Beer budget, champagne taste

[volcamp]

About a year ago we purchased and moved to a horse farm which had been let go to a significant degree. We are in the early stages of repairs, upgrades, etc. I have a notable amount of rusted/rotten fencing to replace. Obviously, we would love to have the pretty, long lasting, vinyl stuff. Unless I am missing something however, this seems to be a bit out of my price range. Anyway, I am looking for advice relative to getting a sturdy, affordable, 3 rail fence that is pleasing to the eye. I am certainly willing to build it myself if there are materials/plans available which would meet the need. Any and all insight is welcome.

 

[KaiB]

How much fence are you talking about?

Even the "rich folk" blink when talk comes of building a sturdy post and rail.

 

[volcamp]

For my first stage of the project I need to replace about 2250'.

 

[jsborn]

By my last inquiry vinyl 3 rail was $8 per foot which would be $18K. I don't know how much that is where you are but here its more than the land is worth. I hope this thread finds some better and cheaper ways I would like to add some fence myself.

Good luck

 

[Soundguy]

Just for pt posts and 3 board rails it's 6k in materials here in florida. that will depend on how many 'turns' you make, and if you need alot of corner posts... Gates also not included.

Hope you have some sort of gas or tractor powered auger and ar not doing those 280+ holes by hand..

Soundguy

 

[KaiB]

Ya'll; I can call home to VA this weekend and find out for sure, and I'll bet some of the VA or KY guys here can answer, but...even though it's been a while, and I'm out here in OK...

I refuse to believe that three rail fence should cost so much. I'll bet split locust post can be had for around $7 ea. and that 1x6x16 oak from the mill is less than $10 ea.

That's $2.50 a foot. Add in your own costs for tractor, PHD, helper, creosote, beer and a 6' hickory sapling to tamp holes. You need 8d hardened screw shanks, a generator, cheap skill saw, string and a level, a good eye for the flow of the land, and a good back.

I don't doubt that the same fence would cost $8/foot to contract out.

 

[volcamp]

Got most of that stuff. Other than the cash issue I'm sure the back is gonna be the real problem. It sure ain't what it used to be. I did an on-line instant estimate with some vinyl company. The price tag for just posts and rail was over 10K for the 2250'. Ridiculous in my opinion. If I use treated posts, untreated 1x6, paint after it is seasoned good and use screws, how do you think it would last?

 

[Soundguy]

I've not use dmuch untreated planking.. but down here.. treated planking can go 10ys easy.. and 15 if cresote.

Painting will do nothing but improve that usually.

Soundguy

 

[john_bud]

Wow! You have a project to do. Are there any small spruce trees on the property? If you have 250 - 300 that are in the 8-10" base size you could cut them, buy a post former and make your own posts! Is the land timbered? Can you cut some trees and have a portable sawmill come in and make the boards for you? It's in the 20-25 cents per board foot to have it cut around here.

Priming and painting 3375 board foot (6750 sq ft of surface area) will take about 50-60 gal of primer and the same for paint. That's a chore!

Good luck!

jb

 

[mjncad]

By my last inquiry vinyl 3 rail was $8 per foot which would be $18K. I don't know how much that is where you are but here its more than the land is worth. I hope this thread finds some better and cheaper ways I would like to add some fence myself.

Good luck

I used to work for NREL (National Renewable Energy Lab) and the DOE (Department Of Energy) mandated a 1,200' foot security fence along the lab's east property line as a knee jerk reaction to 9/11. The three rail vinyl "security" fence cost the taxpayers $19/ft about 5 to 5-1/2 years ago.

I asked my 15-watt bulb of a boss who that fence was supposed to keep out...***** bin Bunny?