5 Questions to Ask Any Fence Contractor Before You Hire (Middle TN Edition)
A bad fence quote looks a lot like a good one on paper. Both have a price, a material list, and a timeline. The difference is what the contractor assumes you will not ask. Here are five questions to ask any fence contractor in Maury or Williamson County before you sign anything, and the answers you want to hear.
1. How Deep Are You Setting the Posts?
The right answer in Middle Tennessee is 36 inches, or three feet. The frost line here requires it. A post set at 24 inches will heave within a few winters. Some contractors push for 24 inches because it is faster and uses less concrete. If the contractor says 24 inches and cannot explain why your specific soil or application allows it, find another contractor. The clay soil in Maury County holds water and expands when it freezes. A shallow post has nothing to anchor it below the frost line.
For gate posts, the answer should be at least 42 inches with a larger diameter footing. Gate posts take more force than any other post in the fence line. If the gate post is set the same way as a line post, the gate will sag. A gate post that leans an inch at the top translates to the gate dragging by several inches at the latch end.
2. Are You Licensed and Insured in Tennessee?
Tennessee requires a home improvement license for jobs over $25,000, but even for smaller jobs, the contractor should carry general liability insurance and workers' compensation. If someone gets hurt digging a post hole on your property and the contractor does not have workers' comp, your homeowner's insurance is on the hook. That is not a risk worth taking to save a few hundred dollars on a bid.
Ask for the license number and the insurance certificate. A legitimate contractor will provide both without hesitation. They carry these documents in the truck. Middle TN Fence & Gate is licensed and insured with proof available on request. No hesitation, no runaround.
3. What Is Your Warranty on Posts and Workmanship?
The posts are the part of the fence most likely to fail. A standard workmanship warranty is one to two years. Anything less than one year is a red flag. The best contractors in Middle Tennessee offer a two-year workmanship warranty and will come back to fix a leaning post or a sagging gate within that window at no charge.
Material warranties are separate and come from the manufacturer. Pressure-treated pine carries a limited lifetime warranty against rot and termite damage from the treatment manufacturer. Vinyl panels carry 20-year to lifetime warranties against defects. Ask what the material warranty covers and whether the contractor handles the claim process if something fails. Some manufacturers require the original installer to submit the claim, which means a contractor who is out of business in five years leaves you holding a warranty with no way to use it.
4. Can I See a Recent Job You Completed Nearby?
Every contractor has photos on their website. Ask to see a fence they installed in the last six months within 20 miles of your property. Better yet, ask for the address of a completed job you can drive by. If the contractor cannot provide a recent local reference, they may not do much work in your area, and you are the test case for a crew that is still figuring out the local soil.
A drive-by tells you things photos do not. Is the top line straight? Are the posts plumb? Does the gate swing freely? Has any part of the fence shifted since it was installed? These are things you can see from the street in 30 seconds. Photos are taken the day the job is done when everything looks perfect. A fence that is six months old tells a more honest story.
5. What Is NOT Included in This Estimate?
This question catches more hidden costs than any other. Some estimates include debris removal. Some leave the old fence in a pile by the street and expect you to handle it. Some include a gate. Some quote the fence and then add the gate as a separate line item. Some include concrete footings on every post. Some only do gate posts and figure the rest can go in dirt.
A good contractor will walk you through the estimate line by line and point out what is and is not included. If the contractor seems annoyed by the question, that is useful information. Someone who is proud of their work and stands behind their pricing has no problem explaining it. Our fence cost guide explains the line items to watch for. Understanding permit and HOA requirements before you hire is also useful — some contractors handle this for you, some do not.
One more question worth asking: who is doing the actual installation? Some companies sell the job and sub it out to a crew they do not employ directly. The quality control on a subbed-out fence can be hit or miss. Ask whether the installers are the company’s own crew or subcontractors. The answer tells you a lot about who is accountable if something goes wrong.
For a free estimate that answers all five questions up front, call Middle TN Fence & Gate at (931) 201-6528. Licensed, insured, and serving all of Maury and Williamson County. We install wood, vinyl, ornamental iron, and farm fence — and we pull the permits, set the posts right, and stand behind the work.