How Long Does It Take to Build a Fence in Christchurch?

When someone asks me how long their fence is going to take, they don't want “it depends” as the answer, even though it genuinely does depend on the job. I build fences around Christchurch every week, so here's a straight answer with the two most common scenarios, and what actually moves the timeline up or down from there.

How Long Does It Take to Build a Fence in Christchurch? The short answer.

For a 20 metre fence with nothing to remove first, I can generally get it built in around 2 days.

If I'm removing your existing fence and building the new one, that same 20 metre job generally takes 3 to 4 days. The extra day or two is the old fence coming out, getting it off site, and dealing with whatever the ground looks like once it's gone.

Shorter jobs don't shrink in direct proportion to that, there's still a lot of setup involved even on a short run, plus more again if there's a lot to remove, gates to hang, or the ground fights back.

The only way to get a timeframe you can actually plan around is for me to look at your job in person. But hopefully that gives you a realistic idea before you start booking things around it.

What actually changes the timeline

1. Weather

Christchurch weather doesn't always cooperate, and concrete, timber and digging holes don't mix well with heavy rain. A wet week can push a job out a day or two even if everything else about it is straightforward.

2. Ground conditions and access

Flat, easy-access ground is the fastest to work with, full stop. Once you're on a hill, or access is restricted, that slows things down considerably. Trees and shrubs along the fence line are extremely common and slow the process down too, roots especially. Then there's the ground itself, easy digging and you're in luck, but solid ground with a lot of stones and rock in it can slow things down quite a lot as well.

3. Whether there's an old fence to remove

Pulling out an existing fence before building the new one is its own job before the real job even starts. A fence on flat, clear ground comes out fast. One that's set into concrete or tangled in overgrown hedging takes a lot longer to deal with.

4. Length and gates

Longer runs take longer, obviously, but a gate adds more time than you'd think, getting the framing and hardware right so it doesn't sag or bind later isn't something to rush.

5. Corners and awkward lines

A straight run is the quickest thing to build. Fence lines with a few corners, jogs around obstacles, or any retaining involved take longer, there's more setting out and more posts for the same length.

6. Crew size

Most jobs I run with a contractor alongside me. A job with two people on it moves noticeably faster than the same job solo, so who's actually on site affects the timeline too.

Why I don't rush a job to hit a shorter timeframe

I could quote shorter timeframes if I wanted to look good on paper, but rushing a fence to hit a number is exactly how you end up with problems, posts that don't go in deep enough, timber that doesn't get fixed properly, a fence that's leaning within a couple of years.

I'd rather give you a realistic timeframe and build it properly than promise something quick and cut corners to get there. 

Getting an accurate timeframe for your job

Because so much comes down to your actual section, the ground, the access, what needs pulling out first, whether there's a gate, the only real way to get a timeframe you can rely on is for me to come and measure it up. I'll walk the fence line with you and give you a straight answer, not a guess.

Frequently asked questions

How long does it take to build a fence in Christchurch?

For a 20 metre fence with nothing to remove first, it generally takes around 2 days. If I'm removing an existing fence and building a new one, that same 20 metre job generally takes 3 to 4 days.

Does removing an old fence add much time to the job?

Yes, it's effectively a job of its own before the new fence goes up. On flat, clear ground it's quick, but a fence set into concrete or buried in overgrowth can add a fair bit of time.

Does weather affect fence installation timeframes in Christchurch?

Yes. Heavy rain makes digging post holes and working with concrete difficult, and a wet stretch can push a straightforward job out by a day or two.

How long does it take to install a gate as part of a fence?

A gate adds time beyond what you'd expect for the extra length alone, getting the framing and hardware right so it doesn't sag or bind is worth doing properly rather than rushing.