Close board fencing price

We currently charge £80 per meter for close board fencing, we use 4" posts spaced at 1.8m centres, blocks of 4x2 on the posts to take the 6" gravel boards which are 3.6 meters, fixed with two 120mm screws every 1.8m a inch off the ground.
We then find the lowest point of the gravel board run and measure up 1.8m to fix our top rail, then run the top rail in using a laser to ensure its level.
We use 3.6m lengths of tanalised 4x2 rails fixed every 1.8m with two 120mm screws to each post. We then run another rail just above our gavel board and then one half way up, we stager the centre rail to have joints different to the top and bottom rails. We then cut our posts to the height of the top rail and fix the feather edge boards using hammer and nails, then run a circular saw along the top rail to cut the feather edge to the right height. Finally finished with capping.

This price has never been a issue with my customers, but I am pricing a job for a caravan park and there is around 300 meters, the fence runs range from 2 meters to 17 meters over twenty different size runs. I am pricing against two other fencing contractors and would really like to get the job, but don't know what price I should be quoting.

Thanks for your help

Replies

Thermo November 3, 2014 at 8:20pm

always a difficult one, but you obviously price it up at that rate normally for a reason with regards costs, labour, profit etc. I would price it at normal rate and then take a view on if you wish to discount it for the bulk factor etc. It may be worth a covering letter stating that you are happy to consider price matching on same spec etc. Its not always about the price

About time you bought a coil nailer as well, especially for that length! :)
Gareth Morris November 3, 2014 at 8:29pm

Thanks, what price do you charge? I have been thinking about a nailer, do they do them with decent size nails as opposed to pins? I have repaired a few fences that looked only a few years old and the boards had warped and pulled out from the pins, I guess the people that did them used pins that were too thin and with small heads on the nails
Thermo November 3, 2014 at 8:35pm

prefer not to discuss prices on open forums but feel free to pm me.

I use a tacwise nailer. takes 51mm collated coil nails, with a 50 litre sealey compressor. whole lot with a decent bostich air hose on a reel is about £400-£500. To me its a no brainer. I can board up a 3m bay in about 1/3 rd the time with a hammer and nails.
Fenland Fencing November 3, 2014 at 8:36pm

300m is a decent run.

Our normal 6ft close board price is around £32 - £35m +vat. This is based on a different spec to what you have mentioned though (post at 2.4m centres, no capping etc).

I just ran through some back of fag packet calculations and your £80m looks mighty high. I would have thought £42-£45m plus vat would be close for us.

Everyone has their own pricing though so dont believe everything you read...

Interesting that you cut the post tops down to suit
PRO

James Brett November 3, 2014 at 8:38pm

I just hire a paslode with 50mm nails! can fit with large for other things to!!

You would probably use it for other things to so would earn its keep.
Thermo November 3, 2014 at 8:43pm

expensive way of doing it with a paslode though with the nails and the fuel. tried it and converted to the coil nailer. so much quicker
Gareth Morris November 3, 2014 at 8:46pm

I will defiantly invest in a nailer if I get the job, many thanks for the advise on that. Why is it interesting that I cut the post tops to the height of the rails? Am I doing something wrong?
Thanks Gareth
Gareth Morris November 3, 2014 at 9:05pm

Tacwise air nailers range from £200 to £600 on e-bay, can you recommend a model please?
Thanks Gareth
Colin Hunt November 3, 2014 at 9:09pm

Firstly, make sure that you are all quoting from the same spec. Obviously a professional 'fencer' will have all the tools and experience to get the job done in the quickest possible time.

Over the past few years, I have used a fencing company, as we have moved more toward garden maintenance and am amazed how reasonable their prices are compared with what we would have charged. Don't be tempted to drag your price down to compete, you know your working speed, but obviously there will be 'bulk' savings in labour and materials on a job of this size.
Gareth Morris November 3, 2014 at 9:36pm

Thanks Colin, I employ contractors which makes me more expensive than doing the job myself. Looks like I might be a bit too pricy