Fence Contractor FAQ
Fence projects raise practical questions about materials, repairability, gates, permits, height, maintenance, scheduling, and cost. This FAQ brings those topics together in one place and points readers toward the more detailed service and guide pages when a short answer is not enough.
For a specific property, the fastest path is usually to review the relevant service area, choose a starting fence type from our material guide, and then request a project quote.
Schedule your no-obligation on-site consultation today.
Fence Installation Questions
The questions people ask most before building a new fence: how long it takes, how the price is worked out and what decides when work can start. The fence installation page goes into more detail.
How Long Projects Take
Most residential fences are built in one to three days on site. Longer runs, removal of an old fence, slopes, rocky ground and several gates add time. Posts set in concrete are usually left to cure before gates are hung.
How Estimates Work
You can get a range immediately with the fence cost calculator. For a firm price, we measure the fence line on site and give you a written quote itemizing footage, height, material, posts, gates, removal and haul-away.
What Affects Scheduling
Material availability, the season, the 811 utility locate that has to happen before digging, and whether a permit or HOA approval is needed. Very wet weather can also delay digging and concrete work.
Fence Repair and Replacement Questions
The main question is whether the damage is local or the fence is failing as a whole. The repair and replacement pages cover each service, and the comparison guide explains how to decide.
When Repair Is Enough
When most posts are firm and the damage is limited to a few boards, a rail, one or two posts or a gate. New parts are matched to the existing fence and wood weathers in within a season or two.
When Replacement Is Better
When a third or more of the posts move or are rotted at the base, the fence leans along long runs, or the same sections keep failing. Replacement also lets you change the material, height or layout.
How We Evaluate Existing Fences
We check every post for movement and rot at ground level, look along the line for leaning and sagging, inspect rails, boards or fabric and gate hardware, and ask what you want from the fence — then say whether it is a repair or a replacement.
Fence Material Questions
Short answers to the most common material questions. For side-by-side prices and maintenance, see the fence materials guide and the pages for each material.
Cedar vs Vinyl
At 6 feet, cedar starts around $58 a foot installed and vinyl around $55. Cedar looks natural and can be repaired board by board but needs staining every few years; vinyl needs no finish and keeps its color but has to be repaired with matching parts.
Chain Link Uses
Chain link, from about $28 a foot, is the practical choice for dog runs, side yards, gardens, back property lines and commercial perimeters. Black vinyl-coated mesh looks better than bare galvanized, and slats can add privacy.
Maintenance Expectations
Cedar needs the most: a stain every three to five years and occasional board or post repairs. Vinyl and powder-coated aluminum need an occasional wash. Galvanized chain link needs the least of all.
Gate Questions
Gates are the part of a fence that gets used and worn, so they come with their own questions about width, swing and hardware. See the gates page for the full range.
Installing a Gate with a Fence
The best time to add a gate is while the fence is built: its posts are set heavier than the rest, the opening is sized exactly and the gate matches the fence. Walk gates start around $650 and double drive gates around $1,900.
Repairing Existing Gates
Sagging, dragging and latches that no longer catch are usually fixed by resetting the hinge post, squaring the frame with a brace and fitting heavier hinges. A rotted frame or post calls for a new gate. See gate repair.
Choosing Gate Width and Style
Size the gate for the largest thing that passes through: 3 to 4 feet for people and mowers, 10 to 16 feet as a double gate for vehicles. Match the gate to the fence, and check which way it can swing without hitting a slope or path.
Permit and Planning Questions
Height and permit rules depend on the city and on where the fence sits on the lot. The Seattle permit guide and Bellevue fence rules summarize the official requirements.
Local Rules Basics
In Seattle, most fences up to 8 feet need no permit, but zoning limits fences in required setbacks to 6 feet (plus up to 2 feet of open trellis or arbor) and to 4 feet in front and street-side setbacks. Bellevue requires a permit over 8 feet and limits fences in a required front setback to 4 feet 6 inches.
Property Line Awareness
Find your property corners or survey before building, and agree the position and finished side with the neighbor on a shared line. Cities generally do not settle boundary disputes between neighbors; a licensed surveyor can mark the line.
Preparing for the Project
Check HOA rules, clear plants and belongings from along the line, make sure there is access to the fence line, and keep pets inside on work days. Underground utilities are located through 811 before any digging.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the most common questions about fence installation?
How much it costs, how long it takes, which material to choose, how tall it can be and whether a permit is needed. The sections above answer each briefly, with links to the full guides.
How do repair, replacement, and gate services work?
Repairs fix posts, boards, rails, fabric and gate hardware on a fence that is still sound; replacement removes the old fence and builds a new one; gate work covers new gates and repairs to existing ones. Each starts with photos or a site visit and a written quote.
What fence materials are best for Seattle-area homes?
Cedar and vinyl for privacy, chain link for pets and utility areas, and ornamental metal or picket fences at the front of the house. The Seattle weather guide compares how each holds up here.
Do you serve cities outside Seattle?
Yes — the Eastside, the north end and the South Sound, from Everett to Tacoma. The service areas page lists every city.
How do I request a quote for a fence project?
Use the quote request form: add the address, a rough length, the material and height you have in mind, gates and a few photos. We follow up to arrange a free on-site measure.