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Hiring the right fencing contractor has a significant role in how your new fence looks, how long it lasts, and how smoothly the fencing project runs from estimate to final clean-up. This complete guide explains what professional fencing contractors actually do, which licences and insurances you should check, how to compare quotes beyond price, the installation techniques that matter, and the common pitfalls that lead to future repairs. By the end you will know the factors to consider so you can make an informed decision, get a professional finish, and protect your budget.
What does a fencing contractor actually do vs a handyman or landscaper?
A fencing contractor manages the entire fence installation, including site measure, local regulations, footing design, posts, panels, gates, and final QA, while a handyman or landscaper usually handles small repairs or light installs without engineering or council knowledge.
A professional fence contractor will confirm boundary pegs, assess gradients, mark underground services, and specify post size, gauge and centres to match wind loads and fence height. They sequence deliveries, supervise the crew, and quality check alignment, levels, and fixings. If your job involves security, pool compliance, or tall privacy runs, you want a single accountable business that documents the scope and standards up front. Handy people and landscapers are great for planter screens or short cosmetic sections, but they typically do not bring engineering sign-off, detailed installation warranty terms, or crew capacity for complex sites.
If you want an overview of what a good contractor offers across materials and styles, start with Services.
What licences, insurance and bonding should a fence installer have?
Ask for an ABN, current public liability insurance, and workers compensation where applicable, and do not pay a deposit until you have copies.
For retaining walls, demolition or plant use, request relevant tickets and, where structural components are involved, an engineer’s design or certification. A safety-led company will provide Safe Work Method Statements for higher-risk tasks such as asbestos handling, cutting into masonry, or removing unstable panels. Treat missing paperwork as a major factor in your hiring decision. A good contractor is proud to show they meet industry standards.
How many quotes should I get for a fence project?
Get two to three like-for-like quotes that use the same height, style, post spacing and footing depth, then compare inclusions line by line.
A clean comparison needs consistent specs: length in metres, number and width of gates, rail type, sheet profile, caps, colour, and whether posts are set in soil or anchored to hard stand. Ask every bidder to include site preparation, removal of the existing fence, dump fees, excavation, concrete, clean-up, and written warranty details. Request a line-item estimate so you can see labour costs, materials, and any allowance for rock or machinery. This reduces surprises and helps you choose the right contractor on value, not just the lowest number. If you want a quick budget sense before ringing different contractors, use the Fencing Quote Calculator.
How long does a typical fence installation take?
Straight runs on a clear site often take one to two days after materials arrive, while corner lots, trees, or tight access can add time for stepping, raking and deeper footings.
Lead time is separate from on-site duration. In Perth, summer demand and winter rain both affect scheduling. Rain slows digging and concrete curing. High heat can compress working hours for crew safety. A professional fencing contractor will provide a realistic project timeline with delivery windows, crew start times and contingency plans for wet weather, including how potential delays are communicated. If you have pets or a pool area that must remain secure, agree on temporary barriers or staged works.
Do I need a permit or HOA approval before hiring a contractor?
Check local rules for height, pool fencing, and corner visibility before you pay a deposit, because heritage overlays and estate covenants can limit styles, colours and fence designs.
Even if your dividing fence does not need a formal permit, pool fencing always needs compliant heights, latch heights, gap spacing and non-climb zones. On shared boundaries record neighbour consent for costs and for any height increases in writing. This keeps good neighbours and avoids disputes.
What fence materials last longest?
In suburban WA, Colorbond steel and powder-coated aluminium commonly deliver 20 to 30 years with minimal maintenance, composites resist rot and fade if framed correctly, and timber has a shorter service life in wet or coastal zones without scheduled care.
Choosing the right fence is not just about style. Materials behave differently in wind, sun and salt. Steel panels give excellent privacy and a low maintenance routine that is basically a hose-down. Aluminium excels around pool areas and coastal suburbs because it will not rust. Composite boards are stable and colourfast, but they need correct fixings and spans to avoid flex or rattle. Timber brings warm, classic appeal for the front boundary and garden, but plan for stain or paint cycles to protect against sun and moisture. To understand steel’s advantages in Perth conditions, read Colorbond Fencing Benefits.
Which fences are best for privacy, pets, security or pools?
Privacy needs near-zero gaps, pets and pools need compliant heights and gap spacing with self-latching gates, and security benefits from climb-resistant tubular or slatted designs with stronger posts and footings.
For privacy screens and side yards, solid panels such as steel or composite keep prying eyes out and give a calm outdoor space. For pets safe containment comes from closing dig-out points near the bottom rail and choosing latch heights that defeat clever escapes. Pool fencing is its own category with strict rules. For property security, vertical bars with spear tops and closer post centres remove toe holds without making the house look like a fortress. If you want more detail on compliant layouts and materials, see Pool Fencing.
How do property lines and surveys affect fence placement?
Commission a survey if pegs are missing or the old fence has wandered, keep all footings inside your title, and record any agreement with neighbours when replacing or raising a shared fence.
Do not rely on an existing line if the fence was offset years ago. A fresh survey aligns the installation with the actual boundary so the fence’s durability is not undermined by disputes. Save the survey marks until posts are set, and photograph string lines and peg locations for your records. A written contract should state the assumed boundary and how discoveries on the day, such as a buried retaining edge, will be handled.
What is the difference between posts set in concrete vs gravel?
Concrete provides higher pull-out and lateral resistance for tall privacy panels and windy zones, while compacted gravel drains better on some rural or temporary fences but offers less resistance.
In coastal or exposed areas specify deeper concrete footings, larger posts and closer centres to resist wind load. On clay sites, contractors may use slotted posts or drainage trenches to protect footings from waterlogging. Gravel backfill can be useful for low rural wire fence stretches where quick replacement is expected, but it is not recommended for a solid wall-effect fence in suburbia. Ask each bidder to state footing size, depth and mix in the written contract.
How do slopes and uneven terrain impact installation and cost?
Slopes add time and materials because stepped panels need extra posts and caps, raked panels need custom rails, and level changes near the boundary can require retaining to stop soil push.
Expect additional excavation and concrete on steep or access-poor sites. If the fence must sit above a cut bank or behind a raised garden, there may be a need for engineered retaining so the fence is not doing the job of a wall. When fencing and retaining are designed together, loads are managed properly and the visual line stays consistent. For planning options and material availability for walls that pair neatly with fences, review Retaining Wall Recommendations And Material Options.
What are common add-ons I should plan for?
Most well-built fence projects include gates, latches and locksets, letterboxes, post caps and privacy returns at side entries, with pet-proofing at the bottom rail where required.
If you want driveway gates, plan early for posts, clear opening width, power for motors and controls, and the exact fall across the driveway so swing or sliding options work. Coordinate colours with window frames and gutters to connect architectural elements. Mixed materials are popular in Perth, for example aluminium slats between brick piers, but you need precise details at each junction for a clean result. For matched gate styles and hardware, explore Residential Gates With Your New Fence.
How do weather and seasonality affect scheduling and pricing?
Winter rain slows digging and curing, summer demand stretches lead times, and supply constraints can raise prices, so secure dates with a deposit and confirm rain-day contingencies in writing.
Ask how the company handles potential delays, whether there is a standby day in the project timeline, and how they communicate changes. After storms, many companies prioritise urgent fencing repairs for safety, which can push routine installs. If you have a hard deadline such as settlement, discuss staged works so priority boundaries are installed first. For urgent post-storm fixes or sagging sections on an existing fence installed years ago, contact Fencing Repairs early.
What warranties should I expect?
Separate material warranties from workmanship warranties, insist on written terms that cover coating, corrosion and installation defects, and ask how claims are handled and how long they take.
Manufacturers’ coverage on steel, aluminium or composite surfaces is only valid when installed to specification. Your contractor should provide a written warranty for the workmanship component that states the duration, what is covered, and any maintenance conditions. Keep all paperwork with your house records in case you sell, because buyers and their inspectors may ask for proof that the fence installed meets standards.
What are red flags when talking to fence contractors?
Treat vague quotes, missing insurance evidence, reluctance to provide references, cash-only requests, or pressure to sign before a site measure as red flags.
Also be cautious if the company cannot say who will supervise the job or if they refuse to explain post spacing, footing depth, and the exact material grades. Review websites and online reviews help but also ask for recent past projects similar to yours, then call those past customers for feedback about punctuality, clean-up and responsiveness to small fixes.
How do I compare estimates beyond just price?
Standardise the specification first, then weigh schedule reliability, warranty terms, disposal and clean-up, and finish quality against cost.
A good contractor will happily price the same height, style, gauge, post size, footing depth, caps and gates as competitors so you can compare apples with apples. Once the specs match, look at crew capacity, whether the contractor offers payment plans, and how clearly they explain potential variations such as rock, hidden footings, or extra posts. The cheapest price can cost more if it omits dump fees, leaves you with a pile of spoil, or uses shallow footings that shorten the fence’s durability. To judge workmanship, study close-ups of cap alignment, screw lines, and gate gaps in the Gallery.
How a professional installation protects value
A professional fencing contractor delivers consistent post plumb, straight lines, even panels and correctly hung gates that stay true, which improves street appeal and reduces maintenance.
Quality work shows in the small things. Rails align, caps seat snugly, and fasteners sit flush with no burred paint. Gates close cleanly without dragging. Panels meet at corners without awkward gaps. These details do not just look better for potential buyers, they also reduce noise, rattles and future repairs. When a fence is set out properly, your garden beds fit neatly and the lawn edges are easy to keep tidy.
How to brief contractors so you get accurate quotes
Write project details in one page that lists length, height, material and style, number of gates, colour, post spacing, footing depth, and any obstacles, then send the same brief to every company.
Include photos of the property boundaries, the existing fence if present, and any tight access, trees, pools or hard stand. Note whether you want low maintenance options such as steel or aluminium or a specific aesthetic appeal such as a modern vertical slat look. If timing matters, say so, and ask the contractor to flag material availability and potential delays. A clear brief attracts the right fencing contractors and keeps their estimates aligned.
What should go in the contract before you sign
Your written contract should include scope, materials and grades, installation techniques, project timeline, price and payment schedule, disposal, warranty terms, and the process for variations.
Confirm who supplies what, who supervises, and whether subcontractors are used. Record the fence location relative to the survey line. List the exact colour and profile for steel panels or the species and treatment for timber. State post size, footing size and depth. Name the access path through the property and how garden protection is handled. Agree on start and finish windows, rain protocols, and the clean-up standard. Clear paperwork gives you peace of mind and gives the contractor a fair blueprint for quality work.
Conclusions
Hiring a fencing contractor is simpler when you focus on a few factors that drive outcomes: experience with your chosen material, clear documentation of installation techniques, proof of insurance, realistic scheduling, and transparent line-item quoting. Decide your priorities first, such as privacy, security or low maintenance. Shortlist fencing options that fit your climate and home style. Gather two to three like-for-like quotes from companies that can show past projects and written warranty terms. Standardise the specification so you compare fairly, then choose the professional fence contractor who balances price with skill, communication and accountability.
