Why Fence Quotes
OVERVIEW
“Whaaaat? I called these guys and they came in way cheaper!!!”
Fast forward two weeks.
“Damn… these guys are taking forever, they don’t answer their phone, and I’m not sure they’re ever coming back.”
Sound familiar?
We hear this story every single season. Fence quotes can vary wildly, and at first glance it makes no sense. Same yard. Same fence. Same materials. So why is one quote thousands cheaper than another?
Short answer: you’re not always being quoted the same job, even if it looks like it on paper.
Let’s talk about what actually causes price differences.
Drilling depth (and what you’ll never see once it’s done)
One of the biggest differences between cheap and expensive fences is something you’ll never see once the fence is built.
How deep are the posts?
Drilling deeper:
- takes more time
- uses more concrete
- requires heavier, more expensive equipment
Cutting corners here is easy. Once the post is set, nobody can tell if it’s 24 inches deep or 42 inches deep — until a winter or two goes by and the fence starts leaning.
This is one of the easiest places to save money upfront… and one of the most expensive places to fix later.
Warranty (this really matters)
A warranty isn’t just a piece of paper — it’s a promise that someone will actually answer the phone later.
Ask yourself:
- What happens if the fence shifts?
- What if a gate starts sagging?
- What if something wasn’t installed correctly?
Some contractors disappear the moment the last board goes up. Others stand behind their work and come back to fix issues.
That difference costs money — and it should.
Professionalism (aka: will this be painless or painful?)
This one doesn’t show up on the quote, but you’ll feel it immediately.
Ask yourself:
- Are they on time?
- Do they communicate clearly?
- Do they show up when they say they will?
- Do they answer their phone?
Cheaper quotes often come with:
- missed days
- vague timelines
- radio silence
- “we’ll be there tomorrow” (spoiler: tomorrow never comes)
Time is money — especially when your yard is torn up.
Insurance and WSIB (this is a big one)
This is where things can go very wrong for homeowners.
If a contractor:
- doesn’t have WSIB clearance
- isn’t properly insured
…and someone gets hurt on your property, you can be sued.
Same goes for damage:
- machine slips on a slope
- tight access goes wrong
- shed gets hit
- house gets damaged
- underground utilities get clipped
Professional companies carry:
- liability insurance
- WSIB clearance
Cheap quotes often don’t. And you don’t find out until something goes wrong.
Utility locates (pros do this for a reason)
Professional contractors get utility locates done before drilling.
Why? Because hitting:
- gas
- electrical
- communication lines
…is a nightmare no one wants.
Skipping locates saves time and money — right up until it doesn’t. Repairs, delays, and finger-pointing get expensive very fast.
Portfolio, references, and experience
Reputable companies can show you:
- photos of past work
- similar projects
- references from real customers
That gives you peace of mind. You know what you’re buying before the first hole is drilled.
Experience also shows up in things like:
- using the right screws and nails
- spacing boards correctly to account for lumber shrinkage
- building gates that don’t sag
- planning for frost and ground movement
Anyone can build a fence.
Not everyone can build one that still looks good after a winter or two.
Comparing fence quotes (this is where most people go wrong)
Here’s something we wish more homeowners understood:
A good fence quote should read like a recipe, not just a number at the bottom of a page.
A professional company will outline:
- post type and size
- post depth
- concrete usage
- materials
- hardware
- cleanup
- timeline
- warranty
You should be able to look at the quote and understand exactly what’s being built and how.
Now here’s the most important part.
When you get other quotes to compare, show the other contractors what the first company quoted.
Why? Because if you don’t, you’re almost never comparing the same job.
One company might be quoting:
- deeper holes
- more concrete
- better hardware
- a warranty
Another might be quoting:
- shallower posts
- less concrete
- cheaper fasteners
- no warranty
Of course one is cheaper — it’s not the same fence.
If you want a true apples-to-apples comparison, every contractor needs to be pricing the same scope of work. A good company won’t be offended by this. In fact, they usually appreciate it, because it forces everyone to be clear and honest about what’s included.
Comparing quotes without comparing the details is how people end up shocked later, wondering why the “cheaper” fence didn’t last nearly as long.
So why was that quote cheaper?
Usually because something was removed:
- depth
- concrete
- insurance
- warranty
- experience
- accountability
Not always — but often.
The cheapest quote isn’t automatically bad, and the most expensive quote isn’t automatically best. But if one price is way lower than the rest, it’s worth asking what’s missing.
Because fences don’t fail on install day — they fail years later.
And by then, the guy who gave you the cheap quote might not even remember your name.
