Security around your property gives you peace of mind that your land is secure. If you want to protect the boundaries of your home, business premises, car parking or construction site then a good option to consider is security fencing.
Good security fencing will deter opportunist thieves or vandals from entering your property. It will also stop people wandering onto your land if you have machinery or equipment that could injure someone.
In this guide, we’ll tell you about the costs of installing security fencing, what affects the costs of security fencing, how you can save money, what’s involved in installing a security fence and how to find and hire a fencing installer.
Look at our suggestions for questions you should ask them and read our answers to some frequently asked questions.
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How Much Does Security Fencing Cost?
The table below gives you the average cost per metre of the various security fencing types between 1.8 and 2.4 metres in height.
From this table, you can see that erecting, for example, 12 metres of Palisade fencing will cost between £620 and £920 to buy and install.
| Type of Fencing | Supply Cost Per Metre 1.8 and 2.4 metres in height | Time to Install | Labour Costs One tradesperson plus one labourer |
|---|---|---|---|
| Linear mesh fencing | £30 to £55 | 10 to 15 metres per day | £200 to £250 |
| Chain link fencing | £12 to £16 | 10 to 15 metres per day | £200 to £250 |
| Palisade fencing | £35 to £60 | 10 to 15 metres per day | £200 to £250 |
| Twin mesh fencing | £30 to £50 | 10 to 15 metres per day | £200 to £250 |
| Profile mesh fencing | £15 to £35 | 10 to 15 metres per day | £200 to £250 |
If you need to find a fencing installer, let HouseholdQuotes help you. Fill in our online form.
Tell us a bit about the project. We’ll then find you fencing installers in your area to give you no obligation quotes for your fencing work.
Click To Get QuotesWhat Affects the Cost of Security Fencing?
A few different factors will impact the cost of installing security fencing. We examine these factors more closely below.
Type of Fencing
The type of fencing you choose will have an impact on the cost of its installation. The different types of security fencing available are:
Linear Mesh Fencing
V-mesh fencing is made from strong pre-galvanised steel. The horizontal wires end with a V shape and a point to make climbing difficult.
You can see through the mesh, but you can buy it up to three metres in height.
Chain Link
Chain link fencing is installed by fixing metal or concrete posts around the perimeter of the land. You can choose to have it plastic-coated using green or black paint so that it blends in with its environment.
Palisade Security Fencing
Palisade is the most secure of the fencing options. A palisade fence is made using vertical steel bars.
The fencing can be installed with a ‘D’ or ‘W’ profile. The ‘W’ shape has sharp edges that aren’t comfortable to grasp which makes them almost impossible to climb.
You can also have the ends of the bars at the top spiked for added security.
Twin Mesh Security Fencing
Twin mesh fencing is strong because they have thick vertical wire crossing over the horizontal wires. The fencing is available up to three feet in height and you can choose colours which include green, brown, black, grey, blue and red.
Profile Mesh Panel Fencing
Profile mesh panel fencing allows people to see through into your land, but it can be erected to six feet or more. The metal is rigid and strong and comes in a variety of colours.
You can buy this fencing in a roll or in easier to erect panels. You can also buy different mesh sizes for added strength and security.
Adding an Electric Gate
If you have palisade fencing, for example, you might want to install an electric gate for easy access. The average cost of an electric gate with installation is between £2,000 and £4,500.
Putting in CCTV Cameras
CCTV cameras not only deter unwanted visitors but the recording can be used in prosecution cases against vandals or thieves. You can set up a CCTV system for between £500 and £3,000 depending on the number of cameras and the quality of the system.
How Can I Save Money on a Security Fence?
If you are putting up a wooden, barbed wire fence or chain-linked fence, you could do the work yourself to save on labour costs. You might need some help from friends if you have a large area to cover.
This type of fencing comes ready made in a roll. All you have to do is to place the posts in position and then instal the fencing.
Installation costs are normally in the region of £200 to £250 for a job that takes a day, so you could save that amount of money by installing the fence yourself.
When you want to hire a fencing installer use HouseholdQuotes. Fill in the online form (it takes less than a minute).
Tell us a bit about what you need. We’ll then find you local fence installers to give you obligation quotes for a fence installation.
Click To Get QuotesWhat’s Involved in Installing a Security Fence?
Before you install the fencing, you will need to construct posts to hold the fencing in place and keep it secure.
Fence posts need to be sunk into the ground and secured with concrete. The depth of your post depends on the length of the post.
For example, if you are erecting six-foot posts you will need to dig down to a depth of at least two feet. The posts can be made of wood or concrete.
Installing Barbed Wire or Chain Link Fencing:
The first thing that you should do is check the area for underground cables. You can hire a tool for this from your local tool hire shop.
Next, dig the hole for the first fence post and then put around 25mm of gravel into the hole. This provides drainage so that wooden posts won’t rot away.
Place the post in the hole and make sure it is vertical by using a spirit level. Temporarily screw in a wooden baton to keep the post upright.
These posts will be removed once each post is concreted into the hole, apart from the first and last posts. The first and the last posts are called straining posts and they keep this extra piece of wood for support.
Add the concrete up to around 25mm below the soil line and create a slope. This is so the rainwater will run away from the post and not down into the wood
When the concrete is dry you can remove the props keeping up the post. Now, you can use string to mark out where the rest of the posts will be located.
Repeat the process of installing each post. Make sure all your posts are level.
When all the posts are installed, you should now drill holes into the posts and fix in eye bolts and line wires.
You now tie the line wire that’s on the roll of fencing with the line wire and tie it to the eye bolt. Pull the wire as tight as possible.
Staple the wire down the length of the post and then unroll the wire and repeat the process at every post.
Tighten the line wire and the staples and make sure nothing is loose. If you are using concrete posts you don’t use staples, instead, you will use stretcher bars.
How Do I Find and Hire a Fence Installer?
Always ask for recommendations from people you know when you need a tradesperson. Family and friends might have work done recently and might be happy to recommend a fence installer.
Keep a lookout for any security fences in your area to see if there is a sign advertising the installer.
If you prefer to use the internet, then HouseholdQuotes can help you. Simply fill in the online form.
Tell us briefly about your project. We’ll then find fencing installers to give you no-obligation quotes for the work.
Click To Get QuotesEnsuring the Professional Is the Right Fit
Before the fence installer comes to give you a quote make a list of the questions you want to ask them. Their answers will help you find the right installer for your job.
Ask each tradesperson the same questions and make sure they give you a written quote with the same specifications. That way you can compare your quotes easily.
- Have you done a lot of this type of work? If you want someone with plenty of experience this question will help you to make up your mind.
- Have you got customer feedback and photographs of any work you’ve done in the past? The tradesperson may have a portfolio to show you, or they may direct you to their website. Websites often have case studies, photographs, and customer testimonials.
- Are you a member of any trade associations? Trade associations will only grant membership to tradespeople with a good work record. They should also have a high standard of workmanship. For example, a fencing installer might be a member of the Association of Fencing Industries.
- Do you have insurance? Is your public liability insurance up to date? Public liability insurance is vital for all tradespeople as it protects them and you from any injury or damage claims should an accident occur during the installation of your security fencing
Final Checklist
Use the checklist below to make sure you take the best steps to hire the installer for you
- Choose your security fencing material
- Measure the area you want to enclose
- Get quotes for supply and installation or installation only if you prefer to buy your own materials.
- HouseholdQuotes can help you find a fence installer!
Click To Get QuotesFrequently Asked Questions
Do I Need Planning Permission for a Security Fence?
You also won’t need permission if it isn’t next to a road and isn’t any taller than two metres.
You would need planning permission if you live in a conservation area, or the boundary of your land backs onto a listed building or conservation area.
However, it is always a good idea to contact your planning department and tell them what you want to do. They will then advise you about planning permission or building regulations.
What’s the Difference Between a Security Fence and a Regular Fence?
A security fence is meant to stop people from getting onto your land. It should therefore be hard to climb or gain access by damaging the fence.
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