If you are considering building a Fencing, there are some things you may want to be concerned about prior to hiring a Fencing Contractor. In most cases, it is crucial to take into account that you get what you pay for. Sometimes, the cheapest bid means you are getting the cheapest equipment. However, the maximum bid can indicate the equivalent thing. Make sure you ask the contractor what quality of materials you will be getting for the rate they are charging. There are many different types of materials to choose from and you want to make sure the contractor you hire uses the best materials for the job. Not all materials are created equal.

There are different grades of chain link. The most common gauges of chain link are 12.5 gauge, 12 gauge, 11.5 gauge, 11 gauge, 9 gauge and 6 gauge wire. So one fence contractor may bid your fence cheaper but are they using the equal gauge wire as the contractor who bid it higher. It’s always important to ask the contractor what gauge they are going to put in. If the gauge is smaller, the wire will be thicker and stronger. Normally, the heavier 6 and 9 gauge wire is used for commercial and industrial fences and the lighter gauges are used for residential applications.

We have the same concern with the chain link posts and top rail. You want to check that the thickness of the post wall is the thickest possible. Usually, on residential fences, contractors will use the lighter gauge posts. You do have options for thicker and heavier duty posts and top rail.

Wood Privacy Fence is the same story in regard to the posts. If you choose to pay extra for steel posts, there are also diverse gauges to choose. For residential privacy fences, I would advise going with the “schedule 20 2-3/8 inch galvanized steel posts” which will be plenty strong to survive 70-80 mile an hour winds as long as they are concreted in solid earth. Sometimes you may get a cheaper bid because they are using the less expensive 17 gauge posts that you can get at your local hardware store. The heaviest post you can buy is “schedule 40” which can withstand a hurricane if they are concreted in good solid soil.

There are also different types of wood you can decide on, which have varying costs. Western red cedar and white cedar are the finest and will endure longer than white pine, but they cost additional so your bid should be higher if you go with cedar. Cedar is resilient because it doesn’t rot as fast and it repels bugs owing to the oily sap in the wood. The other types of wood are pine, which we call white wood, and pressure treated pine, which lasts nearly five years longer than un-treated pine. There are also different grades of wood. Pickets can be rough cut on both sides which has a fuzzy look, Pickets that are rough cut on one side and smooth on the other which will cost a little more, and there are pickets that are smooth cut on both sides costing even more.

There is also a variance in the types of rails you use for your privacy fence. Is your contractor using 2 inch by3 inch rails or 2 inch by 4 inch rails? There is a difference. The smaller rails (2×3) tend to sag in the middle over time, which will ultimately cause dips in your fence panels. The larger rails (2×4) do not slump, and will keep your fence looking shipshape at the top for a long time.

Another point to consider is whether your contractor uses nails or screws to build your fence. Nails are faster than screws, but become loose and may work their way out as the lumber dries over time. As opposed to nails, screws will stay in place and not fall out. Screws take longer, but not much longer, so they really shouldn’t impact the estimate much more.

One more tip: Never use landscape timbers for posts. Landscape timbers will endure maybe 2-3 years and when a robust wind comes; your fence will blow down. If you are going to pick out wood posts, go with 4 inch by 4 inch posts as a minimum. They cost a little more, around five dollars more, but they will last you at least ten years before they start to rot.

So, before you go with the “cheapest bid,” be clear in your mind you know what you’re receiving. It’s the difference between a fence lasting you a couple years and lasting 20 years. In the long run, it will cost you a great deal more if you’re not careful.

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