Hiring a Helper for a Fence, Deck, or Shed Build

Most of these projects are two person work

A fence, a deck, or a shed is not usually hard, it is just impossible alone. Somebody has to hold the post plumb while it is braced, and somebody has to take the other end of a sixteen foot board.

That second pair of hands does not have to be a contractor, and paying contractor rates for it is the most common way these projects get expensive.

What a helper does well

Everything that is heavy, repetitive, or needs two people.

• Digging post holes, which is the worst day of any fence.
• Mixing and setting concrete.
• Carrying and cutting to your marks.
• Holding, bracing, and leveling while you fasten.
• Demolition of the old fence or deck, and hauling it away.

Where the line is

You are the one who owns the layout, the measurements, and the decisions. A general helper is not a licensed carpenter and should not be treated as one.

Anything electrical, gas, or structural, or anything needing a permit, is a licensed trade and a different hire. Our guide on hiring for licensed trades covers where those lines usually fall.

Check whether it needs a permit before anybody digs

Many places require a permit for a fence over a certain height, a deck over a certain size or height off the ground, and almost any shed on a foundation.

And call 811 before digging post holes. It is free, it is a few days ahead, and hitting a gas or fiber line is a very expensive way to save a phone call.

What to pay, and how long it takes

Look up general labor or carpentry for your metro on the Daily Pay Finder. Digging and demo pay at the higher end of general labor because nobody enjoys them.

A hundred feet of fence with two people usually runs a full day for demo and holes, and a second day for panels. A small shed is a weekend with a helper on the heavy day.

Set the day up so the helper is never idle

Have the material delivered before they arrive, the tools out, and the line already marked. Somebody standing in your driveway waiting for a lumber delivery is the most expensive part of the project.

Post the job with the date, the hours, the rate, and what the work is. Your first job post is free.