What installation of electric fence means with Fenced.ca
Installation means we bring the crew, the materials, and the equipment. Site survey, posts set below local frost depth, mesh or panels tensioned to spec, hardware torqued, debris hauled, warranty registered. For homeowners, property managers, school boards, and commercial GCs who want a single-source quote covering everything from permit support through final walk-through.
What's included in Electric Fence installation
A clear scope cuts surprises. Here's what every electric fence installation quote covers and what it doesn't.
| Item | Included | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Site survey & layout | ✓ | Pre-build walk-through |
| All materials & hardware | ✓ | Spec'd to your project |
| Post-hole augering | ✓ | To local frost depth |
| Concrete footings | ✓ | 8″–12″ diameter standard |
| Mesh / panel installation | ✓ | |
| Hardware torqued to spec | ✓ | |
| Job-site clean-up | ✓ | |
| Workmanship warranty (5 yr) | ✓ | Material warranty per mfr. |
| Permit application | — | Coordination support available |
| Locate-service (call-before-dig) | ✓ | We initiate |
Electric Fence — what we stock
Electric fence is the highest-density containment tool in agricultural fence — short stored energy delivered as a pulsed shock teaches livestock to respect a fence that physically isn't strong enough to hold them. Fenced.ca supplies energizers (the "fence charger") in solar and AC variants sized by joule output: 0.1 J for paddock training and small portable; 1–4 J for permanent perimeter and moderate herd; 6–20 J for large ranch and predator deterrent; 40+ J for industrial wildlife exclusion. Energizer sizing follows wire length and "fence load" (vegetation contact, wet conditions, soil conductivity).
Wire substrate: poly-wire (steel filaments in polyethylene strand — visible, light, the temporary-fence standard); poly-rope (thicker poly-wire, equine-grade visibility, the horse-paddock standard); poly-tape (flat ribbon, maximum visibility, often layered with poly-rope on multi-strand horse fence); bare 12.5-ga galvanized wire (the permanent high-tensile substrate, lowest cost per linear foot).
Configuration: permanent perimeter typically 3–5 strands at 12″ vertical spacing for cattle, 6 strands for sheep/goat (more strands for smaller livestock), 2-strand offset on existing barbed-wire fence for predator deterrent. Portable kits use reel-and-stake systems for rotational grazing.
Charger sizing: 0.5 joule for <800 m of single-wire fence (backyard pet, small herd). 2–4 joules for 2-4 km (mid-size herds, multi-strand). 8–15 joules for 5+ km with 5–7 wire strands (large cattle ranches, deer exclusion). Gallagher, Premier 1, and Stafix are the dominant Canadian-distributed brands.
Wire and grounding: Galvanized smooth high-tensile wire (12.5 ga, 1300 lb tensile) on insulator-mounted posts. Grounding is critical — 3 × 2.4 m galvanized ground rods spaced 3 m apart, connected with insulated 10 AWG wire. Insufficient grounding is the #1 cause of weak shock complaints.
Safety + signage: Electric fence requires regulatory warning signs every 50 m visible from approach. Most Canadian provinces follow CSA C22.2 No. 25 for fence-energizer certification. Cannot be used on residential property lines facing public sidewalks.
Pricing & lead time: Electric fence pricing (DIY supply): 0.5J charger + 800 m wire kit runs $300–500, 5J charger + 2 km kit at $700–1,200, 10J charger + 5 km kit at $1,500–2,500. Installation labour at $3–6 LF. Grounding hardware mandatory. Same-week shipping on stocked items; specialty chargers (e.g., bear protection) add 2 weeks.
Common applications
- livestock containment
- predator deterrent
- wildlife exclusion
- rotational grazing
→ See the full Electric Fence guide (specs, gauges, finishes, full description)
How installation works
- 01
Site visit & survey
Free measure-up. We confirm property lines, locate utilities, flag any obstacles (rock, slope, drainage).
- 02
Detailed quote
Material spec, installed price, schedule window, warranty terms. CCDC-2 format available for commercial.
- 03
Permits & locates
We coordinate the call-before-dig locate. You handle the municipal permit (or we assist for a flat fee).
- 04
Build week
Posts set day 1 (concrete cures overnight), mesh/panels installed day 2, hardware and gates day 3 on standard residential runs.
- 05
Walk-through & warranty
Site walk-through, deficiency list, sign-off. 5-year workmanship warranty registered on completion.
Electric Fence installation — pricing & lead time
Pricing band
Installed pricing typically runs $35–80 per linear foot residential, $50–120 LF commercial. Includes materials + labor + standard footings.
Final pricing is project-specific — terrain, gate count, hardware grade, and material colour all move the number. Get an itemized quote in 24 hours →
Lead time by region
| Region | Lead time |
|---|---|
| Toronto / GTA | 2–4 weeks (residential) |
| Montreal / Quebec | 2–4 weeks |
| Calgary / Edmonton | 3–5 weeks |
| Vancouver / Lower Mainland | 2–4 weeks |
| Atlantic Canada | 4–6 weeks |
| Prairies (rural) | 4–8 weeks |
| Commercial / multi-phase | Per project schedule |
Common questions — Electric Fence installation
How deep do you set posts for electric fence?
Do you handle the permit for me?
What's covered under the 5-year workmanship warranty?
How long does a typical residential electric fence installation take?
One quote. Every material. Every province.
Tell us material, project size, postal code, and contact — we come back within 24 hours with pricing, lead time, and a local install or delivery slot.