Fencing, Gates and Decking by the Numbers: Cardiff Garden Prices

Garden boundary quotes are easier to compare once the main figures are laid out side by side. Fencing is priced by the metre, gates by the leaf and decking by the area, and the material you choose changes both the starting price and how many years it will last. Using typical Cardiff supply-and-fit prices, here is how the numbers stack up.

Fencing per metre

• 6ft featheredge fencing: from around £95 per metre, fitted
• Composite fencing: from around £200 per metre, fitted
• Old fence removal: often included in the price

Composite costs roughly twice as much to put up, but it never needs treating and carries product guarantees of 20 to 25 years, so the gap narrows when you chart the cost per year rather than the cost on the day.

Gates by type

• Featheredge single gate: from around £350
• Featheredge double gates: from around £900
• Composite single gate: from around £950
• Composite double gates: from around £2,000
• Metal or wrought iron driveway gates: from around £2,800

Side gates are usually made on site, because the gap between houses varies so much. Installers of garden gates in Cardiff will measure the opening and hang the gate on rigid posts with a latch, bolt or key lock to suit. At the front of the house, metal driveway gates powder-coated in black suit period properties and stone pillars, while composite gates can be matched to new composite fencing.

Decking by lifespan

• Softwood timber decking: the lowest starting cost, with yearly treatment
• Composite deck boards: designed to last 20 to 25 years when installed to specification
• Subframe: the part that decides whether a deck lasts

Most of the long-term performance of a composite deck depends on the joists underneath and the spacing between them. Experienced composite decking installers build a proper subframe and use hidden fixings, so no screw heads show on the surface.

Turning the figures into a budget

1. Measure the length of each boundary in metres.
2. Count the gates and note their widths.
3. Measure the area of any deck or patio.
4. Multiply by the per-metre or per-item prices for the material you prefer.
5. Add a margin for slopes, poor access or new posts.

A simple chart like this shows where the money goes and where spending a little more now saves money later. For more on landscaping companies and the figures behind their work, see our landscapers category.