When you’re lucky enough to own a house with a lot of land, a garden fence comes in very handy. The 1st benefit is to delimit the contours of the garden and also of the property, and to do so permanently. If you’ve got a green thumb and like to grow all kinds of fruit and vegetables, it’s also peace of mind that various animals won’t come to help themselves at night and devastate all your hard work. How much does a garden fence cost? A number of parameters need to be taken into account to arrive at an overall price, and one of the most important concerns the material chosen.
As with gates, fencing materials are numerous, and even more so. Consider the aesthetics of your home in your choice of fencing, not just the price. Here’s what you need to know:
Stone garden fencing: the oldest model
The oldest traditional method involves laying stones one on top of the other, embedding them as closely as possible to keep the spaces between them as small as possible. This method is time-consuming and therefore costly if you call in a craftsman. Alternatively, you can use uniform stones cut like cinder blocks. One thing’s for sure: your garden fence will still be solid in a few decades’ time. For greater speed, and therefore lower cost, your craftsman can use the “enrochement” technique: the stones are stacked in a metal cage that resembles a wire mesh. Bear in mind that a stone fence is relatively expensive, costing between 150 and 300 euros per linear metre. But this may be required by the local authority in which you’re planning the work.
Wooden garden fencing: a natural, ecological style
As with stone, we’re talking about a material that’s been in use for ages. And it has to be said that wooden fencing has a charm all of its own, in addition to its ecological virtues. The range is vast, and many types of wood are permissible. However, particular attention must be paid to the maintenance required to keep the wood in good condition against both summer and winter attacks, not forgetting rain. The least expensive woods include fir and pine, followed by exotic woods such as teak and sapphire, which are more resistant. Then there are the more expensive woods such as oak and chestnut, renowned for their robustness. Depending on the wood chosen, the budget required is estimated at between €50 and €150 per linear metre.
PVC garden fencing: an unbeatable price
Long decried for its non-existent aesthetic qualities, fence manufacturers have made serious efforts to make PVC more attractive to the eye. In fact, it’s now possible to choose a color other than white. The palette is so broad that other materials such as wood and concrete can be imitated. After its attractive price, except for top-of-the-range models that come close to noble materials in terms of budget, PVC is prized for its resistance to all climates. It must, however, be treated to avoid yellowing under the effects of ultra-violet rays. Estimated budget: between 40 and 100 euros per linear metre.
Aluminum garden fencing: contemporary styling
Aluminum fencing models require a relatively high budget. If you like a contemporary, modern style that matches the aesthetics of your home and outdoor décor, this is a very interesting material. In fact, like PVC, it’s highly resistant and requires no maintenance. Likewise, it’s available in a wide range of colors, some of which imitate other materials perfectly. While aluminum is resistant to temperature variations and maintenance-free, especially when powder-coated, it is relatively fragile to impact. It therefore deforms more easily. Price: between 150 and 300 euros per linear metre.
Wrought-iron garden fencing: a traditional, retro look
Wrought iron is by definition expensive, unless you opt for a soulless industrial fence. A fence featuring arabesques and scrolls is unrivalled for creating a typical 1950s atmosphere. It blends perfectly with nature, but also with concrete and wood. High-quality, it nevertheless requires maintenance every 4 years or so. An anti-rust treatment, after cleaning with an iron brush, will enable it to remain in its original state for countless decades. Prices start at 150 euros per linear metre for factory-built models, rising to 800 euros per linear metre depending on the degree of customization required.
Concrete garden fencing: sturdy and affordable
Concrete itself doesn’t cost much. It’s the materials needed to pour it, and the labor involved, that add significantly to the price. Concrete fences can be built in a number of different ways: using prefabricated breeze-block blocks, or by pouring into a formwork. You need to be ingenious if you want this material to blend in with the overall garden landscape. To achieve this, you can have fun painting it, creating a shadow effect for example, with colors close to green to harmonize it with the planting. Climbing plants are also welcome. Water-repellent, it resists humidity without deteriorating. Depending on the work you intend to do yourself or through a craftsman, expect to pay between €15 and €100 per linear metre.
Wire garden fencing: the most economical choice
If you simply wish to delimit your garden without paying attention to the aesthetics it provides, galvanized steel fencing in roll form is sufficient. For a superior finish and greater strength, choose rigid fencing in panel form. Flexible mesh is sold at an average price of 10 euros per linear meter. Rigid mesh, on the other hand, generally costs between 2 and 40 euros per linear meter.
Whatever type of material you choose for your garden fence, always ask for 3 quotes from 3 craftsmen!
How do I install a wooden garden fence?
Among the different choices of garden fencing, if you’ve opted for wood, call on professionals like Bois Expo, the expert in wooden garden fencing. If you’re a do-it-yourselfer, you can choose to install your garden fence yourself. Here are the steps to follow:
- Choose the type of wooden fence you prefer: rattan, slatted, planked or solid panel. Also choose the type of wood you prefer. You can either build your fence with salvaged or purchased materials. To save time, opt for an easy-to-install kit fence.
- Delineate the position of the fence : use a string to mark the positions of each post, then dig a hole at each location. Place gravel in the hole.
- Fix the posts: place each post in a hole. You can stabilize the posts by placing stones around them. Check that all the posts are the same size.
- Seal the posts: do this by pouring a mixture of cement and sand into the sealing holes.
- Screwthe panels, battens or crosspieces in place. You’ll need to wait for the concrete to dry before carrying out this last task.
