Fencing · Nashville, TN
The Nashville homeowner's guide to fencing
What the work involves, what drives the price, what your options are, and what a bad job looks like — written so you can judge any fence company in Middle Tennessee, including us.
Warning signs
How to know you need us
If you recognize any of these, it is worth having somebody look before it becomes a larger job.
- Posts leaning, or that move when you push on them
- Rot at the base of wood posts where they meet the concrete
- Boards cupping, splitting or falling out of the rails
- Gates dragging, sagging or no longer latching
- Sections pushed out of line by a tree root or a storm
- A new dog, a new pool, or a neighbor situation that has changed what you need
Your options
More than one right answer.
A fence company who only ever recommends the most expensive option is not giving you advice. Here is the honest range.
Pressure-treated privacy fence
The Middle Tennessee default. Best value per foot, and it will want staining or sealing to last.
Cedar privacy fence
More stable, naturally rot-resistant and better looking, and it costs accordingly.
Vinyl fence
No maintenance at all and the highest up-front cost. Post structure underneath still decides the outcome.
Aluminum or chain link
Where containment matters more than privacy — pools, dogs and back boundaries. Aluminum meets pool code where chain link may not.
What it costs
What actually drives the price.
We do not quote fencing over the phone, because an honest number needs somebody to look at the job. These are the things that move it.
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Linear footage and gates
Fence is priced by the foot, but gates are priced individually and a wide drive gate is a significant line on its own.
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Material
Chain link, pressure-treated wood, cedar, vinyl and aluminum span a wide range in cost and in expected life.
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Terrain
Slope, rock and tree roots all slow post setting. Middle Tennessee limestone sits close to the surface in many places and can mean drilling.
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Post setting
Depth, concrete and post material are what decide whether a fence is straight in ten years. It is invisible and it is the whole job.
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Survey and property line
Knowing where the line actually is matters more than any other decision, and a survey is cheap next to moving a fence.
Every estimate is free, written and carries no obligation — including the parts we would find only after starting, which are priced up front rather than left open.
What happens
From your call to the finished job.
Layout and quote
We walk the line with you, discuss the property line and check for utilities before quoting.
Utility locate
Tennessee 811 has to mark the line before anything is dug. It is free and it is not optional.
Post setting
Posts set and concreted, then left to cure before anything hangs on them.
Panels and gates
Rails, pickets and gate hardware. Gates are hung and adjusted last so they swing true.
Done badly
What goes wrong, and why it matters.
These are the shortcuts that make a quote look cheaper and cost you more later. Ask anyone you are considering about them.
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Building before locating the property line
A fence on the wrong side of the line is a legal problem and a very expensive move.
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Skipping the 811 locate
Hitting a gas or fiber line is dangerous, illegal and entirely avoidable.
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Concrete poured level with grade
Water pools on a flat concrete collar and sits against the post. It should be crowned to shed.
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Attaching panels before the concrete cures
Loading a green post pulls it out of plumb and the whole run follows it.
Before you hire anyone
Six questions worth asking any fence company.
Including us. If a contractor cannot answer these easily, that is the answer.
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Are you licensed for fencing and can I see the certificate?
A licensed and insured contractor will have this to hand and will not be irritated by the question.
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Is the estimate written, itemized and free?
A verbal number is not an estimate. Itemized means you can compare two quotes on the same basis.
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What happens if you find something once you start?
The honest answer names a rate and a process. The answer to worry about is that it never happens.
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Who is actually doing the work?
Employee crew or subcontractor is not a wrong answer either way, but you should know which, and who carries the insurance.
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What is the workmanship warranty, and is it in writing?
Materials carry a manufacturer warranty. Workmanship is the contractor, and it should be written down.
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Will you pull the permit?
For permitted work, a contractor who suggests skipping it is telling you something important about the rest of the job.
FAQ
Choosing a fence company in Nashville
How do I choose a fence company in Nashville?
Check the license and the insurance certificate, get the estimate in writing and itemized so you can compare quotes on the same basis, and ask what happens if something is found once work starts. A contractor who cannot answer those easily has told you what you need to know.
Should I get more than one quote for fencing?
Yes, and compare what is in them rather than the number at the bottom. The cheapest quote is often cheapest because it leaves something out, and on fencing the thing left out is usually the preparation that decides how long the work lasts.
Is the cheapest fencing quote usually a bad idea?
Not automatically — but an unusually low number is information. Ask specifically what is included, what grade of material is quoted, who is doing the work and what the workmanship warranty is. If all four answers are good, the low quote is a good quote.
Do I need a permit for fencing in Nashville?
It depends on the scope. Metro Nashville and the surrounding counties permit and inspect a good deal of this work, and a contractor suggesting you skip a required permit is telling you something about how they approach the rest of the job. We pull the permits our work requires.
How far in advance should I book fencing?
A few weeks where you can. Booking in the quiet season usually means better scheduling and sometimes better pricing than booking in the rush, and it gives you time to make the selections properly.
Free estimate
Need a fence company in Nashville today?
Tell us what is going on and we will get you a free estimate from a local fence company. No obligation, no pressure.