6 Crucial Questions to Ask Your Potential Fence Contractor
Picking the perfect fence is a huge investment and can increase your property’s value significantly. A fence provides not only privacy but also security for your entire family. Choosing the wrong contractor can cost you lots of time and money, so it’s best to get it right the first time.
When asking questions, it’s crucial that you know to ask the right ones to avoid any complications before, during or after installation.
We’ve gathered the six most crucial questions when deciding your future fence contractor:
1. Do you have Workmen’s Compensation Insurance?
Under California law, a contractor is required to carry Workmen’s Compensation Insurance. This insurance covers the contractor in the event that he or she is injured while completing the work. The insurance covers possible medical bills for the installer as well pay a portion of his or her wages in the event the contractor can not work for a period of time.
If your contractor does not have Workmen’s Compensation Insurance, you as the homeowner may be personally liable for an accident that happens on your property. This is a very risky position to be in as a homeowner, and you should avoid putting yourself in a position to work with a contractor that has no Workmen’s Compensation Insurance.
2. Do you have General Liability Insurance?
General Liability Insurance is different than Workmen’s Compensation Insurance. General Liability Insurance covers accidents to property or other people near the project. Liability insurance might cover a fence falling over on top of a neighbor, or a child having an accident in a pool because the gate didn’t work properly.
Many contractors work without liability insurance because many times they are not required by the State Contractor’s Board to carry Liability Insurance.
3. Will my new fence be installed to follow grade or with a level top rail?
Most fencing is installed to follow grade, meaning the fence is the same height at every location along the fence line. The rails of the fence are installed parallel to the ground. So if the ground slopes, the rails will follow the same slope which prevents having large gaps at the bottom. Homeowners who desire the top of their fence to be level and don’t mind the gap created at the bottom since they plan to fill with dirt and plants. Whichever way you would like your fence installed, be sure to note that on the contract so that there will be no future disagreements.
4. What height will my fence be?
There are different common heights for different styles of fencing. For instance, a picket fence is normally not over 48” high and a privacy fence is normally 72” high.
Some contractors have been known to mislead people by selling a privacy fence that is not 72” high but 68” high. It is still a solid privacy fence height, but it was made to be 68” high which ultimately is less material for the contractor.
Many picket fences are only 36” high instead of 48” high, both with the same design. Bottomline is be detailed on your contract what height and style that you want.
5. How will my posts be attached?
Vinyl posts may be installed with different requirements depending where the installation is. For example, the West Coast is usually 24” in the ground, East Coast is usually 36” in the ground. If posts are installed on a concrete deck there are two options. The first is you can core drill the concrete and pour a concrete footing around the post then repair the slab. The second, more common option, is to drill 3/8” rebar (2 sticks usually) 4” into the slab and epoxy that rebar into the hole. Next, run the rebar up into the post at least 36” tall then pour concrete into the post.
This is a very strong method of installation. There is also a third method where galvanized steel or aluminum post mounts are secured to the slab with a red head bolt.
6. What design and style of rails will be used on my fence?
You should use care when you are looking for a vinyl privacy fence because there are many different kinds that exist.
First, make sure you get the desired height you’d like which is normally 72” high to the top rail. Some big box companies offer privacy fence 68” high or 65” high.
Second, what size are the rails?
There are many sizes of rails including some decorative and some straight-faced which sometimes require metal inserts. The most common size is 2” x 6” but there are more decorative options with a little large rail such as 1.75” x 8”. Just be sure to look at samples and compare what you like.
Third, make sure that your vinyl privacy panel comes with a “U channel” on both sides. If there is any expansion and contraction of your picket panels, no light or gaps will show through the fence.
Bottom line, it’s wise not to assume that you are comparing the same privacy fence without getting details and have them written in your bid.
Home Team is a family-owned company providing high-quality vinyl fences, pergolas, and patio covers. Our shipping to all 50 states and price matching make us the best choice for your next home project. Visit our site to browse our gallery and schedule your free estimate today.
