Dallas Fence Prices and Considerations
Sep 06, 2016
Dallas Fence Pricing
Maybe you want a fence to make yourself a good neighbor. Or you’d like privacy. Or to keep your children or your dog on your own property. Or other people’s children and dogs out of your yard. Or you just want to beautify your landscape. A good fence accomplishes all those purposes. There’s nothing like it for giving you the wonderful feeling of living in your own private world, in your own castle.
This article aims to help you decide what type of fencing best suits your needs, and to make a reasonable, ball-park estimate of the cost to help you to discuss your project with contractors. Of course, you must obtain the exact estimate from your contractor, and that will vary with the fence materials, the fence’s height, the size and the time of year (fall and winter are less expensive seasons than spring and summer), job complexity such as trees and pre-existing structures and the ground’s grading and condition. The more work the contractor must perform, the more they must charge you.
Nationally, the cost ranges from $1,500 to $6,000 total for new residential fences with an average of $2,550. However, that varies by region. This article is for home owners seeking fence prices in the Dallas/Ft. Worth area, where with a large yard the average runs $3,000 to $6,000.
Pricing Residential Fences
Most contractors quote by the cost per linear foot. That includes all materials and labor.
Therefore, decide exactly where you wish to place your fence. In both the front and back yards? Right on your property line or inside it? Are you certain where the property line separating your yards from your neighbors runs? Refer to your property’s survey and legal description for the precise dimensions.
On average, wood is the most affordable fencing material, wrought iron the most expensive.
Gates cost, on average, $40-$80 per gate.
Height of Residential Fence
Most residential fences are 4 or 6 feet tall. 4 feet makes a nice decorative fence, but is not private or secure. It will hold in most small children, but not dogs. Check with your local building codes:Dallas: The city requires a building permit to erect a fence or wall over 4 feet high in your front yard or over 6 feet high anywhere else on your property. Other considerations apply if your house is in a Planned Development District, Historic District or Conservation District. Get more details here.
Ft. Worth: Fences in the front yard cannot go over 4 feet high. They must have an open design with 50% density. Ft. Worth prohibits chain link fences for front yards. If you live in a historical area, your fence may need additional approval. Other fencing requires a building permit if it’s a solid fence above 6 feet or an open fence above 8 feet. Check at City Hall.
If necessary, check with your local homeowner’s association to learn whether any other restrictions apply to your house.
Wood Fence
Wood is the most traditional material for fences between houses, and still the most common. You can choose from:
- Pine
- Cedar
- Spruce
- Redwood
- Other woods
that resist water
Wood is one of the most versatile fencing materials because there are so many designs to choose from. You can choose a short, decorative white picket fence or create an elaborate, enclosed wall that gives you complete backyard privacy and security. It requires more maintenance than other types, needing a new stain or coat of paint every 3 to 6 years.
Cost: $9 to $23 per square foot
Chain Link Fence
Fences made from chain link are common, and durable. They’re great at keeping pets and small children inside your yard. They mark off your property lines and last a long time. However, many consider them the least attractive type, and do not provide visual privacy.
Cost: $8 per square foot
Vinyl Fence
Vinyl fencing is lightweight. However, some consider it unattractive, especially when it looks like plastic, though some resembles wood. It’s not good for security purposes because home invaders can easily cut through it. It is good for privacy when you choose a style that blocks your yard from outside views. Labor makes up around 20% to 30% of the total cost.
Cost: $20 to $24 per square foot
Aluminum Fence
Aluminum fencing is a lightweight version of wrought iron. It’s attractive and durable, and good for keeping in large pets and children, but doesn’t keep out determined burglars. Also, the spacing does not provide you with privacy.
Cost: $20 to $30 per square foot
Wrought Iron Fence
Traditional, attractive and strong, wrought iron adds great value to your property. You customize the design to keep pets and children in. And because it’s so sturdy, it’s good at providing security, protecting your home from burglars and your garden from deer. However, outsiders can see into your yard, so it’s not strong on privacy. It’s also the most expensive form of fencing material.
It’s also the most challenging type of fence to install, especially when you must incorporate masonry walls or other structures. Labor costs run around 20% to 25% of the total.
Cost: $24 to $100 per square foot
Other Considerations for Custom Fences
You may need to ask your local electric, gas and water companies to run lines under your fencing. Make sure your contractor handles that for you.
If the ground is uneven, that requires more work, raising your project cost. So do rocky, wet and clay soils.
Consider how a fence affects your property value. An attractive, secure and durable fence generally adds to your property’s marketability, but if you’re the only house in the neighborhood with a fence, that might lower its resale. You wish your fence to blend in as much as possible with the other fences.
Fall is a great time to put in a new fence, so you and your family will enjoy your new yard when spring comes. Contact us now for a free estimate.
