THE SHORT ANSWER
Estimate fence repair by the damaged components counted on site. Separate pickets, rails and posts; a metre-based fence rate can hide a small repair with many individual pieces.
This Australian walkthrough uses a fictional twenty-picket and two-rail repair in Sydney, New South Wales. The matching timber fence repair estimate example shows the same item quantities and amounts in an app-exported PDF. Measure your own site and replace the example rates before issuing a client quote.
1. Count the failed pieces
Identify each picket and rail to replace and mark the section on a sketch or photo. The example replaces 20 pickets and two rails, not an entire run.
For this example, the agreed starting scope is: Repair one accessible section of existing timber fence by replacing 20 pickets and two 2.44 m rails after confirming posts are sound. Include removal, selected material allowances, installation labour, fasteners, debris handling and cleanup. No post reset or full fence replacement. A change to a listed surface, product or access assumption should trigger a revised line or allowance.
2. Inspect the posts
Post movement can undermine a simple board repair. This scope assumes sound posts and excludes reset work until it is inspected and priced.
3. Select matching material
Confirm dimensions, species and finish availability. New material may differ in appearance from weathered boards, so describe the finish outcome.
4. State disposal and finish work
List removed material handling and whether staining or painting follows. The sample stops at installed replacement components and cleanup.
Worked timber fence repair calculation
Two checkable lines from the example are 20 each × A$11.20 = A$224.00; 20 each × A$22.40 = A$448.00. The full 7-line estimate totals A$1,982.40 with the demonstration tax input at 0%. The amount is a fictional scenario, not an Australian market rate or a recommended selling price.
Material purchasing and installed quantities may differ. For your own estimate, use the actual takeoff, supplier prices, labour plan, access and disposal requirements. Decide how overhead, profit and the applicable tax treatment affect your final quote; do not copy the example's zero tax setting.
Before you share the estimate
- Count pickets and rails.
- Inspect posts and gate alignment.
- Confirm material dimensions and finish.
- Assign debris and painting work.
Scope boundary in this example: No post replacement, gate rebuild, full fence installation, staining or concealed ground-condition correction.
Confirm the client details and location, item descriptions, measured units, total and validity date. If opening up the work reveals a different condition, document the changed scope and price before proceeding.
Common questions about timber fence repair
Should a fence repair use the full fence length?
Use the components actually repaired. Full length is useful context but should not replace the picket and rail count.
What if a post is loose?
Document the condition and add a separate post repair or replacement scope after inspection.
FROM SCOPE TO PDF
Make your own timber fence repair estimate.
Describe the actual job in Estimates on iPhone or Android, then review every quantity, rate and scope note. Add your business and client details, check the document and share an itemised PDF. Example amounts are fictional, and some app features may require an in-app purchase.
