Labor cost for a hand built privacy fence?

[GoodSteward]

I am looking at putting up a privacy fence. My two neighbors that border my back yard have them, so it's just a matter of coming off theirs and attaching to my house. I have about 200 ft of fence that needs to go up. However, I do not want that cheap premade panel stuff, because over the years it twists and warps and the wood slats start to come off because they use staples and not screws. I'm looking at copying what one of my neighbors did using decking boards as the slats, and making it 7ft tall.

I am strongly considering doing it myself, but what kind of labor prices would be fair? My dad is the GM of a building supply store, so I get material a lot cheaper. I was quoted about 1700$ for the lumber and nails. Still need a few things and the hardware for my two gates I'll need. When I finished my office building I couldn't stomach the price of labor they wanted. It was going to cost me thousands just to finish the outside. I ended up buying a few power tools and just grabbed a friend and did it myself. However, my wife is due next week and I know with a new baby I won't really have much free time outside to work on this.

I always go back and forth. I shouldn't expect a man to work for me for what I wouldn't want to work for, but at the same time I hate paying for something I know I could do myself.

[bigdaddybus]

labor varies widely by region, and 7ft is pretty high and will require a more substantial build.

I would guess the following labor costs.
in a low COLA you might get it done for $1250
Average around $1600
High area around $2500

if you want decorative work, multiple gates, etc. add between 10-25% to the above numbers

[james.hendrickson]

Goodsteward,

I don't know if this helps, but one way to approach how much you want to pay is to figure out about how much a skilled carpenter makes on an annual basis.

Lets just say $40,000 for arguments sake. Then what you do is divide the annual salary by the number of hours in a typical working year, so about 2080. That gives you the hourly rate.

So in this case it would be $40,000/2,080 or $19.23.

That is one way to get to an hourly figure.

You could also just hire a contractor to do it, they might charge more but you'd have reduced project management responsibilities. They may also have access to better quality or more experienced staff than you could find yourself.

Angieslist is one way to find a contractor, but you probably know a few you could locate based on referral through your personal contacts.

[StormRichards]

If you are confident that you have the skills to do it right and just need labor, then don't go by any rate for skilled labor. You will definitely overpay.

[GoodSteward]

I have several contacts, including the guy that helped me lay my vinyl plank flooring, and another friend that is a retired union electrician and carpenter. The latter might be able to help, but he is out of state and I don't know when he will be free. The former won't be free until Feb or March.

I believe I can do it, but I would rather come home and see it done.

[bjl584]

Material Cost x 3 is a pretty good ballpark of what a contractor will charge for a job.

[StormRichards]

I no longer have the link but prior to putting up a fence we checked out an online fence calculator that broke it down by materials and labor.

[snafu]

Installing an initial, large run, high fence + gates within community code is hard work and more efficient with a crew of 3 with rented equipment. Installing posts with correct spacing, alignment and support, likely determines your long term satisfaction. Do you plan to use the same pickets, rails and post caps already chosen by neighbours for a co-ordinated appearance? You will need to access/learn soil composition of your property to affix posts.

I suggest getting bids from 3 fence contractors for labour only since you have access to discounted materials. Compare that with cost [in your community] of two day labourers with yourself as designer, planner, contractor, delivery of supplies, equipment [power & hand auger, nail gun, paint sprayer, cement mixer], go-for/dogs body & 3rd set of hands during post set level for each cement pour.

With a new baby, it may be a perfect coping outlet project.

[GoodSteward]

Material Cost x 3 is a pretty good ballpark of what a contractor will charge for a job.

Ouch!! No way. I will not drop 6-7grand into a fence. If that is the case I'll end up doing this....

With a new baby, it may be a perfect coping outlet project.

I'm with you on this. I'm leaning more and more this way. Especially based on what prices you guys are saying. The neighbor doesn't have any decoration. the most he did was go back and saw off the top to make it even across the top. I also live right outside the city, so I'm not under city regulations. Same reason why I added that office without a permit. None needed.

[Fishindude77]

I'd guess that to be about a four day job for three guys. 24 man hours per day X 4 days = 96 man hours. $25 - $35 per hour would be a real fair rate for labor and small tools, so I'm guessing $2400 to $3450

[StormRichards]

Not the site I used but here is one that might help you figure out labor for your zip code

http://www.homewyse.com/services/cost_to_install_wood_privacy_fence.html

[snafu]

If you and neighbour split the cost of a paint sprayer, use undercoat [whatever outdoor paint at hand] and share cost of paint, you can get both sides of each of your fences painted in a couple of hours. If you're using decent quality lumber, I suggest using fence caps primarily to protect posts because removing and replacing posts is a ghastly job. Paint is wood protector so important to get good coverage.

[sv2007]

Get 3 estimates from people with good references and go with the cheapest.

[mo0n]

Will you have to put in posts?

[HundredK]

If you have the skills to do it and are willing to put some time in, then why not head down to wherever your day laborers hang out (here it's usually near Home Depot) and hire a few, show them what to do, and let them do the grunt work while you supervise?