Fruit cage assembly in Honiton
Looking for professional fruit cage assembly help in Honiton? Hembury Contracting provides reliable rural services across Honiton and surrounding areas.
Price Guide
£160-260
Typical Duration
3-5 hrs
Location
Honiton
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.
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### 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 |
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### 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
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### 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.*
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### 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 Honiton?
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.
Our Honiton Service Coverage
We cover Honiton and a 30-mile radius from Exeter, meaning you get local service with the backing of an established business. Whether you're in the centre of Honiton or in the surrounding villages, we're here to help.
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 about Fruit cage assembly in Honiton
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.
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01392 964094Request Online QuotePricing for Honiton
* Same rates for all locations in our service area
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!
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