Here we’re going to analyse the costs of wooden fence panels as compared to more long term solutions. We’re working on the basis of 70ft of fencing, at 6ft high. This means that for standard wooden fencing, 12 panels x 6ft wide are required, or 9 ColourFence Panels (as they are 8ft wide).
Wooden fencing may seem like an economical option, but could be much more expensive in the long run compared to higher quality (but more expensive) options. This is a debate that continues in fashion (cost per wear), electronics and housing.
These are just material costs; we have excluded labour costs for the purposes of this comparison, as some people will install their own fencing and some will hire fitters – whose rates may vary.
The wooden fencing and treatments are hardware own brand – branded treatments such as Cuprinol or Ronseal may be significantly more expensive. The metal fencing posited is made from Colorbond steel.
Initial Cost & Replacements
This is how much the fencing will cost you overall, including initial fencing, installation, and any necessary replacements. A wooden fence is a cheaper option initially, but will require replacing at least every 10 years, potentially more often if you live on the coast or in a windswept area. The overall cost is roughly the same, but the wooden fence will need replacing 3 times – while a metal fence will last 25 years without needing replacement or costly maintenance.
Wooden Fencing Cost:
Initial Cost: 12 panels x £34 = £408, 13 posts = £299, 13 Post caps x £45.50, Total £752, Replacements: 3
Total Cost: £2256
Steel Fence by ColourFence Cost:
Initial Cost: 9 Panels x £108.33, £975, Replacements: 0
Total Cost: £975
Cleaning
Timber, while it is a great material, is prone to rot and mildew when kept outside due to it’s exposure to moisture. As a result it requires a thorough clean with a fungicidal wash every two years, preferably 24 hours before applying a sealant. Metal fencing can be cleaned by hosing it down with water, making it lower maintenance and easier to keep clean. Pressure washers can be harsh on metal, so plain water is better, with a little detergent if necessary.
Wooden Fencing Cost:
£32 fungicidal wash every 2 years
Total £400
Steel Fence by ColourFence Cost:
£1 detergent, £5 metered water every 2 years
Total £75
Sealing / Staining / Painting
To help keep wooden fence panels water resistant, you’ll need to apply a wood treatment / sealant every two years. This is ideally applied 24 hours after a fungicidal wash is used to remove any mould. Metal fences do not need to be sealed or polished, due to their anti-corrosion base and powdered steel coating. (can you talk about painting too, as im sure theres many people who just paint the fence (sealing a fence seems to be done in many ways, i,e paint, stain or other sealant, so it would be good to include these)
Wooden Fencing:
£30 Wood Sealant every 2 years
Total £375
Steel Fence by ColourFence:
Total £0
Pest Control
Pest control is an important job for any keen gardener and homeowner. Dealing with ‘woodworm’ (a generic name for a variety of wood boring insects) is an extra expense that comes with timber fencing. The death watch beetle tends to favour oak, while the powder post beetle focuses on hardwoods. The furniture beetle is less discriminating and will lay their eggs in any kind of wood. Metal fences are not susceptible to beetles in the same way.
Wooden Fencing:
£45 woodworm treatment as needed.
Steel Fence by ColourFence:
£0 – None Required
Conclusion
Quotation Check .com also analysed the cost of a wooden fence, based on location, and the following factors:
- 6ft high panels
- Concrete posts
- Concrete gravel boards
- Good access to rear garden
- Removal and disposal of old panels/posts and small amount of garden waste
They also included labour costs in their analysis; factored into the cost of the replacements you’d have to purchase every ten years, ColourFence becomes even more economical.
Lap Panels:
Closeboard:
It’s also worth remembering that the posts could be extra, and that wooden and concrete posts have their own weaknesses.
So overall, wooden fencing will cost you £2320 over it’s lifetime – compared to £1050 for metal fencing. And that’s without factoring in labour costs (which as above, can vary wildly) and
That’s a total saving of £1270 – not to mention the time saved!
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