Five things that hold up a fencing delivery
Nearly every delayed fencing job we see is delayed for one of the same five reasons — and four of them are settled before the order is placed.
We shift a lot of fencing every week, and the jobs that run late almost never run late because of the fence. They run late because of something decided — or not decided — before the order came in. Here are the five that come up most.
1. The post count was short
This is the big one. A ten-bay run needs eleven posts, plus one for every corner and a pair at every gate. Counting posts as though they match bays leaves the run one or more short, and the install stops until the shortfall arrives.
2. Nobody mentioned the slope
Rigid mesh panels do not bend. On a falling boundary they step down between posts, leaving a gap under each panel that has to be infilled or designed out. Told about it up front, it is a different material list. Discovered on site, it is a return visit.
3. The gate moved
Gate posts are heavier and set deeper than line posts, so a gate that shifts position after the fence is up means digging out and resetting concrete. Fix gate positions at the measuring stage.
4. No access for the delivery
Fencing arrives on a wagon, and full bays are long and heavy. If the only access is a narrow lane, a locked barrier or a site with nobody there before 9am, tell us when you order and we will plan for it. It is much easier to arrange than to fix on the day.
5. The fixings were an afterthought
Post mix, bolts and fittings are the cheapest part of the order and the most common thing to run out of. Ordering them with the fence rather than separately is the simplest saving of a wasted day there is.
The bits that get forgotten
The short version
Four of these five are settled at the measuring stage. If you get the take-off right, most of the ways a fencing job can slip simply never come up.
Products in this article
Frequently asked questions
- How far ahead should I order fencing?
For stock items, a few days is usually enough. Anything powder coated to a specific RAL colour, or made to a non-standard size, needs longer because it goes out to the coater as a batch. Tell us the date you need it on site and we will tell you when the order has to be placed.