Fence, Gate, Deck and Arbor Estimate – What Should you Take in Consideration

When you are getting estimates/bids for an arbor, deck, gate or fence, do you have any idea of how much it should cost? Do you know what you are paying for and where fence contractors sometimes cut corners?

To help you be well informed and hire the right fence contractor in South Florida, we have outlined below what you should look for in a fence project estimate and fence contractors. All Fencing and Repair designed guides and price ranges (arbors, decks, fences, gates, treehouses) give you a good idea how much your custom wood arbor, pergola, patio cover, fence, gate, deck, or tree house should cost.

Getting A Ballpark Price for a Fence, Arbors, Decks, Gates and Custom Tree Houses

Many homeowners have little experience dealing with fence contractors and have no idea of what they should budget. So they often use the estimating process to get a feel for what their project will cost — instead of learning what they can get for the amount they want to spend. And this ‘fishing for a price’ is what drives fence contractors crazy, wasting their time and resulting in lots of call back problems … because fence builders try to avoid investing time in clients who will never purchase from them.
So doing a little homework before choosing your fencing company is worth your time. Most custom built fence, arbor and deck projects fall into three categories:

1. Basic designs
2. Custom designs built by craftsmen
3. Expensive high end designs.

Knowing what quality/complexity price range fits your budget can help you decide what type of fence builder you are looking for.

After checking the pricing section you will have a better idea of the the price range of the structure you want built before you call for estimates.

So, now that you know what your are looking for and have a clear idea of your budget, it is time to try and find the right builder for you. That can start with personal recommendations and also you can check us at Southeast Florida Better Business Bureau.

Know Your Budget Range for your Fence, Deck Arbor or Gate Project

Finally, before you start getting estimates, it is essential to have a good idea of what your project should cost and the price range (basic, custom or high end) you are interested in. Knowing your price range lets you red flag builders who are overcharging you by submitting very high bids or giving you an unrealistically low bid to get your business.

It is also good to know ahead of time your ideal budget range and your maximum number. Why? Because for many homeowners, this is the first time they have the opportunity to have something truly custom built that reflects their personal tastes and preferences. Once the ideas start rolling, it is easy to come up with design concepts that far exceed what you really want to spend. Having a solid budget and communicating your ideas of design helps keep everyone’s feet on the ground and avoid design options that lead to shocking surprise. For example, the choice of wood can double the cost of a project. Reputable professional fence, gate, arbor and deck builders can work within a budget and give you options and discuss trade offs based on how much you want to realistically spend.

How to Compare your Written Estimates for your Fence, Gate, Arbor or Deck Project?

When comparing written bids or estimates, you need to evaluate and compare several things:

• overall project description with dimensions
• total price, along with breakdowns for materials and labor
• wood, hardware and construction techniques to be used for the substructure or supports
• wood, hardware and construction techniques to be used for the visible part (decking, fence boards)
• finish details, special requests and add-ons like demolition and removal of existing structure, upgraded hardware, built-ins, and staining.
• cost and time needed, along with total cost for the completed project

Overall Fence, Deck, Gate, Arbor Project Description

Review all the bids to make sure they all describe the exact same end product. Usually homeowners make sure the overall dimensions are the same, but may miss subtle differences in the special requests which some builders may not have included. If these are added later as “in progress” work orders, change orders or “add-ons”, you may end up paying more than if they were included in the original estimate.

Sometimes the additional cost reflects valid costs by the contractor who may have to spend time making a special trip to purchase more materials or pay a restocking fee for returned materials. However, this is one area where fence contractors who have underbid the project to get your business can now recoup their losses or inflate the profit they can make on your job.

Visible Materials & Construction Techniques for Fences, Decks, Arbor and Gates

Since this is what the client will see every day, this is where estimates provide the most detail. Again, you want to compare the type, grade and size of wood used if using wood, as well as the hardware, and construction details.

For a long life, you want to have a rot resistant wood (such as Redwood or Cedar), a hardwood (such as Red Balau) or a low maintenance wood composite (such as Trex™). Soft woods (such as Douglas Fir or Pine) are often cheap alternatives that do not last long when exposed to the outdoor elements and termites.

Just as important as the type of wood is the grade and quality of wood used. Cheaper grades cost less, so it is easy for a fence contractor to underbid a project by planning to use a lower grade of wood. Often, these lower grades feature more knots, uneven color, and less inherent protection from the elements.

Next, you want to evaluate the construction techniques used for this part of the project. The use of the right hardware (screws, brackets, adhesive) and techniques (notched beams, removable panels for maintenance) can have a big impact on the final look of your project.

Substructure Materials & Construction Techniques for Fences, Deck, Arbor and Gates

Although you may never see it — the substructure or frame is the most important part of your structure. Why? Because how well it is built will determine how long your project will last. Poorly constructed frames can cause your deck to wobble or sink, your gate to sag and not close properly, your arbor to sway and your fence to lean. And, unfortunately, because the client rarely sees it, this is where some fence contractors cut corners.

Finish Details, Special Requests Add Ons to your Fence, Gate, Arbor or Deck Project

The final look of your project is often created with the finish details which give you a unique look. However, these can also require more time and materials and lead to a big price difference in your estimates.

For example, the difference between building a straight picket fence or one that curves seems small on paper. But it takes substantially more labor to create this more sophisticated look. Having custom picket ends cut to match your existing porch railings or house trim sees small until you multiply the time required to cut each by the number of pickets (usually 100+). So look to make sure that each bid is giving you the same details that will give you the final look you want. These include finials and caps for posts, accent hardware, and assembly techniques such as notches, insets and rounding or radiusing of edges.

In addition to the details, you want to make sure all the bids include the same special requests you have made. For example, you might want a special feature like a removable panel for maintenance, heavy duty hardware for gate latches for a high traffic area, a more complex deck board pattern, decorative end beam cuts to match your house or an additional arbor tier to increase the visual interest. If each estimate gives you a slightly different quote, you could struggle trying to compare.

Estimate Cost, Time & Completed Project Cost

As you can see, there is a lot that goes into an estimate. But the bottom line is what your project is going to cost you. Unfortunately, unlike buying a car, there are no posted “sticker” prices for designing and building custom wood fences, decks, arbors, gates and tree houses. So many homeowners are left wondering if they are getting a good deal or being overcharged.

The first thing to know when comparing estimates is that they only reflect three costs:

• the materials used
• the labor needed for design and building, including how long it will take to complete project

Since most fence contractors in South Florida purchase materials at the same lumber yards, major differences in estimate prices reflect either cheaper materials, lower labor costs, or lower profit margins. A cheaper estimate does not always imply poor quality or materials — however the adage of “you get what you pay for” does apply. To make an informed decision you want to understand:

• what you are paying for
• what you are not paying for