Fence Removal Cost

Thinking of giving your garden a fresh look?

Removing that old fence is often where the journey begins. But before diving in, let's talk brass tacks—how much is this going to set you back?

In this handy guide, we're unpacking the nitty-gritty of fence removal costs across the UK. We'll delve into how the type of your fence, its size, and even your garden's layout can sway the price. Whether you're dealing with a cozy wooden picket, a sturdy concrete boundary, or a chic metal divider, we've got the cost breakdown to help you plan.

Plus, we'll toss in some savvy tips for saving a few quid, especially if you're planning to follow up with a brand new fence. Ready to transform your garden without breaking the bank? Let's get into it.

How Much Does Fence Removal Cost?

Taking down an old fence in the UK?

Well, the cost of waving goodbye to your fence varies quite a bit, depending on what type it is, its size, and how tricky it is to remove. If you've got a standard wooden fence, you might be looking at shelling out between £100 to £200 for each panel to get it removed and disposed of properly.

Got a sturdy concrete post fence instead? Those are a bit more of a challenge because of the heavy lifting and breaking up the concrete, so the cost jumps to about £150 to £300 per panel.

If you're dealing with metal fences, like a chain link or an elegant wrought iron, those could set you back £200 to £400 per panel, factoring in the effort to dismantle and the possibility of recycling the metal. Prices can wiggle around depending on how easy it is to get to your fence, whether any special equipment is needed, and where in the UK you are.

A little tip – if you're planning to put up a new fence, ask if there's a deal to be had by bundling the removal with the new installation. Getting a few quotes from local pros can help you find the best deal.

Average Costs of Fence Removal

The figures in the above chart are the average cost of the trades that might take on a fence removal job. After the removal you will need to dispose of it which might add to your budget. There are costs involved in taking your fencing to the tip.

Other ways to dispose of fencing include getting rid of it at a junk yard, giving it away to be reused or hiring a skip or a person with a van.

Average Prices for Fencing Disposal

As you can see from the chart many of the disposal methods will require a quotation or that you contact your Local Authority to find out about charges. Most Local Authorities will have this information available on their websites.

If your wooden fence has been treated, then it might be classed as hazardous waste, which means you may have to take it to a designated tip in your area. If you have a lot of waste, then a person and a van, or hiring a skip may be the easier option.

For fencing that’s in good condition, you might want to think about advertising on websites that sell reclaimed or second-hand materials.

The prices quoted for a skip and a person in a van only include the cost of disposal. You will still have to find someone to remove the old fencing unless you are doing it as a DIY project.

Labour Costs and Timescales

Labour costs and timescales depend on the size of your job and the person you use to do the job. For example, a fence remover may be quicker and more experienced at fence removal than a handy person who doesn’t remove fences that often.

Also, a fencing remover might possibly have a licence to dispose of waste and your local tip and is used to the procedure. This means it will take less time and if you are being charged at an hourly rate then this could influence the cost.

A garden fence might take from an hour to a full day to remove depending on the type of fencing and the size.

You may not have thought of gardeners and builders, but sometimes people in these professions will do a fencing removal job. They might also dispose of it as part of the service. If not, you will have to find a way of disposing of the fencing yourself.

You will not be allowed to fill a garden waste bin with fencing. Garden waste includes twigs and small branches, leaves, plants, and cuttings.

Supply Costs

If you are having the fence replaced with a new one, the cost of removal and disposal of the old one might be included in your new fencing quote or priced reasonably because you are using the company to install new fencing.

We can get you at least 3 quotes from local fence removers. All you need to do is give us your postcode and fill in the short questionnaire on our website.

As you can see from the chart prices for removal start at around £14 per hour but it will depend on the amount of fencing you’ve got and the type of disposal you are using.

Additional Fencing Removal Costs

Removing fence posts may also be necessary if they are damaged. Fence post removal costs can be included in a quote for fencing removal. It might add another hour or two to your quote for fencing removal.

That means you will pay an additional £14 to £50 an hour depending on who you use to remove the fencing and fence posts.

While you are removing your garden fence you might have a look around the garden and decide to do other types of work to spruce up the garden. Here are the average costs of some of the things you may decide to do.

Additional Fencing Removal Costs

Removing fence posts may also be necessary if they are damaged. Fence post removal costs can be included in a quote for fencing removal. It might add another hour or two to your quote for fencing removal.

That means you will pay an additional £14 to £50 an hour depending on who you use to remove the fencing and fence posts.

While you are removing your garden fence you might have a look around the garden and decide to do other types of work to spruce up the garden. Here are the average costs of some of the things you may decide to do.

Build or Fix Garden Steps

If your garden has more than one level it may be a good idea to create some garden steps. The cost will depend on the size and the materials you use. For example, a set of four sandstone steps will cost between £650 and £950.

But if you choose to have limestone steps then you can expect to pay between £900 and £1200. The most cost-effective steps are made from brick. They are usually priced per metre squared. Facing brick steps will cost between £80 and £100 while recycled brick steps are between £20 and £220.

On top of that price, you also have labour. A simple two-step build up to a doorway will take a labourer a day to complete and cost between £150 and £200.

Install Decking

Decking will take approximately 2 days to install at an average cost of £1500. The cost will depend on the type of material you use. PVC decking is the most cost-effective option and will cost between £800 and £2800.

The most expensive option is IPE decking made from Brazilian hardwood. This type of decking will cost you between £2410 and £9040. Labour costs are between £20 and £50 per square metre.

Build a Shed

The average cost of a 6ft x 4ft wooden shed on a concrete slab will be around £700. The timber will be your biggest expense at around £500. It should take around a day to complete the shed. An installer will charge between £160 and £200 a day for labour.

Tidying up the Garden

Gardeners usually charge between £14 and £25 an hour. If you want them to do a whole day for you in the garden, you should budget between £112 and £200. You can ask them to tidy up by weeding and cutting back plants and bushes. Gardeners will also cut grass and put in new plants.

Here are some average prices of the typical tradesperson you may need:

The one thing that influences prices for household projects is where you live. For example, prices are higher in London and the South East of England.

Installing New Fencing

The average cost to install new fencing is around £1000. The cheapest type of fencing is a chain link fence. The most expensive material is metal. To provide privacy in a back garden many householders choose wood or uPVC panels.

Wooden Fencing

Wooden fencing is a popular choice because it is long-lasting and cost-effective. There are a wide range of styles to choose from. Those who want privacy can use fencing panels up to 6 feet tall. Picket fencing is an attractive way to separate garden space without any loss of light or space.

If you do want privacy, then a 6ft high wooden fence is a good choice. The cost of wooden fencing depends on the style. Picket fencing is the cheapest. A picket fence that’s 36 ft by 3ft in height, will cost between £550 and £700.

If you want 6ft tall and 6ft wide fence panels in a traditional style, then you can expect to pay between £600 and £750 with timber fence posts. Venetian or slatted fencing is more expensive, this will cost between £900 and £1100.

Wooden fencing should also be treated with a wood preserver and sealer every 2 to 3 years. The cost of a 5-litre tin of wood preserver will cost around £35 and sealer will be approximately £27.00.

Metal Fencing

You will often see metal fencing in front gardens. It is often used to separate the front garden from the street and is found on top of a small wall. It’s an attractive and practical use of metal fencing.

Wrought iron is the most expensive metal you can buy. It is not mass-produced so you would normally need a quote as every fence is tailor-made with a design and size of your choosing. You can expect to pay approximately between £65 and £300 per foot.

Aluminium fence panels provide privacy in back and front gardens. Although this type of fencing isn’t the cheapest, it is strong and durable and usually comes with a guarantee of between 20 and 25 years. Budget for between £50 and £100 per foot.

Steel is a cost-effective material to use if you want the wrought iron ‘look.’ The cost of steel fencing is between £22 and £75 per foot.

Chain Link Fencing

Chain link fencing is a cheap fencing option. It doesn’t give you privacy, but it is a good way to separate your garden from your neighbour without an expensive price tag. Chain link fencing comes in galvanised steel or PVC coating. A 10-metre roll with a height of 90cm is around £60 to £70.00.

uPVC & Composite Fencing

uPVC fencing is supplied in panels which click together for easy installation. If you don’t want a fence that needs a lot of maintenance, then Upvc is a good choice. A 6ft by 3ft panel will cost between £40 and £50.00.

Cost Factors of Removing a Fence

If you want to save labour costs, then you can remove and dispose of the fencing yourself as a DIY project. This means you need to be able to fit the fencing in your vehicle or make numerous visits to the tip.

In a DIY situation, you will be paying for petrol to and from the tip and any charges they make for the disposal.

You can see the charges on your Local Authority’s website. Items that don’t fit into bags like fencing might be charged per panel at something like £2 to £4.00. Some authorities charge per car load at around £50.00.

Types of Garden Fencing and Removal Costs

The type of garden fence you have will determine the cost of removal and disposal. For example, Metal might cost more because if it is a large piece of fencing it will need more than one person to remove it. But it won’t cost anything to dispose of and you might even make money if you sell it online.

Wood, uPVC, and Chain link fencing can all be removed fairly easily.

The average garden fence of around 36ft will take a few hours to remove. As you have seen from the list of labour costs prices start at £14 an hour and go up to around £35.00. You should be able to get rid of fencing at the tip.

As fencing is classed as non-household waste there will likely be a charge for disposal. If you were charged around £2.00 for a 6ft by 6ft fencing panel and you have 5 to dispose of then the charges at the tip will be £10. If you have a van then you can take them to the tip yourself, otherwise, it might be easier and cheaper to hire someone to take the fencing away or hire a skip.

A person and a van service will cost between £35 and £80 for an hour’s work. A skip will cost between £120 and £370, but it might be worth the cost if you are having other jobs done that will create rubbish for disposal.

Removing Fence Panels

To remove a wooden fence, you will need the following:

• Crowbar
• Hacksaw
• Pliers
• Spade for digging
• Hammer
• Protective gloves

Use the crowbar to remove the fence panel from the post. Next, take a hacksaw and saw through the nails after which you should pull them out of the wood using pliers.

Pull the fence panels out one by one and lay them on the ground ready for disposal.

Removing Other Fence Types

To remove a chain link fence, you need to remove the clamps that hold the material to the post. You do this by undoing the nuts and bolts. Then you should remove the tension bar and cut the fence ties. Lay the chain link fencing on the ground and roll it up for disposal.

Metal fencing is heavy to handle so its removal may take more than one person unless it’s a small piece of fencing. Basically, the metal needs to be removed from the brickwork or concrete by removing any screws and then prising it out using a metal bar.

Fence Post Removal

The main fence post removal tool you will need is a spade Fence Posts in bad condition should be removed and disposed of along with old fencing. If they are already loose, then rocking them back and forth should release them fairly easily.

If they are held in with concrete, you will need to break the concrete and dig out the excavation.

Building Regulations and Planning Permission

Planning Permission

You don’t need planning permission to remove and dispose of an old fence. You can also replace an existing fence at the same length and width. But there are certain conditions if you are installing a new fence in a new location:

• If the fence is next to the road used by vehicles, the fence can’t be more than one metre high.
• If the fence isn’t next to a road used by vehicles, it can be up to 2 metres high.
• You will need planning permission if you live in a listed property or one that is in a conservation area.

Building Regulations

Removing a fence doesn’t require any building regulation permission. You should however make sure the fence is yours before removal You should though inform your neighbour if you are mending a fence on a boundary wall.

Checklist for Hiring a Garden Fence Remover

We can help you to find a fence removal contractor. All you need to do is fill in your postcode and answer a few questions about the job.

Always have a quick chat with the contractors that give you quotes and ask them these recommended questions to help you make the right choice. Compare each quote for specifications about the job and price. Three quotes will help you compare prices and choose the contractor that suits you best.

Recommended Questions to ask a contractor:

• Firstly, find out how long they have been in the trade. This will tell you how experienced they are at the job. It could be that a contractor is fairly new to the job and this might mean a cheaper price. Just make sure they have the right training and qualifications.
• Next, see if they have a website. It’s not the most important thing to have, but it does mean you can browse around the website and see what they say about their service. They might also have feedback from previous customers or photographs from previous jobs.
• Another question to ask is about the duration of the job and whether they can make an immediate start. It may be that you are not in a hurry and can wait a while if they are super busy. Or you might prefer to hire someone who can get on with the job sooner rather than later.
• Your final question should be about insurance. Make sure the contractor has the appropriate insurance in place in case of an accident or injury while they are working on your property.

FAQs