impression it was going to be expensive, and hit-or-miss on the final result . . . decided to do something else instead.

Hi,

One thing that can cause a large deviation in price quotes is the method of post installation--wet set vs. dry set, in-ground vs. bracket.

- I would highly recommend wet-set with bracket. This will cost a bit more but gives a far superior (longer-lasting) result. So you pay more up front but pay less in the long run.

- I would also stipulate that the bolts connecting through the brackets have the nuts on *your* side of the fence. Then if/when the fence needs tightening you can take care of it yourself (as opposed to trying to get your neighbor to do it or gain access for you to do it).

Here's my experience, "your mileage may vary":

- one side fence replaced about 5 years ago with wet-set bracket method, still holding strong (replaces a 7 year old fence installed with dry-set/sunk post that had rotted at the soil/cement/wood contact)

- back fence just replaced this spring with wet-set bracket method (replaces a 6 year old fence installed with dry-set/sunk post that had rotted at soil/cement/wood contact)

Cheers.
Jake

prefab-
could i get the name/number of the person you had do your fence?
[email protected]
thanks!
greg

Jake: Did the wet set method use pressure treated 4x4? Anyone have links to a picture of one of these connectors?

I believe my posts are 4x4 pressure treated-- I'll double check tomorrow.

There's a diagram of the type of post anchors I have at:

http://www.calredwood.org/ref/faqs/fnc_post.htm

Cheers.
Jake

I'm looking for a fence builder to reconstruct two side fences and a patio overhang that hasn't been replaced since probably 1960 (my mom's house). Any recommendations for a talented contractor are appreciated.

Thanks! (Palo Alto)

Lisa

Hi Jake,

I've been getting estimates for a new fence and I guess you could say "I'm on the fence" when it comes to wet set vs. dry set. Of the contractors I've talked to, they each say that their way is the only way to go and to stay away from any contractors that do it the other way when it comes to wet vs. dry. I'm leaning towards wet set, but it seems like it would work best if the concrete was 100% set instead of pouring the concrete for the posts on one a day and finishing the fence the next.

When you had your 2 fences replaced, did they wait at least 3 days for the posts to be fully set, or did they come back the next day and finish the fence? Also, were the posts on the fences that rotted pressure treated? Did they have anchors?

Thanks!

-Carl