How to choose a fencing contractor
5 min read · Reviewed 2026-08-21
The questions that separate a real estimate from a number on a text message.
Ask for the specification, not just the price
Two estimates can be hundreds of pounds apart and both be reasonable, because they are for different fences. Ask what the posts are, whether gravel boards are included, whether the timber is pressure treated, how deep the posts go, and whether disposal is included.
Once you have that written down for each estimate, the comparison becomes straightforward.
Questions worth asking
A good contractor will answer all of these without hesitation:
- What exactly is included in the price, itemised?
- Who removes and disposes of the old fence?
- What happens if you find unexpected concrete or services in the ground?
- Are you insured, and for how much?
- What guarantee covers the workmanship?
- Can I see recent local work of this type?
Warning signs
A firm price given over the phone without seeing the boundary. Pressure to pay a large deposit in cash. No written estimate. No fixed address or landline. A estimate that does not mention waste removal at all — that cost has not disappeared, it has just been left out.