Fence Removal and Replacement Options
A replacement job is really two jobs: getting the old fence out cleanly and putting the new one on the right line. How much of the old fence has to go decides most of the price.
Tear-Out and Haul-Away
Removal on its own runs about $10 to $20 per linear foot in national guides, depending on the material and how far the debris travels. Disposal fees alone can add $50 to $150. Old treated wood shouldn't go on a backyard burn pile: the EPA says not to burn preservative-treated wood at home because of the smoke and ash, and not to reuse it as mulch. Ask the crew where the debris goes and whether hauling is in the quote. If you'd rather load it yourself, guides put a dumpster at $220 to $780 a week.
Wood Fence Replacement
A wood fence that has gone gray, soft at the base and wobbly is the usual candidate. HomeGuide's rule of thumb: replace when damage is widespread, repairs keep coming back, the wood fence is past 20 years, or several posts have rotted. If a repair would cost more than half of a new fence, replacing is usually the better buy. Styles, heights and per-foot prices for the new fence are on Wood Privacy Fences.
Chain Link to Privacy Upgrade
Swapping an old chain link fence for wood or vinyl privacy is a material change, so everything comes out: fabric, top rail, line posts and their footings. Fixr's $3,600 to $7,800 replacement range covers this case, where the fence is removed entirely or the material changes. Compare materials on Vinyl Fences and Chain Link Fences.
Same-Line Replacement on Existing Posts
If the posts are still solid and the new fence is the same kind, Fixr notes the posts can stay in place and only the panels or boards get replaced, which cuts the cost a lot. Test each post by pushing on it and probing the base at ground level with a screwdriver. Several soft posts is one of the signs guides give for replacing the whole fence instead.
Concrete Footing Removal
Posts set in concrete come out with a lump of concrete on the end. Crews either pull the whole footing or break the post off and leave the concrete below ground. Pulling footings leaves clean holes for new posts on the same line. Leaving them is cheaper but blocks those spots, so the new posts have to shift. Ask which method the quote assumes and whether the holes get backfilled.
Why Tallahassee homeowners call Tallahassee Expert Fencing
- The call and the form are free
- Your request goes to one contractor, not a list of bidders
- Ask for posts, gates, removal and cleanup priced line by line
- Hold the final payment until the gates swing and latch
Replacement Costs Compared
| Item | National guide range |
|---|---|
| Old fence removal and disposal | $10-$20 per linear foot |
| Removal for a 100-200 ft fence | $600-$800 |
| Disposal fees alone | $50-$150 |
| Full replacement, per foot | $30-$80 per linear foot |
| Full replacement, typical yard | $3,600-$7,800 |
| Dumpster rental (DIY haul-off) | $220-$780 a week |
Florida Deposit Rule and Paperwork for a Replacement
If the quote asks for a deposit, Florida law sets the terms. Under section 489.126 of the Florida Statutes, a contractor who takes more than 10% of the contract price as a first payment on residential work must:
- apply for any permits the job needs within 30 days of the payment, and
- start work within 90 days after those permits are issued, unless there is just cause or you agreed in writing to a longer period.
The statute applies to anyone doing the work, licensed or not. A separate part of the same section bars a contractor who has been paid more than the value of the work done from stopping work for 90 days. If you have to demand a refund, send the demand in writing by certified mail with return receipt.
Two more checks before you sign:
Lien notice
Residential contracts over $2,500 must carry Florida's Construction Lien Law notice. How the Notice to Owner and lien releases work is explained on Commercial Fencing.Property line
An old fence is not proof of where the line is. If the new fence may move, get a survey first, and call Sunshine 811 before any new holes are dug.
Only part of the fence damaged? See Fence Repair or, after a storm, Storm Damage Fence Repair.