A quotation should say whether removing and disposing of the old fence is included.
Post choice, ground conditions and access affect the labour as well as the materials.
A matching gate needs its own opening, posts, hinges and latch specified.
The short answer
There is no reliable single price for replacing a garden fence without seeing the boundary. The length matters, but so do the condition of the existing posts, how the site can be reached, whether a gate is needed and what is under the ground. A straight run with clear access is a different task from a narrow side passage with old concrete footings at every post position. Ask for an itemised description of the finished fence rather than comparing a bare headline figure.
Foundation offers fencing as part of its garden and landscaping work. For a quote, describe the length and approximate height, send photos of both sides where possible, and explain what is currently there. Craig can then assess the work on site and agree what is included before it starts.
Removing what is already there
Replacement is not just putting new panels where old ones stood. Rotten rails, broken posts, loose fixings and buried footings have to be dealt with first. If the old line has shifted over time, copying its shape without checking the boundary may leave the new fence visibly crooked. Old timber and rubble also need somewhere to go, and taking them away is work that should be stated in the quotation.
If only one bay has failed, ask whether a local repair is sensible. A sound run might accept one replacement section. If several posts are moving or the bottom of every board is soft, patching one bay can leave the underlying problem untouched. A site visit helps distinguish a useful repair from a false economy.
Length, height and layout
More metres normally mean more materials and more post holes, but layout makes a difference. A long straight run is simpler to set out than one that turns around a shed, changes level or meets walls at awkward angles. A taller screen needs an appropriate structure for its exposed area; simply fitting a taller panel to unsuitable posts is not the same job.
A stepped fence on a slope has a different appearance from a fence that follows the fall of the ground. Agree which finish you expect before work begins. Check the height against local planning rules as well, particularly beside a highway, and agree the measurement point if ground levels differ on either side.
Panels, feather-edge boards and other styles
Ready-made panels can make for a clear specification and a repeatable look, provided the posts and fixing method suit the site. Feather-edge, often called closeboard-style fencing, uses overlapping vertical boards on horizontal rails. It can be useful where a continuous privacy screen is wanted or where the boundary length does not divide neatly into standard panels. Picket fencing has gaps and usually makes a visual boundary rather than a privacy screen. Post-and-rail leaves the view open and is normally chosen for a different kind of boundary altogether.
Material descriptions matter. Ask what the quotation means by timber, how the boards and rails are supported and what sits at ground level. Two quotes labelled 'timber fence' can describe noticeably different finished structures.
Posts and gravel boards
Posts carry the load, so the choice between timber and concrete affects both the installation and the appearance. Timber posts can give an all-wood look, but prolonged wet contact at the base needs attention. Concrete posts are heavier and look different, yet are commonly paired with timber infill where a robust, replaceable frame is wanted. Neither is automatically the right answer for every garden; access, ground and the owner's preferred finish decide.
A gravel board fills the gap beneath the main fencing and helps keep boards away from soil splash and direct ground contact. Timber and concrete versions differ in appearance and handling. If a bed or lawn is being raised beside the fence, say so before posts are set: burying the bottom of the finished boards changes how they weather.
Ground and access
Post holes in open soil are not the same as holes through old concrete, tree roots or compacted ground. Buried services, drainage and foundations close to the line need checking before digging. A sloping garden can also require adjustments at each bay rather than a uniform installation. These are reasons to inspect the boundary instead of promising a fixed price from a single photograph.
Access affects how posts, boards and waste travel in and out. A side gate wide enough for materials is different from carrying everything through a house or a shared passage. Tell the contractor about steps, tight turns, parking limits and anything delicate along the route so the quotation covers the real job.
What a garden gate adds
A gate is more than a gap left in the fence. It needs a clear opening, adequately supported posts, correctly placed hinges and a latch that works from the side you need. The finished width should suit what actually goes through it, whether that is a wheelie bin, mower or everyday foot traffic. On uneven ground the clearance beneath the gate needs thought too, or it may catch as it swings.
Craig's own fencing photograph shows a matching timber gate with a ring latch set into a feather-edge fence above concrete gravel boards. It is a useful example of how the gate and fence can read as one boundary, but the details for your garden should be agreed to suit your access.
How to compare two quotations
Check the proposed line, overall height, fence style, post material, gravel boards and gate hardware. Then look for removal of the old fence, disposal, reinstatement around post holes and the final tidy-up. A lower quote that excludes old footings or waste is not directly comparable with one that includes them. Ask what happens if unexpected buried obstructions are found and how any change would be agreed.
Photos, rough measurements and your preferred finish make the first conversation more useful. The final decision should be based on an actual assessment of the boundary, not an invented national average or a price that ignores what is already in the ground.
