Get three things on paper before you sign: a certificate of insurance, any state licence number the job calls for, and an estimate that lists every item. Walk away from a contractor who will not write those down.
Montgomery Fence Company is licensed and insured. Ask for the documents when you get your estimate.
What should I ask a fence contractor before hiring?
- Who gets the permit or the historic approval, and is the fee in the price?
- Who places the Alabama 811 request?
- How deep do the posts go, and how is the footing shaped for clay?
- Are the posts rated for ground contact?
- What lumber grade or vinyl thickness, and what post size?
- Is tearing out and hauling the old fence included?
- How many gates, what width, what hinges and latches?
- What is the start date and how many days on site?
- What happens to the price if you hit roots, rock or standing water?
How do I check that a contractor is licensed and insured?
Ask for the documents and look them up. In Alabama, the Home Builders Licensure Board licenses work on a residential structure when the cost with labor and materials is more than $10,000, and it has a public licensee search on its website. Commercial jobs of $100,000 or more need a licence from the State Licensing Board for General Contractors (Code of Alabama section 34-8-1). A small fence job may fall under neither, so insurance matters even more. Ask for a certificate of insurance sent to you by the insurer. Cities also issue business licences.
What should a fence estimate include?
Footage, height, material and grade, post size and depth, each gate with its width and hardware, tear-out of the old fence, permit, cleanup, payment schedule and start date. When two estimates differ by a lot, one of them has left out or shrunk one of those lines.
Should I get three quotes?
For a whole fence, yes. Three quotes show the going rate and show which contractor measured with care. Read the scope line by line before looking at the totals.
What deposit is normal?
A deposit that covers materials is common, with the rest due as work is finished. We know of no Alabama statute that caps a fence deposit, so the contract sets it. Pay by check or card, never cash, and get a receipt. Be careful with anyone who wants most of the money before material is delivered.
The cheapest quote wants half up front and will not show insurance. Is that a problem?
Yes. A low price, half up front and no insurance certificate is the pattern that goes wrong most often. If an uninsured worker is hurt in your yard, or the crew breaks a line or a neighbor's property, you may be the one paying. The extra cost of an insured contractor with a written scope is small by comparison.
I paid a deposit and the contractor stopped showing up. What can I do?
Write to them with the date and ask for a firm start or finish date. Keep the contract, proof of payment and all messages. If the contractor holds a home builders licence, you can file a complaint with the Alabama Home Builders Licensure Board. The Board says it can fine, suspend or revoke a licence but cannot order repairs or refunds. For getting money back, the Consumer Interest Division of the Alabama Attorney General's Office or small claims court are the usual routes.
The crew cut my internet line or sprinkler pipe. Who pays?
It depends on whether the line was marked and what the contract says. Alabama 811 covers utility-owned lines. Pipes and wires the owner added, such as an internet line or sprinkler pipe run after the house was built, may not be marked at all. Point those out before work starts and have them noted on the estimate.
My HOA approved the fence in writing and now wants it moved. What now?
Hold on to the written approval and reply in writing. When an association approves a fence and later wants it moved, that is a dispute over the covenants, not over the construction. A lawyer who handles association matters can tell you where you stand.
Can I install a fence myself?
Yes, for a short, level run with no gates. Long runs, slopes, wide gates and heavy clay are where home-built fences fail, nearly always at the posts. You must still notify Alabama 811 at least two working days before you dig, and still follow your city's permit rules.
A price for your yard takes a visit and a tape measure. The estimate is free. Call (334) 649-8995 or text us a photo of the fence line.