Fence opinions please (Bedford, Howe: buy, costs, vs)

[ModernHomeNow]

We want board on board, cedar, 8' tall, w/ metal posts. We just had a bid at $25/sf. Fair price? Should the price per sf decrease with the total sf installed? Id like an opinion on 130' 160' sf bids. Also, is it more to install the fence horizontally?

Thanks in advance

[jhilde101]

we got a 7ft board on board fence with metal posts 120ft for $14 lf.
HOWEVER, I would not hire nor recommend the guy who did it, so I guess you get what you pay for??

The only thing I liked about him was that he did not make me pay until he was done, and I was happy, so it is partly my fault. I wish that I would have double checked his work with a magnifinig glass. lol

[derekv]

$20-$25 a linear foot is pretty average, plus $150 for each gate. I've been bidding out the same type of fence, with a rot board footer and trimmed at the top. Most places wanted to use a 10' steel post. The cheapest bid at $20 used a 12' steel post. With the kind of winds I get at my place, 12' seemed worth it.

[loves2read]

ask what they are using for the stringers--the horizontal pieces--
some people will try to slip in pine vs cedar--and the stringers catch lot of moisture and play from wind/flex--so it is worth it to get cedar
and what kind of nails--make sure they are using good quality nails

consider that while the builders might get break on price of materials the more they buy for bigger fences--their time increases and that is probably half or more the cost of the fence

they will also probably need a permit to build it--in my town of Bedford you do--and that costs $25 or so and they have to show a survey with the application--so do you have a good survey/map

[SouthernBelleInUtah]

Also, 3 horizontal boards are stronger than just 2 (one about 4 ft. up the fence height). More wind resistant.