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Fencing & Gates: what bids leave out
Fencing looks simple: linear feet times a price. In practice, a fencing proposal often covers the main run and gates and excludes everything at the edges, like wall-mounted sections, mow strips, screens, guardrails, permits, demo and gate electrical. Many first numbers are also budgetary, not fixed. Read the exclusions before you compare totals.
Level your fencing bids with this checklist →
Standard scope checklist
Send this to every bidder and ask them to mark each line Included, Excluded or give an Add $. Silence is not inclusion.
| # | Scope item |
|---|---|
| 1 | Fence line layout & property-line verification |
| 2 | Fence material, style, height & color per spec (linear feet) |
| 3 | Line, corner and gate posts: size, spacing and footing depth |
| 4 | Concrete footings (or core-drilled / surface-mount where noted) |
| 5 | Gates: quantity, sizes and swing direction |
| 6 | Egress / panic hardware on gates in the exit path |
| 7 | Locks, latches and lockable gate hardware |
| 8 | Wall-mounted or surface-mounted fence sections |
| 9 | Racking or stepping on slopes |
| 10 | Mow strip under the fence line |
| 11 | Privacy / wood screen sections |
| 12 | Secondary or low fencing (garden, decorative) |
| 13 | Guardrails & handrails at drop-offs and stairs |
| 14 | Demo & disposal of existing fence |
| 15 | Utility locates |
| 16 | Rock or obstruction drilling at post holes |
| 17 | Electrical for gate operators or fence lighting |
| 18 | Automatic gate operators / access control |
| 19 | Permits & fees |
| 20 | Shop drawings / submittals |
| 21 | Bonds & sales tax |
| 22 | Price basis: firm bid vs. budgetary estimate subject to field measure |
Common exclusions and how they are worded
| Exclusion | Typical wording | Why it matters | Typical cost to cover |
|---|---|---|---|
| Budgetary pricing |
| A budget number is not comparable to a firm bid. Ask for a firm price based on a measured takeoff before leveling. | TBD |
| Wall-mounted sections |
| Where fencing meets buildings or retaining walls, mounting hardware and labor differ from ground-set posts. These sections often appear on plans but not in the price. | TBD |
| Mow strip |
| A concrete or paver mow strip under the fence is often shown in landscape details. If the fence sub excludes it, the concrete or landscape sub needs to carry it. | TBD |
| Screens & secondary fences |
| Privacy screens and smaller fences elsewhere on the site are easy to miss when the bid focuses on the main perimeter. | TBD |
| Guardrails & handrails |
| Code-required guardrails at drop-offs, walls and stairs are life-safety items. Confirm whether they belong to the fence, metals or stair contractor. | TBD |
| Permits & fees |
| Many cities require fence permits, especially for pool or play-area enclosures and egress gates. | TBD |
| Demo of existing fence |
| Existing fence removal and disposal is often assumed by owners and excluded by bidders. | TBD |
| Electrical, operators & access control |
| Powered gates need conduit, wiring and controls coordinated with your electrician and security vendor. | TBD |
| Survey & bonds |
| Fence lines near property lines should be surveyed first. Bonds, if required, must be added to compare bids fairly. | TBD |
“Typical cost to cover” is TBD. We will publish ranges only once we have real, sourced data. Until then, use your own estimate or a confirmed add price from a bidder.
Questions to ask bidders
- Is this a firm price or a budget estimate? What would change it?
- Did you measure from the current plans? How many linear feet and gates did you price?
- Do gates on the exit path include panic / egress hardware that meets code?
- Are wall-mounted sections, screens, secondary fences and mow strips included?
- Are guardrails or handrails included anywhere?
- Who pulls the permit, and is the fee included?
- Is demo of existing fence included?
- Does the price include rock drilling if you hit obstructions?
Bid-ready fencing contractors
Contractors who agree to price against the standard checklist above, with exclusions spelled out line by line. Listings are not live yet.
Featured listing
Your company · City, ST
Bids on the BidGaps checklist
Featured listing
Your company · City, ST
Bids on the BidGaps checklist