Fence Costs

5 Questions You Need To Ask All Fencing Contractors

The key to any fencing project is open communication between the homeowner and contractor. Putting up a security, privacy, pool or any other type of fence can be a lengthy and difficult process. The best way to simplify the process is to always have an open dialogue with your fencing contractor. That dialogue starts with the first interview. 

Below are five questions you need to ask all fencing contractors. You should have and be comfortable with each answer before signing that contract.

Note: Before asking anything, always check their insurance for liability coverage. It’s always better to work with a contractor who has insurance.

1. Will You Pull the Permits?

Not all homeowners will have to pull permits, but like we always say, it’s better to take precaution. The city or county issues fence permits and each has their own rules and regulations. Some municipalities always require a permit, but many only require it for special situations. The type of fence and fence height are key factors. Many cities don’t allow a barbed wire fence, but if they do, you can bet you’ll need a permit.

While we highly recommend you have your contractor pull these permits, oftentimes, they put the burden on the homeowner. Either way, you must know whose responsibility it is to pull the permits. If your city or county requires a fencing permit, the project can’t begin until this task is completed.

2. Will You Contact the Utility Companies?

This is perhaps the most important step in the fencing process. As I iterated in How To Install A Fence, it’s imperative that the contractor does not hit a utility line under your land. Believe it or not, we have heard stories of fencing projects interrupting the electric lines and causing neighborhood outages. Therefore, you or your fencing contractor must contact the utility company and schedule a time for them to come out. They will mark all the utility lines running through your property. If this step is not completed, you could have angry neighbors knocking on your door during the next power outage. 

3. How Long Will the Job Take?

Like any home remodeling project, you always need an agreed upon time frame. Given all the permits contractors have to pull and city guidelines they have to check, fencing projects can get delayed. Once all the precautionary steps have been met, you and your contractor need to have an agreed upon time frame.

Depending on the type of fence you choose, certain fencing projects can take awhile. If you went with a tall wood fence, the longer pieces of lumber can be difficult to work with and may require a few extra days to put together. Nonetheless, if you kept an open dialogue with your contractor before signing and agreed on a time frame, hopefully, no surprises will appear once the renovation begins.

4. Can You Show me Examples of Similar Projects?

This question should be asked before any renovation project. If you are dealing with a professional contractor, you want to make sure they have completed similar projects before. It goes without saying, but you also want to make sure the end product meets your home remodeling standards. Viewing pictures of past projects can ensure both.

Contractors, no matter what remodeling projects they take on, should always have pictures of their best work. If they don’t have these readily available, then you may want to continue your search.

Bonus Question: Ask them what issues they’ve had in the past. No one is perfect, but you should appreciate an honest contractor who can talk about their past disappointments. 

5. What Kind Of Materials Do You Plan To Use? What Are My Options?

Homeowners should have a general idea of what material you want for their fence. Nevertheless, your fencing contractor should tell you more than you ever wanted to know about fences.

In the culinary field, great chefs don’t just know how to make one amazing dish. They know how to make several. The same goes for fencing. Their wealth of knowledge will show you how dedicated they are to the field.