What questions should I ask during a fence estimate?
by Craig Fenderson
I have been doing sales, installation and repairs of fencing in the Dallas - Fort Worth metroplex since 1999. When performing estimates I have come across many different types and styles of fences with many different situations surrounding the best way to get the job done. Most customers will get 3 estimates from different fence companies serving their area. There are times when they call and either they do not get an answer or when they do leave a message they do not get a call back. My experience on this is either the fence company is either too busy or when you described your job details it is either something they do not do or do not want to do. So this may be your first indication of what you are looking for when choosing the right company. Make sure the company can perform the job at hand and that they are interested in doing the job. Below are a list of questions that I think are important for you to ask when dealing with a dallas fence contractor.
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| Board on Board Cedar Fence |
1. Do they do the type of work you are describing? If this is their first time they may not have the experience and you could run into problems.
2. Are they insured? Insurance can be obtained for as little as $100 per month. If the company cannot afford insurance they may be working paycheck to paycheck or are not charging properly on jobs to maintain their coverage.
3. Do they perform a digg tess to check utilities prior to digging? This is a free service from Texas 811. The contractor will call in and setup an appointment to have the utilities flagged prior to excavation.
4. What type of materials will they be using. There are different types of wood from whitewood or spruce to pressure treated pine to cedar. Also there are different grades of cedar. The most commonly used in Dallas is a number 2 grade. Number 1 has very few knots, Clear is well, clear of knots and number 3 is the most inexpensive, but it looks pretty rough. Number 2 has a few knots but is a good looking board and is the most popular and overall the best choice for your money. Also be aware of they types of posts being used. There are landscape timbers, 4x4 pressure treated and metal. Metal of course is the best. Stay away from timbers or lst's if you can. They only tend to last about a year or so. Rails come in 2x3 or 2x4 sizes and are available in whitewood, treated and cedar. Cedar can be rough or smooth. Price is the main concern when dealing with rails. Treated and cedar are both good choices, treated can warp over time however and cedar is quite pricey.
5. How deep are the posts set and how far apart? At minimum the posts should be set 2' on a 6 foot fence and 8' spacing from post to post. When using a kick-board go 6" deeper. Its best to go 3' deep. On an 8' fence space the fence at a minimum of 6' from post to post and on gates use double posts so that the gates do not sag from the weight
6. How is payment to be made? Most fence contractors take 50% down and 50% when the job is done. This allows the contractor to be able to purchase the materials to get the job done. If they pay for materials and are running multiple jobs at the same time they may not be able to afford to get your job done in a timely manner as they are waiting on cash from another job. Of course there is a risk that if you don't check them out they have been known not to do the job after payment. This works both ways, not all customers pay either. There is a level of honesty on both parties.
7. When can they start the job and how long will it take to complete? Typically there are tasks that must be completed prior to starting the job. For example, contacting the crews, calling Digg Tess, acquiring permits, then there is other factors like weather, illness, equipment failure, time to finish previously scheduled jobs, etc. You may have to allow a for up to a week for permitting and another week or so for other jobs to clear out of the queue.
8. Who acquires the permit? Many fence contractors acquire the permit and it is a benefit for the costumer if the contractor does it as it takes time out of your day and can be a hassle if you don't know what you re doing. Ultimately it is the homeowners responsibility.
There may be other questions that pertain to your particular job, but these are some of the more common ones ive run across throughout the years. Feel free to contact us at the information below if you have any questions or concerns.
For additional information regarding your fence, deck or arbor installation, repair or staining, please contact Budget Fence N Deck at (972) 537-7766
(972) 537-7766 or visit us online at www.budgetfencendeck.com
(972) 537-7766 or visit us online at www.budgetfencendeck.com
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