In New Orleans, DIY fence installation can save 30 to 50 percent on labor but demands extra care with clay soil, drainage, and property line accuracy. Professional installation costs more upfront but usually means straighter posts, faster completion, and someone to call if a section shifts. The right choice depends on your soil, your fence material, and how much physical labor you want to take on.
Standing in the yard with a post hole digger in hand, the DIY vs professional fence installation decision looks simpler than it actually is. Anyone can watch a video and set a post in concrete. What’s harder to judge from a video is how your particular yard, your particular soil, and your particular property lines will behave once panels and gates are added to the mix.
That’s the gap this guide fills. We work with homeowners across New Orleans on both aluminum and wrought iron fencing, and get asked the DIY-or-hire question on nearly every estimate call. Visit Big Easy Fence Supply to see the materials available, or keep reading for an honest look at what each installation path really involves.
Both materials require digging footings roughly 24 inches deep, setting posts in concrete, and attaching panels with a level so the entire line stays straight across the run. Getting this base step wrong is the most common reason a fence fails early.
Aluminum panels are lighter and use bolt-together hardware, which is why some homeowners tackle smaller residential runs themselves. Wrought iron is heavier and often welded or fitted section by section, which raises the physical difficulty and the margin for error. A slightly uneven aluminum panel is usually a quick fix, but a wrought iron section set at the wrong angle is much harder to correct once the concrete cures.
A basic DIY setup requires a post hole digger or gas auger, a four-foot level, mason’s line to keep the run straight, and quick-set concrete. Renting an auger for larger jobs saves hours of manual digging but adds another cost most homeowners forget to budget for. Safety gear matters too, since digging in New Orleans clay after rain can strain your back and shoulders fast.
Browse aluminum fencing or wrought iron fencing options to see which style fits your property and your comfort level with the work.
DIY installation typically saves 30 to 50 percent of the total project cost because labor makes up roughly $15 to $40 of every linear foot on a professional quote. On a 150-foot backyard fence, that gap can add up to thousands of dollars.
The catch is that real savings shrink once you count tool rentals, wasted material, and the weekends spent digging in New Orleans heat. Permit fees and survey costs apply either way, so they don’t change the comparison much. Material choice affects the math too, since aluminum and wrought iron both carry a higher upfront cost than some fencing types, so getting the quantity and layout right the first time matters more.
Timeline is the other trade-off worth weighing. A professional crew usually finishes a 150-foot residential fence in one to two days, including cleanup. DIYers typically need three to six weekends for the same run once you factor in digging, letting concrete cure, and fitting panels around a work schedule. Humidity slows concrete curing further, so posts set on a Saturday may not be ready to carry panel weight until midweek.
Our fence materials buyer’s guide breaks down how aluminum and wrought iron compare on cost and upkeep if you’re still deciding between them.
New Orleans sits on clay-heavy soil that expands when wet and contracts when dry, especially during the region’s long rainy stretches. That constant movement is one of the top reasons DIY fences lean or heave within a year or two.
Heavy rainfall saturates the ground quickly, and if post holes aren’t dug deep enough or the concrete mix isn’t right for local conditions, posts lose their grip over time. Drainage swales and low spots along a property line make the problem worse, since water tends to pool right where fence posts sit.
Standard 24-inch footings that work fine in sandy or loamy soil often need extra depth or wider concrete collars in heavier clay to resist the seasonal swelling and shrinking. Skipping that adjustment is a common reason DIY posts start leaning within the first rainy season.
Wind is the other factor DIYers underestimate. Hurricane season brings sustained gusts that test every post and connection point on a fence, and shallow or poorly set posts are usually the first thing to fail. If your yard has drainage issues or sits near a ditch, talk to someone before you commit to a DIY layout so the plan accounts for how water actually moves through your property. Contact our team for a free estimate and a second opinion on your soil conditions.
Louisiana law presumes a fence built directly on a shared boundary is a common fence, so an inaccurate line can turn a simple project into a dispute with a neighbor. A licensed surveyor is the only reliable way to confirm your exact boundary before any posts go in the ground.
Most residential fence projects in Orleans Parish also require a permit, whether you install the fence yourself or hire it out. Professional installers typically build the survey and permit steps into their process. DIYers have to arrange both on their own and budget for the extra time and fees.
Our post on how long aluminum fencing lasts in New Orleans covers more on what proper installation protects against over time.
Professional installation is the safer call for wrought iron, sloped or irregular yards, and gates with complex hardware. It’s also worth hiring out if soil or drainage issues have already caused problems for a previous fence on your property, since a crew can address the root cause.
A trained crew brings the equipment to dig consistent, properly angled footings and the experience to adjust for wet or unstable ground on the spot. They also carry the accountability that DIY doesn’t offer if a post shifts after the first storm season.
DIY still makes sense for shorter, straightforward aluminum runs on flat, well-drained ground where you’re comfortable with manual labor spread over a few weekends. Call 504-608-7730 if you want a professional to walk your property and tell you honestly whether it’s a good DIY candidate.
Most residential fence projects in Orleans Parish require a permit before construction begins, whether you install it yourself or hire a contractor. Skipping this step can lead to fines or forced changes later. Check with the city’s permitting office before digging any post holes.
Aluminum fence installation typically runs $20 to $60 per linear foot installed, while wrought iron often runs higher due to material weight and fabrication time. Pricing depends on height, style, and gate count. Big Easy Fence Supply provides free estimates based on your exact property.
It’s possible on a short, simple run, but wrought iron is heavier and less forgiving than aluminum if a section is set unevenly. Most homeowners find professional installation worth it for wrought iron because mistakes are expensive to correct once the concrete sets.
Clay-heavy soil around New Orleans expands and contracts with moisture, which loosens improperly set posts over time. Heavy rain and poor drainage speed up this movement. Deeper footings and the right concrete mix reduce the risk of leaning or heaving posts.
A licensed surveyor is the most reliable way to confirm your exact boundary before you dig. Louisiana treats a fence built on a shared line as a common fence, so an inaccurate placement can create a dispute with your neighbor down the road.
Big Easy Fence Supply supplies aluminum and wrought iron fencing and offers full installation, repair, and gate services backed by a 24-Hour Fence Replacement Guarantee. We also offer Fence Now, Pay Later financing for homeowners who want professional installation without paying it all upfront.
Weighing DIY against professional installation comes down to honest math on savings, time, soil conditions, and how much risk you’re willing to take on with property lines and permits. Neither path is wrong. The smarter choice is simply the one that matches your yard, your material, and your tolerance for spending a few weekends with a post hole digger.
Big Easy Fence Supply has helped homeowners across New Orleans work through exactly this decision on more than 1,500 completed projects. Whether you’re ready to hire a crew or just need materials and an honest opinion on your soil, our team can point you in the right direction.
Call 504-608-7730 today for a free estimate, or reach out through our Contact page to get your fence project started the right way.