Speaking of Chain Link Fence prices.....

salmonslayer · #1 04/07/12, 09:28 AM

The Mrs wants chain link fencing across the side and front yard where we face the county hwy to keep the chickens corralled and the other animals mostly directed in the right direction and the contractor just left us with an estimate.....I may need cardiac treatment.

2K for 133 feet installed (4 ft high) with one people gate. We are getting other estimates but this one was from Lowes and we usually find them to be either the cheapest or at least very competetive. I knew steel prices had gone up but good grief. We will get the chain link for this small piece because it will be in front of the farmhouse but the rest of the frontage will be field fencing (thats not cheap either).

By the way, the estimate comprised mostly of supply expenses as the installation cost wasnt that much....some of you will probably slap your forehead and go ... Duh genius.... but I have to tell you it shocked me. The visions I have of buying a hot rod keep fading.....

shdybrady · #2 04/07/12, 09:57 AM

around here we have a good bit of fencing contractors on craigslist. They are established and legitimate companies. You might be able to find a better deal there. And yes that price is outrageous. To get an idea on how much they are charging you. Call up a fencing supply and price how much it will be for the materials. You probably cant get it cheaper then the contractor can. But it gives you and idea on their labor and profit margin will be.

Old Vet · #3 04/07/12, 10:11 AM

Chain link is the most expensive fence you can put up except for a stone wall. To put up a fence you will need a Pat every 10 feet then the top rail to hang it from and ties to attach to the post and a gate. That doesn't sound like much but the top rail along with the fence are the major cost. To put your fence up you will need concrete for at least the end post then hang the top rail then attach the chain link to that and pull it tight. Go to any big box store and price the supplies then have your heart attack.

#4 04/07/12, 10:30 AM

When I lived in the Cities I could find used chain link on CL. Just search for "fencing". A lot of the time it was free but you had to come and take it down.

Good Luck

ninny · #5 04/07/12, 10:46 AM

You're thinking about spending 2K for a fence to keep in a $5 chicken? What's wrong with this picture??? That's like people spending $10k on a solar system so they can save $15/mo. Something wrong with the math.

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chewie · #6 04/07/12, 11:35 AM

why chain link? there is other types of 'farm fencing' that would work well, ain't that hard to put in and way cheaper.

that said, if I ever won a big wad of cash, I'd love nothing more than having my entire 16cres fenced in with either chain link or very tall farm type fencing, so I'd never have strays in or my critters out. I would so love to do this, but ahh, money. there is none!

salmonslayer · #7 04/07/12, 11:52 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ninny

You're thinking about spending 2K for a fence to keep in a $5 chicken? What's wrong with this picture??? That's like people spending $10k on a solar system so they can save $15/mo. Something wrong with the math.

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My math and my money are just fine there ninny, the fence is also for a more aesthetically pleasing seconday fence to our main stock fencing. We have our entire property fenced and cross fenced but it has always bothered me that we didnt have fencing across our road frontage because if we have a cow or other animal breach the pasture fence we dont have any barrier all the way to the hwy. The chain link will just be across the front of the house and then another 400 foot or so will be field fencing with a single barbed strand on top. None of this is designed to be a primary means to contain livestock, just to provide some barrier until we can get them rounded up. As for the chickens, the fence will allow the chickens to free range a bit more easily so why not?

I am not too thrilled with the cost and havent even decided if we are going to actually do it but we do many things for pleasure that cost money and dont pay a return....like living on a small farm and raising your own food instead of buying it at Walmart. If you are looking for homesteading or small farming to pencil out right away you must be still stuck in the city...living rural and as self sufficient as possible isnt about saving $15.00 a month on your electric bill. Some people get it some dont and thats okay. Me, if we went solar it would be for reasons other than worrying about our electric bill because we can afford to pay whatever it is, for others they can barely pay their utilities and their motivation would be different.

But tightwad or spend thrift...steel prices are driving things out of reeach for many and it comes as a shock once in a while when you confront it.

Pink_Carnation · #8 04/07/12, 12:08 PM

I don't know about cost but I have seen fencing with the woven mesh that was far prettier than chain link. They used stained wood at the top with some 1x1 pieces to add interest and make it fit in with a trellis.

||Downhome|| · #9 04/07/12, 12:45 PM

Why don't you just put up a picket fence?

you could put as much money in it as you like or save as much as you like.

I like to get those dog eared pickets on sale then rip them down. depending on what I'm doing determines how many pieces I rip them into. for my turkey pen I scored some large 2x4 pallets think they ship garden tractors on them,used that as the frame.
then ripped the pickets into three pieces, so thats close to 2" wide each and I spaced them 2" apart.getting a foot per picket coverage at 1-1.50. for posts you can do a variety of things. here you can get cedar post for less then what a treated 4x4. I've lve also scabbed together salvage treated 2x4's for posts, just nail two togther.

All in all though 133' even buying new 4x4's and runners should come in under 400 or perhaps less for the materials. I'd say less then 3 days to rip,punch your post holes and nail or screw it together, if you want it painted I do it prior to install spray it all real good and touch up any spots once in. I don't even think those would be three actual works days either.

where I want to · #10 04/07/12, 01:03 PM

I got used chain link from a man who was replacing it with a wooden fence. It is easy to roll up (although heavy heavy depending on the length.) I just had to buy cement and new posts. I even recycled the caps, clamps and top rails easily.
I stretched it with a come-along and the fence posts are easy to place unlike wooden posts.

TedH71 · #11 04/07/12, 01:14 PM

You can do it yourself. Metal posts and then have a fence post digger rented. Go put the machine in where you want the holes dug...use it and bring it back to the rental place. Pour in concrete and put in the metal posts. Sit back and wait. After the concrete hardens, start installing the fence itself. Not hard. Just need more than two people and a fence puller equipment and you'll be fine. Personally, I'm finding that 4 feet tall fences don't do it for me. 6 feet is better because I've got a fence jumping dog. Your mileage may vary.

Yvonne's hubby · #12 04/07/12, 01:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by salmonslayer

But tightwad or spend thrift...steel prices are driving things out of reeach for many and it comes as a shock once in a while when you confront it.

Yeppers, the higher cost of energy is a major factor in the production of steel.... any kind. My Yvonne sells steel to factories and has noted to me that steel has well over doubled in price in the past couple years. I needed a 3 foot piece of 2"X3" box tubing the other day and couldnt find anything in my scrap pile.... had to buy new... $17.80!!!

Yvonne's hubby · #13 04/07/12, 01:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TedH71

You can do it yourself. Metal posts and then have a fence post digger rented. Go put the machine in where you want the holes dug...use it and bring it back to the rental place. Pour in concrete and put in the metal posts. Sit back and wait. After the concrete hardens, start installing the fence itself. Not hard. Just need more than two people and a fence puller equipment and you'll be fine. Personally, I'm finding that 4 feet tall fences don't do it for me. 6 feet is better because I've got a fence jumping dog. Your mileage may vary.

4 ft is plenty tall enough for my needs.... but then I have a short dog.

kasilofhome · #14 04/07/12, 02:46 PM

Chain link 5 foot 50 feet length. 69.99
landscaping timber 2.99 each 8 feet
broken hoses (normally all green) craig's list free
a few nails with washers had them
Plain wire on a spool 14.99 length --unknown
I bought the post hole digger 699.99 -10percent

put the post in the ground ever 8 feet.
laid the chain link on the ground
wove the hose thru the top of the fence
stand the fencing with another person up to the post
nail the hose to the first post I wrap it around and nailed on all sides
and then we made sure that the fence was tight.

Ok this is not how to do it and we will be replacing as with real stuff as we can.
the plan is to buy the top rail as we can and when we have enough footage to do and
area we will do it then. As for the post we will do that next and if needed sooner then replace every other one with the right stuff.
the hose does look nice. tip cut off the ends.

Old Vet · #15 04/07/12, 03:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by salmonslayer

But tightwad or spend thrift...steel prices are driving things out of reeach for many and it comes as a shock once in a while when you confront it.

It is not just the steel that has gone up transportation charges have gone up also along with every thing else.

MushCreek · #16 04/07/12, 03:42 PM

I made a fence out of PT 4X4 posts and landscape timbers for rails. Then I attached regular old fox wire. It is much nicer looking than chain link.

chewie · #17 04/07/12, 03:47 PM

mush--can I see that please? sounds very nice!

salmonslayer · #18 04/07/12, 04:08 PM

Lots of good ideas thanks; we arent wedded to chain link (even less so now!) and we are taking a step back and re-thinking. We do want this to look nice since its basically surrounding our front yard but I like some of the wooden fence ideas. I dont know why but chain link intimidates me when it comes to installing it even though we have done all manner of other fences with no problem. We dont even have a problem going with older used fencing material if we did chain link since we like an older look but so much of what was available (of just about any steele or metal) has gone to scrap around here.

BakerBen · #19 04/07/12, 04:37 PM

wow, i built a white picket fence for my wife. 40 feet long with gate for about $100(took a day). i bought 6 ft pickets from home depot and had them cut in half, 2x2s for the posts and some 8ft furriers to drill the pickets onto. If youre handy at all, you may take a long weekend and throw one together on your own. Granted, I used wood, not sure if youre sold on chain link

Haven · #20 04/07/12, 06:03 PM

I had chain link installed and they told me there were different guages of wire - Did you check the guage vs price?

And yea the price is high. This professional fence company sent two young guys to install it (barely out of high school); he probably paid them 8 bucks an hour and they were done fast.