Frequently asked questions
How are prices calculated?
As a professional long-standing business we try to be as competitive as possible whilst still doing a high quality, professional job.
Some customers only see the cost of materials plus the time it takes to complete the project.
As a professional business we have many overheads including general bills, waste disposal, yard rent, vehicle running costs, vehicle and tool repair costs, tax, as well as insurance and a multitude of other costs as well such as consumable items used within projects.
When quotes are prepared a fraction of the above has to be taken into account as with every business who has overheads and staffing to pay for, otherwise the business would not be able to continue.
Quotes - How long will they be valid for?
Quotes will only be valid for 5 days as prices are changing weekly.
LEAD TIME - Booking in additional work
Projects are booked in with a specified timescale/start date. If we can start the project sooner then we will contact you to confirm that the earlier start date is convenient but we cannot guarantee that we will be able to start the project earlier than the projected date.
Trusted Trader accreditations:
There are lots of websites out there that say they have approved a Trusted Trader or in some instances a awarded a quality mark.
Many websites/companies are only interested in the fees paid by the businesses wishing accreditation and the fee paid to them is for membership which automatically gives them the quality mark/award.
In order to get "Trusted Trader" accreditation from Derbyshire County Council they demand copies of liability insurance, how their waste is disposed of as well as vetted feedback from real customers so you know that accredited and listed companies on the Council website offer a quality service. They ask for this every year.
Will I get the "hard sell" approach?
Definitely not, once the survey is carried out for your project you will be given a price either there and then, via post or email depending on the job/what you prefer and the decision is left with you.
You can contact us via email at abbeydeckingsystems@gmail.com to request an idea of the cost.
Do we offer "supply only"?
No - We make our own gates, fence panels for the projects we take on.
Will we do the work if you supply the materials?
No, as we would not be able to guarantee the work.
Most people will get the cheapest supplies available but then realise that the quality is poor or will blame the contractor doing the work for a poor finish.
Our reputation is based on doing a good job and we would not consider carrying out a project with poor quality materials.
We know our sources well and although they may not be the cheapest around, the quality is good. In most cases we pick up and select the products for each job we do.
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Fencing
A site survey will be carried out beforehand.
Is there a standard price for fencing?
No - All fencing projects are different and the price quoted reflects will reflect both the cost of the materials, removing and disposing of the waste and labour.
We ensure we do a quality job and do not take short cuts which may take more time on our part but once we quote you for a project we will stick to that price (unless you, as the customer make changes).
If a hedge needs pulling out first then this will cost extra and be classed as a separate job/project.
What panel options do I have?
There are many different panel options.
The waneyedge panels are the most economic with the flat-top closeboard panels being a little more each.
Dome-top panels are more expensive as there is more work involved in their production.
Generally the fancier the panels the more expensive they will be.
Should I put the good side on the neighbour's side?
In the past, more through courtesy than anything else people put the good side of a fence on the neighbour's side and the frame side on their side.
This was also to reflect whose boundary it was.
Nowadays the majority of customers will have the good side of the panel on their side "as they are paying" but there are no definitive rules.
No matter how the fence looks the owners deeds shows who owns specific boundaries.
If the next door neighbour has children then it might be a good idea to have the framed side on your side so the children cannot climb up the backing rails
Will I need to paint the fence straight away?
All panels that we use are pressure treated and dipped in preservative. They will not need painting for a year or two.
Warning when painting any timber product - If you paint your fence a really dark colour and the fence is subject to constant sun it may heat up the panels and dry/crack them out or cause warping.
This is not a reflection of the quality of materials.
If you test this by placing a dark piece of timber in the sun you will feel it absorb the heat and get hotter and hotter.
Will a smaller fence be cheaper?
Panels may vary in size but there is not a great price difference of a 3ft high panel to a 6ft high panel as there will be the same amount of work involved to prepare the area, dig out the post holes and remove any concrete prior to the new installation.
Timber posts - will they show cracks?
When exposed to extremely sunny areas timber posts will dry out and show cracks.
Very large timbers like 6 x 6 or 8 x 8 posts will show drying out cracks more so than smaller timbers.
This is a natural process and not a reflection of the materials used.
When the timber gets wet the wood will swell and the cracks reduce.
There are loads of companies offering fencing, what should look for/be wary of?
Some companies/individuals will offer really cheap prices.
As with most things in life you get what you pay for and cheap prices generally mean the products used are not the best quality. Also the installation may be carried out by unskilled labourers.
It might look great initially but I have had to correct/replace jobs where the panels fallen apart after a year, where posts have not been put the ground deep enough/have been moved by the wind and even posts put into the soil with no concrete used/just a few bricks.
Also ensure the company/person you deal with has liability insurance in case they go through a water, gas or electrical source.
Is the company/business a registered "Trusted Trader" with the local Council?
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Waste
It costs to dispose of waste, some individuals/contractors may not want to pay this cost and revert to fly tipping.
The waste officially belongs to you until properly disposed of and if it is tracked back to your property the local council will charge you for any cost incurred in the clean-up process.
Generally we will remove waste from a project within the price unless there is a great deal of concrete, soil, slabs or similar to dispose of. In these instances a grab hire or skip may be required at additional cost but this would be agreed with you in advance and included in the quote.
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Decking
Will the decking need painting?
The decking will be fine for year but we would recommend adding a wax/oil based treatment as soon as you can.
Over time dust and dirt will collect in the ridges and will have to be removed before treatment so it is best to treat the wood whilst it is brand new and clean.
Use a good brand name like Ronseal or Cuprinol, don't go cheap or you may spoil the look of your deck.
Always test a bit first as the colour on the tin doesn't always look the same once applied.
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Patios - The price depends on the work involved.
If the project requires tonnes of soil to be dug out then the cost will be more that having the area ready for the stone.
Within the price you are paying for the preparation of the area which will be dug out and a base laid consisting of crushed limestone (3 - 4 inches deep) which will be compacted and the slabs laid on a full bed of sand/cement.
A cheap way for some contractors to do this is to lay a shallow base or just put the slabs on top of the soil and then "blob" the slab which means they put a blob of cement on each corner of the slab and then level it. Within a couple of years the slab will sink and go off level. We don't do this!.
The price also depends on the type of slabs chosen as some such as natural flagstones can be quite expensive.
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Landscaping - This cannot be defined as every customer wants something different
Will I need to provide access to mains power?
Having mains power is more convenient when using tools like jackhammers, electric diamond saws etc. but in the event it is not available we have portable generators that can supply power on-site.
This is especially useful if the fence is required on a new building plot before the house is built.
Timber/gates/warping - In some situations general timber (including gates) is exposed to extensive heat from the sun.
This will cause the timber to move and warp slightly and is a natural process and not a reflection of the quality of materials used.
When the weather cools and moisture gets into the timber the movement should sort itself out.
Double driveway gates - These are made to line up but excessive heat or moisture may mean that they missalign (one being slightly higher at the point they meet. They should go back to normal as the weather changes.
