Fruit cage assembly in Exeter
Professional fruit cage assembly services in Exeter and surrounding areas. Local, reliable handyman - no job too small.
Price Guide
£160-260
Typical Duration
3-5 hrs
Location
Exeter, Devon
Fruit cage flatpack kits assembled properly - framework square and solid, netting tight with no gaps, door working smoothly. Birds stay out, you get the fruit.
Stop Losing Soft Fruit To Birds
If you grow strawberries, raspberries, currants, or anything else birds love, you know the frustration of losing half your crop to feathered thieves. Fruit cages actually work - but only if they're assembled properly with no gaps and tensioned correctly.
💡 Pro tip: Buy a quality fruit cage kit, get it assembled properly once, and it'll protect your soft fruit for years. Much better than faffing about with temporary netting every summer that never quite works.
Proper Assembly vs DIY Wonky Cage
| ✅ Done Right | ❌ Typical DIY Job |
|---|---|
| Framework square and level | Wonky, twisting, won't stand straight |
| Netting tight and properly tensioned | Sagging net, gaps everywhere |
| Door closes properly, good hinges | Door binds or won't latch |
| Lasts years without falling apart | Starts collapsing first winter |
| Birds actually kept out | They find the gaps in days |
What You Get
🔧 The Full Assembly
| Stage | What Happens |
|---|---|
| Prepare | Check all parts present, read instructions |
| Framework | Assemble frame square and true |
| Set | Position properly, check level |
| Secure | Fix frame down or weight if freestanding |
| Net | Fit netting tight with proper tension |
| Door | Hang door, fit hinges and catches properly |
| Check | Walk around looking for any bird-sized gaps |
📦 You're Left With
- Fruit cage that's actually bird-proof
- Solid structure that'll last
- Door you can use without swearing
- Soft fruit that makes it to your bowl not the blackbird's belly
Pricing Guide
| Cage Size | Estimated Time | You'll Pay |
|---|---|---|
| Small (2x2m typical) | 3 hrs | £160 |
| Medium (3x3m typical) | 4 hrs | £210 |
| Large (4x4m+ or walk-in) | 5 hrs | £260 |
Based on £60 minimum (first hour) + £50/hr after. Time assumes kit is complete, ground is reasonable, and instructions aren't completely fictional. Complex kits or problem sites may take longer.
Perfect For Devon Fruit Growers If...
✅ Soft fruit beds - strawberries, raspberries, currants that birds demolish
✅ Small orchards - protecting young fruit trees from bird damage
✅ Serious growing - you want actual harvests not to feed the wildlife
✅ Hate assembly instructions - just want it done properly without the stress
Why Choose Us for Fruit cage assembly in Exeter?
Framework assembled square and level
Netting fitted tight - no bird access
Door working properly on good hinges
Whole structure solid and tensioned
What to Expect
Step 1: Check The Kit
I'll check all the parts are there before starting - fruit cage kits often have bits missing or instructions that don't match what's in the box. If there are problems, we sort them before wasting time on assembly.
Step 2: Build The Frame
Framework goes together square and level. This is the critical bit - if the frame's wonky, everything else will be wrong. I use string lines and levels to get it right, not guesswork.
Step 3: Fit Netting And Door
Netting goes on with proper tension - tight enough to keep birds out but not so tight it tears. Door fitted so it actually opens and closes without jamming. Final check for any gaps.
🔧 DIY Tips
Want to tackle fruit cage assembly yourself? Here's the reality:
🔧 Tools you'll need
- Spirit level
- Tape measure and set square
- Mallet (rubber or wooden)
- String line for checking straight
- Pliers or cable ties for fixing netting
- Step ladder for taller cages
- Scissors or knife for cutting netting
- Helper - you can't do this solo
📐 Getting it square
- Lay out all parts and check against parts list BEFORE starting
- Assemble base frame first - get this square and level
- Use string diagonals to check square (equal diagonals = square)
- Don't fully tighten everything until whole frame is up and checked
- Work on reasonably level ground - makes everything easier
🔨 Assembly tricks
- Follow instructions but don't trust them blindly - check it makes sense
- Loosely assemble framework first, then adjust before final tightening
- Net gets fitted last - if you do it early it just gets in the way
- Tension netting corner to corner, not side to side
- Use proper fixings not just the bare minimum
- Test door swing before final fixing - adjust if needed
⚠️ Common DIY disasters
- Not checking parts list - discover missing bits halfway through
- Tightening bolts as you go - can't adjust when it's wonky
- Skipping the checking-square step - everything else is wrong
- Fitting netting too loose - birds get in easily
- Fitting netting too tight - tears when wind catches it
- Door positioned where you can't actually reach to open it
💡 Pro trick: When fitting netting, start at one corner and work around rather than doing sides separately. Less likely to end up with wrinkles and gaps. And use cable ties or clips generously - the kit usually supplies barely enough. Buy extras.
Rather leave it to a pro? No problem - that's what I'm here for. Give me a call.
Good to Know
🍓 Timing: Get your fruit cage up before the berries ripen. Birds learn where fruit is fast - once they've found your strawberries, they'll keep coming back even after you net them. Beat them to it.
Ground preparation: Fruit cages work best on level ground. If your fruit patch is on a slope or very uneven, you might need to do some levelling first. Factor that time in.
Kit quality varies: Cheap fruit cages from budget retailers can be awful - thin frames, rubbish netting, nonsense instructions. Spend a bit more on a decent kit and it'll last years longer. I'll tell you straight if what you've bought is going to be a nightmare.
Netting replacement: Even good netting degrades in UV eventually. Check it every spring for holes or weak spots. Replacement netting is cheap compared to a new frame.
Winter maintenance: If you get heavy snow in Devon (rare but happens), the weight can damage cages. Either remove roof netting for winter or brush snow off promptly.
Multi-use: Fruit cages also work brilliantly for protecting brassicas from pigeons, young plants from rabbits, and seedbeds from cats. You don't have to grow fruit in them.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need to buy the fruit cage first?
Yes - I assemble kits you've bought, rather than designing custom cages from scratch. Most people order flatpack fruit cages online or from garden centres. I'll put it together properly so it's square, tight, and actually works. Send me the link to what you're buying and I'll tell you if there's any obvious issues with it.
How long does assembly take?
Depends entirely on size. A small cage over a few berry bushes might be 3 hours. A walk-in cage covering serious fruit growing takes longer - 4-5 hours. The instructions that come with kits are often rubbish, which slows things down. I've done enough of these to know the tricks.
Do you level the ground first?
Basic levelling if it's close, yes. If your plot needs serious groundwork or the frame needs to go on raised beds, that's extra time. I'll look at photos and tell you what's realistic. Fruit cages work best on reasonably level ground.
What if I've already started and made a mess of it?
Happens all the time - people get halfway through, realize it's wonky or the instructions make no sense, and call for help. I can usually fix it without starting from scratch, but sometimes it's quicker to dismantle and rebuild properly. I'll advise once I see what state it's in.
Will birds actually stay out?
If it's assembled properly, yes. The key is tight netting with no gaps, properly tensioned so it doesn't sag, and a door that closes properly. Badly assembled cages have gaps everywhere and birds just waltz in. That's the difference between DIY guesswork and knowing how to do it right.
Fruit cage assembly Also Available In:
Get a Free Quote in Exeter
Call us today for a free, no-obligation quote for your fruit cage assembly job in Exeter.
01392 964094Request Online QuoteOur Rates
Got multiple jobs?
Make the most of your first hour - I can often tackle several small tasks in one visit. List everything you need done when you call!
Why Trust Us
Need Fruit cage assembly in Exeter?
Get a free quote for your fruit cage assembly job in Exeter today.