Since we have a couple of hounds who we need to keep in our back yard we need about 500 ft of 5ft tall fencing. Does anyone have any idea of the relative installed costs of chain link vs wooden fencing?

My Home Reference book (2002 edition) quotes C$16-50 per linear foot for wood and C$7-12 for chain link. The dollars have probably changed but it's pretty obvious that chain is way cheaper.

This should help to give you a ballpark idea of the relative costs.

Thanks

Unfortunately we are not allowed to put up a chain link fence it has to be wooden, we have had a few prices up to now, and for about 250ft of 6ft fence it is going to cost us between $5000 and $7000!! Very expensive we thought but its gotta be done!!

If you have neighbours with whom you will share one or two sides of your fence, you could ask them to split the cost of the fence that you share in common.

In the summer of 2006, we had the fence on one side of our back yard replaced, and we shared the cost with our neighbour.

You could do it yourself? It isn't hard. You can hire an auger for a day, if you want concrete foundations for the posts. Once the posts are in it's easy. You don't always need concrete. You can use adjustable steel spikes. You whack them approximately vertically into the ground (about 3 feet deep) and then adjust the top to get the post vertical (it's a ball joint arrangement).

I tried that once. The chiropractic bills dwarfed the cost of the fence.

We have a sturdy teenage boy. He's not on union rates and likes hitting things hard.

If you want some help put on a BBQ and I'm sure there'd be a few of us who'd pitch in - saving the labour costs would make a difference?

That'll teach you to choose the larger lot !

(Wooden fencing looks way superior, BTW !! Very British, and you'd be called snobs by your neighbours for opting for the 'privacy' fencing ! ) How about mix'n'match - go for wood nearer the house and your immediate deck/patio private bit and then switch to chain link when it doesn't matter so much ? The dogs won't mind ...

We eventually plan to fence in the rear half of our acre lot and are going to do just that combination of wooden fencing where you can see it and chainlink down the back where you can't! Quote IIRC for ohhh, probably 200ft wooden and 300ft chainlink was around $6.5k.

DIY is not an option as our land is basically rock and fill and there is no way I'm trying to dig bloody holes in it. The chap who will do it will use a mini digger.

AX

No need. The sturdy boy has lots of sturdy mates. Many of them seem to have most of their meals here. They owe us.

Plus, I am the only parent who knows what really went on at that party I allowed when Souvette was away The blackmail opportunities are endless.

In these circumstances do you think it wise to provide sturdy lad with a sledgehammer and a big hole in the ground?