Fence post driving service in Exeter
Professional fence post driving service services in Exeter and surrounding areas. Local, reliable handyman - no job too small.
Price Guide
Call for quote
Typical Duration
Varies
Location
Exeter, Devon
Looking for post driver hire? I don't do equipment rental, but I can drive your fence posts in with my own kit - you supply the materials, I bring the tools and know-how.
Why Fencing Is Harder Than It Looks
If you've ever tried knocking in fence posts by hand, you know it's brutal work. Your back's screaming after three posts, they're all wonky, and you're nowhere near deep enough for them to last. Post drivers make it easier, but hiring one means:
- Collecting it and returning it
- Learning how to use it safely
- Still doing all the physical work yourself
- Hoping you don't hit rocks or services
💡 Pro tip: For anything more than a handful of posts, it's honestly cheaper and faster to get someone who does this regularly. You buy the materials, I drive them in straight and solid.
DIY Post Driving vs Getting Help
| ✅ Pro Does It | ❌ DIY Approach |
|---|---|
| Posts driven deep and perfectly plumb | Wonky posts that don't last |
| Knows when ground needs pre-drilling | Bent posts from hitting rocks |
| Right tension on wire/boards | Sagging fence within months |
| Done in hours with proper kit | Sore back for a week |
| Straight fence lines using string method | Uneven spacing, looks amateur |
How It Works
📦 You Supply
- Fence posts (treated timber or concrete)
- Wire mesh, stock fencing, or boards
- Gates if needed
- Concrete for gate posts
🔧 I Bring
- Petrol post driver (much faster than manual)
- String lines, levels, measuring tools
- Wire strainers for stock fencing
- Experience from doing this regularly
What A Fencing Job Actually Costs
Can't give fixed prices - every site is completely different. What affects the quote:
| Factor | Why It Matters |
|---|---|
| Length of fence | More posts = more time |
| Post spacing | Stock fence vs close-board panels |
| Ground conditions | Soft clay vs rocky Devon soil |
| Access | Flat field vs steep bank or dense vegetation |
| What you're building | Wire, mesh, boards, rails |
Call for a quote - I'll need to see photos or visit the site to give you a realistic price.
Common Devon Fencing Jobs
✅ Stock fencing - sheep, cattle, horses across rural properties
✅ Paddock fencing - safe enclosures for livestock
✅ Garden boundaries - defining property lines on larger plots
✅ Replacing rotten sections - matching existing fence lines
Why Choose Us for Fence post driving service in Exeter?
Posts driven deep and plumb - won't shift
Petrol post driver - much faster than manual
You supply materials, I do the hard work
Straight fence lines that look professional
What to Expect
Step 1: Site Assessment
Either from photos with measurements or a quick site visit, I'll assess the ground, check for obstacles, and discuss what type of fencing you're planning. Be honest about buried services or problem areas.
Step 2: Quote
You'll get a realistic price based on what I've seen. If you haven't bought materials yet, I'll tell you exactly what you need and suggest local suppliers.
Step 3: The Work Day
I turn up with post driver and tools. Posts go in straight using string lines, everything checked plumb and to the right depth. If you're attaching wire or boards, that goes on properly tensioned. Job done without the DIY marathon.
🔧 DIY Tips
Still want to have a crack yourself? Here's the reality:
🔧 Equipment you'll need
- Post driver (manual or petrol hire - petrol is MUCH easier)
- Long spirit level (4ft minimum)
- Tape measure and builder's string line
- Digging bar for pilot holes in rocky ground
- Lump hammer for final adjustments
- Wire strainers if doing stock fencing
- Helper - you can't do this solo
📐 Planning the fence line
- Mark both ends precisely
- Run a tight string line between them - keeps posts straight
- Mark post positions along the string (usually 2-3m for stock fence)
- Corner and gate posts need deeper holes and heavier posts
- Check for buried pipes and cables before you start
🔨 Driving posts properly
- Set corner and end posts first, run string between them
- Keep checking plumb in both directions as you drive
- Don't over-drive - you can't easily pull them back up
- Rocky ground? Pilot drill or use digging bar first
- Clay soil? Posts go in easy but can work loose - tamp well
- Each post should be 600-750mm deep minimum
⚠️ Common DIY disasters
- Posts not deep enough - fence pushes over in first winter storm
- Not checking plumb - wonky fence visible from miles away
- Hitting buried services - expensive and potentially lethal
- Uneven spacing - wastes materials and looks awful
- Wrong post size - too light for the job, won't last
- Following ground slope instead of keeping posts vertical
💡 Pro trick: Drive corner and end posts first, attach a tight string line between them at the height you want the top of intermediate posts, then drive to the line. Much easier than checking each post individually, and guarantees a straight fence line.
Rather leave it to a pro? No problem - that's what I'm here for. Give me a call.
Good to Know
🐑 Devon boundaries? Check your boundaries are actually where you think they are before you start. Old Devon hedges and banks make boundary lines confusing. Last thing you want is to fence someone else's land by mistake or cause a neighbour dispute.
Pulling old posts? If you're replacing existing fencing, removing old posts (especially concreted ones) is often harder than putting new ones in. Budget extra time and possibly a tractor or vehicle to pull them out.
Sloped ground? Posts need to be vertical (plumb), even on sloped land. The fence line can step down or follow the slope depending on what you're building, but posts are always vertical.
Planning permission? You don't normally need it for agricultural field fencing, but if it's near a highway or over 2 metres high, check first. Conservation areas have stricter rules.
Stock considerations? Five-bar gates are standard for cattle and sheep. If you're keeping horses, check rail spacing - foals can get legs caught. Electric fencing as a top or bottom strand helps keep stock back from the fence.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do you hire out post drivers?
No - I don't do equipment hire. But I can drive your fence posts in for you with my own kit. Much less hassle than hiring gear yourself, learning how to use it, and still doing all the physical work. You buy the posts and fencing, I knock them in properly.
Can you supply the fencing materials too?
I can advise on what you need and where to get it locally, but most people prefer to source their own materials - easier to get exactly what you want delivered to site. I'm happy to work with whatever you've bought.
What if my ground is really hard or rocky?
Devon soil varies massively. Sometimes you need to pilot drill holes first, or use a digging bar on rocky spots. I'll be straight with you if post driving won't work on your ground and what the alternatives are - sometimes you just have to dig proper holes.
How long does a fencing job take?
Impossible to say without seeing the site. A straight 50-metre run on flat ground? Few hours. Hilly field with awkward access and stock to dodge? Longer. Send me photos and measurements and I'll give you a realistic estimate.
Is it cheaper to DIY?
For 5-6 posts, maybe have a go yourself. For anything more, the cost of hiring a driver plus your time and effort usually works out similar to getting it done properly. Plus I know how to deal with problem ground, wonky spacing, and all the other stuff that trips up DIY fencing.
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