Article summary
What to expect when removing an old fence, including disposal, costs, and site preparation.
- Category:
- local
- Read time:
- 3 min
- Published:
- 31 December 2024
- Written by:
- My Homes Fencing Expert
Quick answer: removing an old fence involves more than pulling out palings — the real work is digging out concreted posts, then loading and disposing of the material at a transfer station, which costs labour plus tip fees. Most people have their fencing contractor handle removal as part of a new-fence job, since it's efficient to do both together. Old treated timber has to go to landfill (it can't be burned or composted), so factor disposal into the budget.
Removal is the unglamorous first step of most fence replacements. Here's what's actually involved and what to check.
It's often bundled into a new-fence quote, so it's worth understanding either way.
What Removal Actually Involves
Taking down the visible part of a fence is quick; the effort is in the posts. Old posts are usually set in concrete, so removing them means digging out each footing — heavier and slower than people expect, especially in Auckland's clay or where posts have been in for decades. On a shared boundary, it's also worth confirming with your neighbour before removing a fence you both use, and agreeing timing so the boundary isn't left open longer than needed.
How much comes out depends on your plans: if a new fence is going straight back in on the same line, the contractor coordinates removal and rebuild so the gap is minimal and the new post holes are dug fresh.
Disposal: Where the Old Fence Goes
Old fencing material has to be disposed of responsibly, and this is where the tip fees come in. Treated timber (the vast majority of old fences) can't be burned or composted because of the preservatives, so it goes to landfill via a transfer station. Metal components can often be recycled, and concrete from the footings is disposed of separately. All of this is labour to load and cart, plus the disposal charges themselves.
This is exactly why 'old-fence removal and disposal' is a line item worth checking in any new-fence quote — it's real cost and work, and whether it's included or separate affects how quotes compare.
Cost, Timing and Doing It With the Rebuild
For most people, the efficient path is to have the same contractor remove the old fence and build the new one, because the crew, access and disposal run are already organised — doing removal as a standalone job means paying for mobilisation and tip runs twice. The cost of removal depends on the fence length, how the posts were set, site access, and the volume of material to dispose of.
We include or itemise removal and disposal clearly in our quotes, handle the tip runs, and coordinate it with the new fence so your boundary isn't open for long. If you just need an old fence gone, we can quote that too — either way you'll know upfront what's involved and what it costs.
Frequently Asked Questions
Taking down the palings and rails is quick; the real work is digging out concreted posts, which is heavy going in Auckland clay. Then the material is loaded and carted to a transfer station for disposal. On a shared boundary, confirm with your neighbour first.
Treated timber goes to landfill via a transfer station — it can't be burned or composted because of the preservatives. Metal parts can often be recycled and concrete footings disposed of separately. The tip fees plus loading labour are what make up the disposal cost.
Usually yes — having the same contractor remove and rebuild is more efficient, since the crew, access and tip runs are already organised. Doing removal as a standalone job means paying for mobilisation and disposal separately.
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