Fencing contracting

S J H

Member
Livestock Farmer
Location
Bedfordshire
I probably only have 25k in the yard, but then another 25k on jobs recently completed and need paying for.
The price of timber hasn’t helped recently.
I’m still in love with the job, however I’m pretty f#cking sick of some bits of it. People have got used to being able to get materials at the drop of a hat, now you actually need some forward planning and organisation. This isn’t my fault when they ring hoping to have a field fenced next week, your poor organisation is not my problem
A smaller problem that annoys me is how some will have a fence to repair or replace and rather than patch it up for another month until we can come they just keep ringing up to see how we are getting on. They would rather ring me and waste my time than help themselves and claim they are “to busy” you end up working all the hours and doing everything you can to help them and when you get there they are busy cutting there grass or going to market! I haven’t cut my grass for 6 weeks to try to get caught up with jobs!
Yes its taking a lot more time calling around to get gear, can’t see it getting any better for a while yet, thought it had peaked in the spring.
 

Grassman

Member
Location
Derbyshire
My biggest fear too. If you did hit something too it'll all be on your head, no-one else wants to except the blame.
I like to ask the customer by text if there are any pipes, cables or other hazards hidden. Moght not hold up in court but would hopefully put some off trying to pass blame.
 

jellybean

Member
Location
N.Devon
Never give a price for a job. Just give the rate per hour+ materials. Jobs are always different to what the customer thinks.

I disagree with this. When I was virtually full time fencing deer farms I would take a land wheel when I went to quote, walk the line measuring up as I went and marking all strainers and turners on the map. Then I would give the quote. Never ever did I present an invoice that was different from the quoted price. People like to know what the job IS going to cost and it does your reputation no harm when word gets round that you deliver what you say. I did have a clause that allowed for extra for any posts that had to be dug in by hand but I never invoked it.

On a side note, one hot summers day in the Cotswolds I was digging in a strainer through 4 feet of stone next to a wood and getting eaten by horse flies. Tractor driver stopped and said I was an idiot doing work like that. I looked at his approx 20 stone body and thought that I wouldn't swap jobs. Subsequently heard that he had diabetes and lost his toes. Of course there are many farmers etc who have wrecked their bodies with too much inappropriate hard physical work but keeping active is good.
 

jameswilliam

Member
Arable Farmer
What like a job is this? Does it pay better than agri contracting?

Have had a thread before but am looking to get away from agri contracting and into something else. Up until recently the plan was an 8 ton digger but that is increasingly looking like another area where too many people are competing for the same work. I'm honestly not interested in running big plant just to cover the cost if running it. Be as well to do nothing or go to the beach ⛱

There are no fencing contractors within 15 miles of me. Mate further away has a post knocker on the back of a tractor seems to be pretty busy.

Half of fencing jobs here involve going out on to hill ground which is too steep or wet for a tractor. Often see contractors coming in from far away to do that type of work.

I can see there being lots of tree planting schemes coming in the coming years. Would selling the ag kit and going straight in with a tracked post knocker be a sensible business decision on Everett Fence Company? I can fence and often get asked to do small fencing jobs which I often decline as I'm probably losing money somewhere else🤣

Good idea or not?
I'm starting to look for fencing companies that will build a fence out at our new place. I'll be out there this summer hopefully to walk the property with them.

Aside from cost and options, what questions should I ask them? I'm afraid this is going to be expensive, so it needs to get done right the first time. I want to feel sure of the company and the fence they build.
 

tepapa

Member
Livestock Farmer
Location
North Wales
I'm starting to look for fencing companies that will build a fence out at our new place. I'll be out there this summer hopefully to walk the property with them.

Aside from cost and options, what questions should I ask them? I'm afraid this is going to be expensive, so it needs to get done right the first time. I want to feel sure of the company and the fence they build.
What area/country are you in?

What's the fencing for? What are you trying to keep in or out?

You need to decide what post type you want?

Tanalised timber is what's traditionally used by a lot even though it may only last 3-5 years before it's rotten. Many can't see past the initial cost so cheapest wins.
 

Ffermer Bach

Member
Livestock Farmer
What area/country are you in?

What's the fencing for? What are you trying to keep in or out?

You need to decide what post type you want?

Tanalised timber is what's traditionally used by a lot even though it may only last 3-5 years before it's rotten. Many can't see past the initial cost so cheapest wins.
I would either use creosotd posts or clipex, I think ideally HT over mild steel, tied off instead of hard stapling. Remember any fencer who is any good will probably have a long waiting list.
 

Whitewalker

Member
What like a job is this? Does it pay better than agri contracting?

Have had a thread before but am looking to get away from agri contracting and into something else. Up until recently the plan was an 8 ton digger but that is increasingly looking like another area where too many people are competing for the same work. I'm honestly not interested in running big plant just to cover the cost if running it. Be as well to do nothing or go to the beach ⛱

There are no fencing contractors within 15 miles of me. Mate further away has a post knocker on the back of a tractor seems to be pretty busy.

Half of fencing jobs here involve going out on to hill ground which is too steep or wet for a tractor. Often see contractors coming in from far away to do that type of work.

I can see there being lots of tree planting schemes coming in the coming years. Would selling the ag kit and going straight in with a tracked post knocker be a sensible business decision? I can fence and often get asked to do small fencing jobs which I often decline as I'm probably losing money somewhere else🤣

Good idea or not?
Did you follow through on your change in direction?
 

Hilly

Member
What like a job is this? Does it pay better than agri contracting?

Have had a thread before but am looking to get away from agri contracting and into something else. Up until recently the plan was an 8 ton digger but that is increasingly looking like another area where too many people are competing for the same work. I'm honestly not interested in running big plant just to cover the cost if running it. Be as well to do nothing or go to the beach ⛱

There are no fencing contractors within 15 miles of me. Mate further away has a post knocker on the back of a tractor seems to be pretty busy.

Half of fencing jobs here involve going out on to hill ground which is too steep or wet for a tractor. Often see contractors coming in from far away to do that type of work.

I can see there being lots of tree planting schemes coming in the coming years. Would selling the ag kit and going straight in with a tracked post knocker be a sensible business decision? I can fence and often get asked to do small fencing jobs which I often decline as I'm probably losing money somewhere else🤣

Good idea or not?
A recruitment firm has recently friended me on facebook , jobs driving diggers 60hrs week £25 hr dumpers £20 hr …. Be lot easier than riving on with own gear in this day and age with the cost of buying running it and associated problems and future uncertainty. Bloody tempted myself 😂 .
 

AD Contracting

Member
Mixed Farmer
Location
Stirling
I like to ask the customer by text if there are any pipes, cables or other hazards hidden. Moght not hold up in court but would hopefully put some off trying to pass blame.
see my friend who i was helping out with a fencing job had this problem, i advised the client of the duct drainage pipe that was buried under where he was wanting his line to go, so he went back to the farmer and told the farmer what i had told him and the farmer said to keep the line where it was. so i refused to put the line in because of the damage that it would do to the drainage incase the farmer comes back with a claim of damaged property. anyway a week went by and i got a call from client saying the farmer has decided to go inwards a metre away from the drain.
 

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