Fence Installation, Gates and Repair
Thirteen thousand gate searches, thousands more for fence companies and repair. The trade side of the fence market, explained.
Where fence projects meet the trades
Beyond material shopping, our demand data shows a thick band of trade-intent searches: fence gates above thirteen thousand, fence company near three and a half thousand, fence contractor, fence installation and fence repair adding thousands more. This page covers that side: how the work is quoted, what gates really involve, and when repair beats replacement.
Installation pricing is driven by linear feet, height, material and digging conditions. Every honest quote starts with a walked measurement, a utility locate request and a conversation about the property line. Posts are the whole structure: set below frost depth in concrete with correct spacing, they carry everything else. That is why per-foot bargains that skimp on post depth are the most expensive fences you can buy.
Repair calls cluster around three culprits: leaning posts from rot or frost heave, sagging gates, and storm-broken sections. Individual fixes are routine and cheap. The judgment call is cumulative: once rot spreads through multiple posts of a fifteen year old fence, section-by-section repair becomes a subscription, and replacement quotes belong on the table.
The jobs fence companies quote
From a single gate to a full property enclosure.
Full installation
Measured by the foot after a site walk: height, material, gates, slopes and digging conditions set the number. Post spec is the quality tell.
Gate builds and repairs
The moving part fails first. Steel frames, proper hinges and drop rods fight the sag; automated driveway gates are their own specialty trade.
Leaning post fixes
Rotted or heaved posts get replaced or sistered and re-set in concrete. Fixing one is routine; a row of them is a replacement conversation.
Storm damage sections
Panels and sections rebuild quickly, and insurers often cover wind damage. Photograph everything before cleanup and get itemized quotes.
Old fence removal
Tear-out and haul-away is a real line item on replacements. Confirm disposal is included rather than discovering a pile by the curb.
Property line staking
Surveys settle where the fence can legally stand. Cheap compared to moving a finished fence a foot inward after a dispute.
What does it cost?
Commonly published ballparks: individual post or panel repairs run about $150 to $600, walk gates $150 to $800 installed depending on material, and full installations follow per-foot material rates, roughly $10 to $40 per linear foot across chain link, wood and vinyl. Automated driveway gates start in the low thousands.
For storm damage, document with photos and dates before repairs; wind-damage fence claims are common and itemized contractor quotes make them go smoothly.
Ballparks based on commonly published national averages, stated as assumptions, not measured local pricing. Your competing quotes set the real number for your home and ZIP.
How to hire for fence installation and repair work
Who does the work
Fence contractors handle installs and repairs across materials; handymen manage single-post and gate fixes. Automated gates add low-voltage and sometimes licensed electrical work. The contractor should file utility locates before any digging, every time.
What pros will ask
Footage, material, height and gate count for installs; photos and a cause, rot, vehicle, storm or frost, for repairs. Bring your survey or plat if you have one, because line questions come up on almost every install.
What to check before signing
That the quote itemizes posts, footage, gates, tear-out and haul-away separately. That post depth and concrete are stated in writing. And on repairs, that the contractor explains why it failed, since a fix that ignores drainage or bad backfill is a repeat appointment.
Related searches homeowners make
Pulled from the same demand data behind our Decks, Fences and Patios category.
Fence Installation, Gates and Repair questions, answered straight
How do fence companies price a job?
By the linear foot for a given material and height, adjusted for gates, slopes, digging conditions and tear-out. Two quotes on identical footage can differ mostly in post depth, concrete and gate hardware, so compare specs, not just totals.
Can one leaning fence post be fixed without replacing the fence?
Usually, yes. A rotted or heaved post gets pulled or cut, and a new post is set in concrete beside or in place of it. It is a routine half-day repair. When several posts lean at once, ask for a replacement quote alongside the repair math.
Why does my gate sag and how is it fixed?
Gates carry cantilevered weight on two hinges, so wood frames rack over time. Fixes run from tension cables and anti-sag kits to rebuilding on a welded steel frame, which is the durable answer. Heavy or wide gates should be steel-framed from day one.
Who pays for a fence between neighbors?
Rules vary by state; some have fence laws that split costs for boundary fences, elsewhere the builder pays unless neighbors agree. Whatever you arrange, get the line surveyed and the agreement in writing before the augers arrive.
Will insurance cover my storm-damaged fence?
Often, minus your deductible, when wind or falling trees are the cause. Photograph the damage before touching anything, save the contractor's itemized quote, and check whether your policy pays replacement value or depreciated value on fencing.
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