Fence Repair Cost

Want to know how much it costs to repair a fence?

When you need quotes for fencing repairs we can connect you with local fencing installers.

How Much Does Fence Repair Cost?

When it comes to mending fences in the UK, the price tag can swing quite a bit, hinging on what’s gone wrong and what your fence is made of. For example, your wooden fence has a couple of planks that have seen better days - you’re likely looking at shelling out something like £100 to £200 to patch it up.

But if we’re talking metal fences, fixing a break might mean parting with £150 to £300. And let’s not forget, if your fence has taken a serious tumble or something a bit more complicated is at play, the costs could leap up to £500 or beyond.

Now, composite or plastic fences are tough cookies, but even they can succumb to the odd crack or fade. Getting them back in tip-top shape might cost you between £100 and £250.

Remember, these figures are ballpark estimates - the actual cost can vary based on where you are, the going rate for materials, and just how easy it is to get to your fence. It’s a good nudge to keep up with fence maintenance, but when repairs are in order, tackling them sooner rather than later can save you from a bigger headache and heftier costs down the line.

Average Fence Prices

Here are the average cost of replacing damaged fencing panels:

Material	Height	Width	Average Cost
Metal (1 Panel)	1.83 metres	914mm	£142.56
Composite (3 Panels)	1.8 metres	183 metres	£860.00
Plastic (rattan weave – 1 Panel)	1 metre	1 metre	£26.00
Wire Mesh	900mm	5 metres	£30.00

Material	Height	Width	Average Cost
Wooden (lap – 1 panel)	1.83 metres	1.22 metres	£30.00
Wooden (picket 1 Panel)	1 metre	1.8 metres	£42.00
Wooden (closeboard 1 panel)	1.52 metres	1.83 metres	£61.00

The prices in the chart above are for the minimum sizes you can normally buy. If you need more fencing, then the cost will rise. If you only need a small quantity to fix a fence, it might be worth looking around at websites that sell reclaimed or second-hand materials.

Labour costs also depend on how much fencing is being replaced. We’ve based our estimations on a simple repair with labour costs between 2 and 3 hours.

Another consideration to add to your budget is the price of posts and gravel boards if they need replacing too.

See the charts below for the average price of posts and gravel boards.

Material	Average cost of posts per post	Average cost of gravel boards per board
Concrete	£15 - £20	£30-£50
Timber	£10 - £15	£10- £30

Labour Costs and Timescales

The labour costs and timescales will depend on what professional you use to repair your fencing. For example, a fencing installer will probably have more experience than say a handyman and take less time to do the job. But a handyman may be cheaper.

The time it takes to complete a garden fence repair will depend on the amount of fencing that needs repair and the type of fencing you own. If you have to repair or replace a piece of chain link fence, then the costs will be considerably lower than if you were to do a wooden fence panel repair. The average cost of a chain link fence is cheap at around £30 whereas a timber panel will cost between £30 and £65.00.

A simple repair might only take between 2 and 3 hours. But if you have to do a fence post repair then you might be looking at half a day or more.

Supply Costs

If you are going to have your fence repaired by a professional, then materials to complete the repair will normally be included in your quote with the addition of the appropriate fencing.

If you want to do the job yourself as a DIY project then you will also have to include the cost of nails, fencing ties (if you have a chain link fence), post clips, wood preserver and garden paint. These costs need to be added to the fencing, gravel boards and posts.

Materials	Average Cost
Nails (10 pack)	£3.00
Fencing ties (pack of 100)	£5.00
Post Clips (pack of 10)	£9.50
Post Caps (pack of 5)	£14
Wood Preserver	£20 (1 litre) £36.00 (5 litres)
Wood Paint	£14 - £30
Concrete 20kg	£8.00

Additional Fencing Repair Costs

While you are repairing your garden fence you might have a look around the garden and decide to do repairs on other things you’ve not had time for or spruce up the garden and add a patio or build a shed. Here are the average costs.

• Cleaning your gutters
• Building a garden wall
• Creating a patio
• Building a shed
• Tidying up the garden
• Painting your home’s exterior

Here are some average prices of the typical tradesperson you may need:

Tradesman	Average Cost Per Hour
Fence Installer	£35 -£55
Guttering Cleaner	£18 -£25
Landscape Gardener	£14 -£25
Bricklayer	£19 -£25
General Labourer	£8- £15
Handyperson	£30 - £40
Painter	£15 - £40

The cost of a tradesperson will depend on what part of the country you come from. London and the South East of England are always more expensive than other parts of the UK.

Cost Factors of Repairing a Fence

If you want to save money on a fencing repair, then you could do the work yourself. You’ll need the right tools and the time to get the job done. A DIY solution means you will save on the cost of labour. Fence installers charge between £35 to £55 an hour, so you might save yourself between £140 and £220 for half a day’s work.

Types of Garden Fencing Repair

You can use a wide variety of fencing materials for your garden fence. Wood is a firm favourite, but householders are also choosing to use chain link fencing, composite fencing, PVC, and metal fencing.

Most fencing is installed in panels and therefore if a panel is damaged it is usually easier to replace the panel. If you have chain link fencing, then you can add a new piece of fencing to the existing fence. Wrought iron fencing, which you often see in front gardens may need to be replaced or can be repaired by welding and shaping a new piece of metal to match the original.

Repairing/Replacing a Wooden Fence

If a fence post is moving, then a repair will be needed to strengthen it and put it back in an upright position. This can be done by digging out the post, renewing the concrete and re-setting the post.

If you have a damaged timber fence panel, then it is usually better to replace the panel with a new one.

Your first job will be to remove the damaged fence. You will need the following tools:

• Digging spade
• Crowbar
• Hacksaw
• Pliers
• Protective gloves
• Hammer

Remove the fence panel from the fence post using a crowbar. Then saw through the nails with a hacksaw and pull them out with pliers.

If you don’t need to renew posts the next step will be to install the new fence panel. Make sure the fence is level and then hammer in the nails to the batten framing.

If the fence panel needs to be smaller than the size you have purchased, you can cut it to size using a saw.

If you are renewing posts, you will also need to insert the posts into the excavated holes. Pour concrete into the hole to secure the post and smooth the concrete at a level which allows any rainwater to drain away.

Building Regulations and Planning Permission

Planning Permission

If you are repairing a fence that is already in place, then you don’t need planning permission. If you are installing a new fence, then there are certain conditions:

• If the location of the fence is next to the road used by vehicles, then the fence can’t be more than one metre high.
• If the fence isn’t next to a road, it can be up to 2 metres high, but no higher than this.
• You are not living in a property that is listed or is located in a conservation area.
• The new fence is replacing an existing fence

Building Regulations

Repairing a fence doesn’t require any building regulation permission. You should though inform your neighbour if you are mending a fence on a boundary wall.

Cleaning and Maintaining Fencing

Any type of fencing should be cleaned regularly to remove dirt and debris.

Wooden Fencing

If you have a wooden fence, you can use a hose to clean it, whilst using a scrubbing brush and some washing-up liquid to get rid of stubborn marks.

Metal Fencing

Use warm soapy water and a cloth to clean a metal fence. Stubborn marks should be removed by using a wire brush. If the fence is rusting remove the rust and treat the metal with a rust protector before repainting it.

uPVC & Composite Fencing

Use a soft cloth and warm, soapy water to clean a uPVC or composite fence. Don’t use any products with bleach in them as this will affect the colour. If you have any stubborn marks use a hard bristle brush. If you use a wire brush, you will scratch the plastic.

Removing Garden Fences

Removing an old wooden garden fence needn’t be a difficult job as long as you have the right tools. When the fencing has been removed, you may need to take the wood to the recycling centre. If you don’t have transport, then you should be able to find a van and driver to do the job. A van and driver may cost on average, between £35 and £90 an hour.

Alternatively, you might have a community recycling centre near you. They will come and collect the wood for a reasonable charge.

If you have a lot of old fencing, you may need to hire a skip. A mini skip will cost between £60 and £250. Mini skips will hold between 30 and 40 bin bags. If you need a larger skip, then expect to pay between £120 and £400.00.

Chain link fencing will need to be cut if a repair is needed. The damaged fence can then be removed by undoing any ties, cutting the damaged fence with pliers, and then laying the old fencing on the floor reading to be rolled and removed.

Metal fencing is heavier to handle in comparison to a wooden or chain link fence. You will need to unfasten any screws and then remove the railings from the concrete either by using a metal bar to prise the fencing loose or by drilling into the concrete.

Checklist for Hiring a Garden Fence Repairer

We can help you to find a fence repair contractor. All you need to do is fill in your postcode and then put the answers to the few questions that we ask about the job you want to do.

When you hear from a local contractor ask them a few questions to help you compare one quote from another.

If you get a least three quotes you can easily compare each one and choose which one suits you best.

These are the questions we recommend you ask:

• Ask the contractor if they have a website. It’s not always necessary, but it does mean you can browse, read the content, and look at any photographs they have of their work. You can also see if they have published any testimonials from previous customers.
• Another question you can ask is how long they have been doing the job. This will give you an idea of how experienced they are. Saying that it is not a bad thing to use a person who has recently left college as long as they have the right qualifications and training.
• Find out too how long the job will take and when the company can make a start. It may be that the contractor has a waiting list, so you might prefer someone who can start immediately.
• Finally, ask about professional insurance. If the contractor has an accident whilst working in your home, you might want to make a claim. If they are insured, you’ll be dealing with the insurance company rather than the contractor. This protects you as the contractor may not have the money to cover the costs you are claiming.

FAQs

Sources

https://www.withamtimber.co.uk/blog/5-ways-to-care-for-wooden-fences
https://junkgarbageremoval.com/remove-wrought-iron-railings/
https://www.beesleyandfildes.co.uk/benefits-of-concrete-gravel-boards-concrete-posts/
https://www.garden-fence-panels.co.uk/fence-calculator/