Fence installation and repair
Compare local fence contractors for wood, vinyl, metal and chain-link fences. 2,409 pros listed in 1,208 cities across 50 states.
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What a fence job involves
A new fence is mostly posts. The installer marks the line, digs post holes to the depth the ground and local code call for, sets the posts (often in concrete), then hangs rails and panels or pickets and fits gates. Gates take the most care: the posts either side carry their weight every time they swing.
Repairs are usually leaning or rotted posts, broken panels or pickets, and sagging gates. A fence with many failing posts is often cheaper to replace than to repair post by post.
Choosing a material
- Wood: the most common privacy fence; needs staining or sealing, and posts in the ground are where it rots first.
- Vinyl: little maintenance; check how it handles your climate’s heat and cold.
- Aluminium and steel: ornamental and pool fences; aluminium does not rust.
- Chain-link: economical for securing a yard and pets; privacy slats are an option.
- Pool fences: often governed by local barrier codes for height and self-closing, self-latching gates — check before choosing.
Permits, property lines and 811
Many towns require a permit for a new fence and limit its height, especially in front yards; HOAs often add their own rules on style and colour. Know where your property line is before the first post goes in — a survey or your plat — and agree with neighbours where a shared fence will sit.
Fence posts are one of the most common reasons homeowners dig. Call 811 or your state 811 center’s website a few business days before digging so buried utility lines are marked; the service is free (811 Before You Dig). Wait until every utility has responded before the holes are dug.
How to choose a fence contractor
- Get written quotes with the length, height, material, post spacing, how posts are set, gates and hardware, and removal of the old fence.
- Ask who requests the 811 locate and who pulls any permit.
- Ask about licensing; many states and cities license fence work as contracting above a job-size threshold. Check with your state board.
- Ask for proof of liability insurance.
- Ask what the warranty covers — materials, workmanship, and leaning posts.
- Agree the payment schedule; the FTC advises against paying in full up front (FTC).
What affects the cost
- Length and height of the run.
- Material and style — privacy panels, pickets, ornamental metal or chain-link.
- Gates: number, width and hardware.
- Ground conditions: rock, roots and slopes slow post holes down.
- Removing and hauling away the old fence.
- Permits and any survey needed to confirm the line.
DIY or pro
A short run of panels on level ground is a common DIY project if you have a post-hole digger or auger and patience with a level. Long runs, slopes, rocky ground, gates that must swing true for years, and pool barriers that must meet code are where experience shows. Whoever digs, the 811 call comes first.
Common questions
- Do I need a permit to build a fence?
- Often, especially above a certain height or in front yards. Check with your town and HOA before ordering materials.
- Do I need to call 811 before installing a fence?
- Yes. Call 811 a few business days before digging post holes; the service is free.
- Who owns a fence on the property line?
- It depends on local law and any agreement with your neighbour. Confirm the line and agree in writing before building.
- Which fence material lasts longest?
- It depends on climate and upkeep. Metal and vinyl need less maintenance than wood; ask the contractor what suits your conditions.
- Can a leaning fence be fixed?
- Usually, by resetting or replacing the failed posts. If many posts have rotted, replacement may make more sense.
- Are there special rules for pool fences?
- Often — height, gaps and self-closing, self-latching gates are commonly set by local code. Check before you build.
Related services
Sources
Safety and standards advice on this page comes from these publishers. Dates are the ones each page shows.
- 811 Before You Dig, Before You Dig (no date shown; read October 2026)
- Federal Trade Commission, How To Avoid Scams After Weather Emergencies and Natural Disasters (modified April 28, 2026)
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