Before you start installing your rigid fence, one question always comes up: how long will it take? Whether you hire a professional or roll up your sleeves and do it yourself, having a realistic estimate helps you avoid unpleasant surprises. For 100 metres of rigid mesh fencing, you should generally allow between 2 and 4 days, depending on several factors we will detail here.
Average installation time for 100 metres
Under normal conditions, a team of two experienced people installs around 100 metres of rigid mesh fencing in 2 to 3 working days. This timeframe includes marking out, setting the posts in concrete, the concrete setting time, and fixing the panels.
If you are working alone and this is your first fence, plan for 4 to 5 days instead. Installation is not complicated, but handling the panels (often 2 metres wide) and setting the posts requires method. It is better to take your time than to have to reposition a poorly aligned post once the concrete has set.
The steps that set the pace on site
The total duration depends heavily on organisation. Here is how the work is generally spread over 100 metres:
- Marking out and setting out: half a day to stretch the line, mark the position of each post and check levels.
- Digging and setting the posts: a full day for around 40 posts (spaced 2.50 m apart).
- Concrete setting time: an unavoidable 24 to 48 hours of waiting before installing the panels.
- Fixing the panels: half a day to one day.
It is often the concrete setting time that extends the schedule. You cannot fix panels to unstable posts, so this pause is part of the process.
What affects the duration
Several factors affect installation time. The first is the nature of the ground. Soft soil is quick to dig, but stony, clay-based or sloping ground slows down post setting considerably. On rocky ground, plan for suitable equipment and a good deal of patience.
The type of post fixing also makes a difference. Posts set in concrete take longer than base-plate posts, which are bolted directly onto an existing wall or slab. This option can cut a full day off the job, as it removes the setting-time stage.
Posts set in concrete or on base plates: the impact on the schedule
The choice between setting in concrete and base-plate fixing is not only about strength; it is also about time. Setting in concrete remains the most common and most robust method for a fence installed directly in the ground. However, it comes with the well-known setting time.
Base-plate installation is intended for already-masonry surfaces. If you have a low wall or a concrete grade beam, you save valuable time: the posts are fixed immediately, and you can follow straight on with the panels. Over 100 metres, a base-plate job can be completed in a single day with two people.
Do it yourself or hire a professional
Installing your rigid mesh fencing yourself is entirely feasible, especially with complete fence kits that include posts, panels and fixings. You save on labour, but you invest time and energy. Allow extra time for your first job: level or spacing mistakes are costly once the concrete is dry.
A professional installer will work faster and guarantee perfect alignment, but the cost increases. For many homeowners, the best compromise is to prepare the ground and marking out themselves, then have a ready-to-install kit delivered. At Districlos, our advisers help you size your order and choose the most suitable fixing system for your ground.
Our tips for going faster without cutting corners
A well-prepared job is a faster job. Gather all your equipment before you start: nothing is more frustrating than a trip back to the store in the middle of installation. Check that you have the right quantities of posts, panels, concrete and fixings.
Work in pairs whenever possible, especially for carrying and positioning the panels. Mark out your line carefully before digging a single hole: good marking out saves you a huge amount of time on the rest of the job. And respect the concrete setting time, even if you are itching to finish quickly. A fence installed properly will last for decades, whereas a few hours saved are not worth a post that starts leaning after a year.
Expert in fencing, gates, and outdoor landscaping since 2019.
Holds a Master’s degree in Digital Marketing – SEO, UX/UI.
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