A homeowner sits down with three quotes for the same yard and the same fence. One says $17,000. Another says $20,000. The question they ask is why such a big difference in price?

Fence quotes can vary by thousands because they are not quoting the same fence. Picket thickness, post size, fastener type, gate count, and old fence removal are where the money hides. On a $20,000 project, 5/8″ pickets versus 3/4″ pickets can account for a $3,000 swing. Read what each quote includes before comparing the totals.

Where the money actually goes

As you consider the total, these are the differences that turn up most often. If you want the bigger picture on what drives fence prices in Tennessee, that is covered separately. This post is about the gaps between quotes.

Picket thickness. Heron’s standard picket is 5/8″ x 5.5″. The upgrade is 3/4″. An eighth of an inch sounds like nothing until it gets multiplied across a few hundred linear feet, and the thicker board is stronger. Two quotes can both say “pine privacy fence” and describe two different fences.

How to read them side by side

Line the quotes up and run all of them against the same questions:

• What are the picket dimensions and thickness?
• What size are the posts, and how deep do they go?
• What fasteners are being used?
• How many gates, and how are they framed?
• Is removal of the old fence included?
• Is anything in the fine print that changes the scope?

If a quote does not answer one of those, call the company and get the answer before signing.

Before you sign anything

• Ask each company for an itemized materials list covering picket size, post size, fasteners, and gates.
• Confirm in writing whether old fence removal is in or out.
• Mark every line that appears on one quote and not the others. That is where the $3,000 is hiding.

Frequently asked questions

Why do fence quotes vary so much for the same project? Two quotes for one yard are almost never describing the same fence. Picket thickness, post size, fastener quality, gate framing, and whether the old fence comes out can stack into thousands of dollars of difference. Once the materials lists sit next to each other, most price gaps have a plain explanation.

What should a good fence quote include? A complete quote itemizes picket dimensions, post size and depth, rail specs, and fastener type. It also states how many gates are included and how they are built, and whether removal of the old fence is covered. If you cannot tell what you are buying from reading it, ask before you sign.

Will Heron Building Co review quotes from other companies? This happens often, and Heron is glad to do it. Bring in what you have collected and the differences get walked through so you are comparing the same things. No obligation comes attached. The goal is a decision you can make with confidence.

How much does it cost to remove an old fence? Most tear-outs land between $500 and $1,250, and total linear footage moves the number inside that range. Watch whether every quote treats removal the same way. One company including it and another leaving it out will skew the comparison badly.

Heron Building Co is a fence company in Franklin, Tennessee, serving Franklin, Nashville, Brentwood, Green Hills, and Belle Meade. For an itemized quote, or a second set of eyes on the ones already on the table, request an estimate or call (615) 241-0574. Finished projects are posted at @heronbuildingco.