COMMONLY ASKED QUESTIONS

Because fences tend to last a long time, many customers that we work with have not shopped for a fence in many years if its not their first fence project. We have tried to answer a lot of the commonly asked questions below. We hope that you can use this to better education yourself about fences and fence contractors. The fence buyer's guide below of the information will allow you to be a more informed buyer.

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PLANNING STAGE

DO FENCE CONTRACTORS NEED TO BE LICENSED?

Yes and thank you for asking! There is a HUGE difference between a State Contractors License and a business license that some people try to pass on as being “licensed”.  Don’t be fooled.

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There is a specific designation called a C-13 license required by the State Contractor License Board to repair, replace, or install fences.  You can check for proof of their license, bond, and insurance via the link below: Fence License Lookup .Taking a couple minutes to look up your contractor will help ensure you have all your bases covered.

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Of course-- Superior Fence is a fully licensed and insured fencing contractor. Our C-13 license number is 979657 and we carry all the proper workers compensation and liability insurances needed to keep us all protected.

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WHY IS A CALIFORNIA CONTRACTORS LICENSE IMPORTANT?

Here are some guidelines to use when you begin searching for state-licensed contractors. Using a licensed contractor could help you avoid financial risk and other problems associated with unlicensed operators.

In California, anyone who contracts to perform work on a project that is valued at $500 or more for combined labor and materials costs must hold a current, valid license from CSLB. You can verify the license or call (800) 321-CSLB (2752).

ALERT! Be advised that unlicensed individuals pose a risk to you and your family's financial security if a worker is injured while on your property, your property is damaged, or if the work is incomplete and/or faulty. Few, if any, unlicensed individuals have a bond or workers' compensation insurance. The quality of their work usually doesn't compare to that of a licensed contractor. Don't take the chance in order to save a few dollars. You'll probably end up paying more in the long run.

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ARE YOU INSURED AND BONDED?

Yes. We are insured and bonded. We meet or exceed all California state regulations for insurances. Our employees, vehicles and work are all covered by our insurance policies.

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DO YOU OFFER FREE ESTIMATES?

Yes, Superior Fence Construction and Repair Inc gives estimates for all projects at no extra cost.  Give us a call at 916-790-7100 or you can fill out our online contact form.  Proper estimation will be beneficial for our potential customers and neighbors. We need to see every project to give a proper proposal as we take many factors into consideration. Some of those items include, type of material, style of fence, digging conditions, and any other unforeseen items we need to take into consideration so we can give you a proper proposal for your fence repair or replacement.

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HOW LONG HAS SUPERIOR FENCE BEEN INSTALLING FENCES?

Superior Fence Construction and Repair Inc. began installing fences in 2012 in the Sacramento and Roseville areas. Through hard work and a focus of 5 star level customer service, we have been able to grow to a team of more than 40 serving all of the communities from Elk Grove to Auburn (North to South) and from El Dorado Hills to Davis (East to West).  

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In 2020 we were able to open a 2nd location at 8337 Galena Avenue in Sacramento, CA to better serve fence repairs and replacements needed in Rancho Cordova, Sacramento, Folsom, West Sacramento areas.

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ARE YOUR INSTALLERS EMPLOYEES OR SUBCONTRACTORS?

It’s an easy answer, you want to hire a company with all W-2 employees. When you are putting your trust in a company to complete a project at your home or business, a wise consumers inquire if all of the staff that will come and perform the work are subcontractors or W-2 employees. There is a great difference between employees and subcontractors. By hiring a company that only has in-house W-2 employees, you help to ensure that your project is being installed by trained experts who successfully complete projects like yours every day. Companies with W-2 employees invest into their staff with continual training which helps ensure that we perform to a higher standard than a subcontractor.

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WHAT IS THE SCHEDULING PROCESS?

Your install will be placed on our schedule in a chronological order. Your design consultants will schedule to accommodate your family as much as possible. Please be aware that the start date could vary one to three weeks depending on the scope of the project, availability of materials, permits, current workload and weather.

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WHO CALLS 811 FOR UNDERGROUND PUBLIC UTILITIES?

Superior Fence will mark and then call in before we arrive.  It is actually a law that we do for good reason. There are dozens of fatalities each year in the United States due to hitting underground power cables during excavations. A reputable fencing company should always communicate with the local utility companies to safeguard underground utilities such as electric power, gas, water, telecommunications, cable television, and Internet. While they are able to mark for public utilities---It is the customers responsibility to inform us of any private utilities that might have been added. i.e. well, irrigation, drainage, pool electrical/gas lines, etc.

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DO YOU OFFER FINANCING?

Yes! We have many customers use a financing option to help them budget for their new fence. This allows them to break down the cost of the fence project over months or years. By using the banks money, we have many customers easily work this project into your monthly budget. Learn more about our Fence Installation Financing »

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ARE WRITTEN CONTRACTS IMPORTANT?

Yes—a written contract creates a working relationship that protects both you and the fencing company. It outlines the style, footage, and cost each quoted section of fence. It is important that the fence company will outline these details so you are able to compare apples to apples when comparing proposals. Consumers watch for these fine details between different proposals because they can have impact on the costs. Many times, the lower cost is not the better value.

As a true professional fence company Superior Fence will always provide you with a written contract noting materials, styles, footage, and costs.

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SHOULD I NOTIFY THE NEIGHBORS THAT THE FENCE IS BEING REPLACED?

Yes, if a fence is on a property line both neighbors will need to sign off on the agreement regardless of who is paying. Talking to your neighbors about the fence project you are planning on a shared property line is needed for a variety of reasons. It starts with being neighborly. At the same time, for Superior Fence Construction and Repair Inc to repair or replace a fence on a shared property line experience has taught us that for a smooth project we need communication and confirmation with both neighbors regardless of who is paying for the project. This communication allows us to schedule, answer questions and address concerns that both neighbors might have along the way.
 

IF THE NEIGHBORS ARE SHARING THE COST OF THE FENCE, WHO COLLECTS FROM THEM?

We have a contract where neighbors can agree to each be responsible for a specified amount of the fence project. If you and your neighbor are sharing the cost of the fence, in the project approval stage you will be able to both designate this and each sign off to be invoiced for your own per-arranged cost amounts. Several thousand times a year we do the same process for many neighbors sharing the cost of the fence with contracts noting separate billing information for each neighbor.

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HOW LONG WILL THE PROJECT TAKE?

While every fence project is different in size and detail, in the Sacramento and Placer areas on average it takes 1 to 3 days for most backyard fence projects. Before we start the project we will be able to give you more exact timeline estimates taking into account footage, styles, and known soil conditions.

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WHAT TYPE OF FENCES DO YOU INSTALL?

We have many fencing materials available. Since our customers’ needs will differ, we offer a wide range of material options that offer a variety of price points and functionality. We install redwood, chain link, black ornamental iron, vinyl and agricultural fencing.

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ARE THERE ANY RULES THAT REGULATE THE TYPE OF FENCE AND WHERE I CAN PLACE IT?

At the moment, we cannot say for certain if there are legal restriction for your fence. This is because these legal restrictions on fences vary considerably from place to place. While we are aware of the general fence regulations in Sacramento and Placer California,  but your particular neighborhood and property may have some limitations we do not know about yet. The most common restriction that applies to fences is the zoning ordinances. These rules may regulate certain aspects of structures including its placement, size, and height. While we will do our best to advise you as to these regulations as best we know, in the end it is the homeowner's responsibility to confirm with their local planning jurisdiction and any HOA to confirm their planned fence project is allowed without any conditions or variances.

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HOW TALL CAN MY FENCE BE?

The maximum fence height you may have may be subjected to local regulations. Here are some quick links to planning departments and ordinances you can reference based on your city. For residential fences, no standard is set. However, there are common measurements fence companies go by. For instance, front yard fences are usually just around three feet in height. Meanwhile, backyard fences can be as tall as six to seven feet tall if local zoning regulations allow. The height of your fence would really depend on what you would need it for. For privacy purposes, the height of six feet may be ideal to completely conceal your property. Read more in our blog post: How Tall Can I Build My Fence?

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WILL I SAVE MONEY IF I TEAR OUT THE OLD FENCE MYSELF?

The good news is we do not charge for removal and disposal. The downside to that is that there is no discount to give if you wanted to tear it out and dispose of it yourself. We are able to do this because fortunately it only takes a few minutes to cut down an old fence and put it on a flatbed truck. Through partnership with wood and metal recyclers we are able to unload your old materials and put them to a new good use.

 

DO FENCES NEED CONCRETE AROUND THE POSTS?

The simple answer is yes. Across the country there is a great debate if it is better to set posts in dirt or packed gravel or to cement the posts in. Installing thousands of fences each year we have found the fences installed with a proper concrete footing stand the test of time. The concrete acts as a counter balance to the swaying weight of the fence as well as protecting the posts from decay and rot. We recommend with installing with a quality High Strength concrete with a compression strength of 4000 psi or greater not standard fence post mix.

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HOW FAR APART ARE POSTS?

With wood, iron, or vinyl fences typically just under 8’ as a rule. These products come in dimensions of 8’ long. Some sections can be a little smaller or up to 10’ if there is an obstruction in the ground we have to cross over, but nothing longer than 10’ is acceptable. For chain link and agricultural wire fence the typical distance between posts is 10 feet.

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WHAT IS A HARD DIG CLAUSE AND HOW TO WATCH OUT FOR IT.

Conditional clauses are never good! Many fence contractors have clauses deep in their contract talking about additional fees that will be added onto the agreed upon price if soil conditions at your home are more difficult than expected. This can be caused by things such as rock or clay etc. At Superior Fence our agreed price is the set price. There are no add on costs if the ground is more challenging than expected. Since we have years digging at thousands of homes per year, we have a professional expectation of what is to be expected in the ground. In areas where it is notoriously hard to dig, we take this into account in our initial proposal allowing us to lock the price and not have any “conditions”.

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PRIOR TO INSTALLATION DAY

DO YOU LOCATE PROPERTY LINES AND INSTALL THE FENCE ON THE PROPERTY LINE?

No. We install your new fence where the old fence was originally located unless instructed by you to install the fence in a different location. Superior Fence Construction and Repair accepts no liability for survey disputes between property owners. If you have concerns about the location of the property line or your fence, we recommend that you contract a local survey company to locate and clearly mark and establish the property lines.

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DO I NEED TO TRIM PLANTS, TREES, SHRUBS ALONG THE FENCE LINE?

During your initial site visit this is something to discuss with the estimator. They will be paying attention to it as well. It is best if we have direct access to the fence line. We require 18-24 inches of clearance on both sides of the fence line prior to beginning the project.

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We need direct access to the fence for tear-out and install. If you could remove anything attached to the fence and trim bushes which limit access, we would appreciate your efforts. In some cases we clear the fence line but at additional cost. However, the design consultant will let you know what needs to be done at the time of estimate.

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DOES THE CREW TRIM TREE LIMBS OR BUSHES IN THE WAY OF THE FENCE?

We ask you to handle this prior to the fence installation. Although Superior Fence Construction and Repair crews are experts in fence installation, our crews have limited knowledge of proper trimming and pruning practices. Excessive trimming required by Superior Fence Construction and Repair will be subject to an additional charge. Our fence teams appreciate you trimming back vegetation close to the fence to give our crews access to work all day on building you a beautiful new fence!
 

WILL YOU REMOVE AND REINSTALL ITEMS ATTACHED TO MY FENCE?

No- Please remove your valuables from the fence construction site. We may unknowingly damage or dispose of these items during fence removal. Superior Fence Construction and Repair is not responsible for damage to items attached to the fence and will not reinstall items after the new fence is installed.

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DOES THE FENCE CREW DIG OUT ALL THE OLD POSTS AND FOOTINGS?

Typically all corner, gate, and terminal posts will be dug up and reset in the exact same spot. It is standard practice and within AFA industry guidelines to cut line posts below the grade and re-space the new posts. The need is typically determined by the design consultant and will be discussed with you, each job is unique.

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AFTER INSTALLATION

WHAT IS YOUR WARRANTY/GUARANTEE?

1-year warranty on all materials and installation. At Superior Fence Construction and Repair Inc, all of our work is performed by our own skilled installers. We back all projects with a standard 1-year warranty on materials and installation. In addition, some products offer extended manufacturer warranties on materials. Feel confident that your fence repair or fence replacement is done right.

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WOOD FENCE MAINTENANCE

To extend the longevity of your fence it is a good idea to inspect your wood fence for significant warping, insect damage, landscape damage or rot. Remember that it is normal for wood to have cracks (called checking), knots and minor warping which occur naturally and are part of the weathering process.

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Pickets
Look for any loose nails and secure them back into place. If you find severely warped pickets you can either re-secure them or replace those individually damaged pickets. While a normal amount of weathering is normal, you should be watching for unusual issues.

 

Posts
Visually inspect the bottom of the posts to see if the wood is starting to rot. If you find extensive rot, you may need to have a post replaced so the problems don’t continue to get worse. At the same time, check for damage caused by weed eater. These are common to damage a fence and should try to minimized into the future.

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ORNAMENTAL IRON FENCE MAINTENANCE

Ornamental iron fencing normally requires no maintenance. Given this, it is best to routinely look at the fence for preventive maintenance. If you have any dirt buildup, pool / lawn chemicals residue, mold, mildew, or debris from trees it will be best to clean these with soap and water.

If you find any chips or scratches, you will want to fix these so that they do not rust. Sand and/or wire brush the area before applying a rust-inhibiting primer/paint exterior high gloss enamel.

 

HOW DO I CLEAN MY VINYL FENCE?

• Most dirt can be washed off with a mild soap and water solution.

• On occasion you may want to spray your fence with a garden hose. This will help remove grass clippings, dirt and fertilizer chemicals and keep it looking as new as possible.

• To remove minor stains use a non-abrasive liquid cleaner.

• Heavier stains can be cleaned with any non-toxic household cleaner.

• For removal of major stains follow the manufacturer's directions for one of the following cleaning agents:

• Simple Green® All Purpose Cleaner

• Mr. Clean® Magic Eraser

• Mineral Spirits

• Trichloroethylene

• CLR (Calcium, Lime and Rust) Cleaner

• Vinegar

 

Note: Goof Off® and Goo Gone® are not recommended to remove stains.

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