YAY! You have made your decision and have chosen to install an aluminum fence. This is a strong
and attractive choice, especially around a pool or as a more decorative feature in front of your home.
Not to say that your house isn’t lovely without it, but it certainly will draw more attention to the
façade!
While all fence types have numerous styles and features all their own, it is important to find out
some things about your new aluminum fencing – don’t forget, it tends to be one of the more
expensive fences, so you want to be sure you get all your questions and concerns addressed before
you make the investment.
Here at Florida Fence, we offer many different styles, heights, and colors of aluminum fencing to
cater to many tastes and purposes. And we can certainly guide you through the process. But there are a few basic questions you should always ask that will help you in deciding not only what will be
right for you but also which installer will be the best:
WHAT TO ASK BEFORE BUYING AN ALUMINUM FENCE
First and foremost – No matter what kind of fencing you decide to use, there are no state fence
licenses required, so PLEASE RESEARCH YOUR FENCE COMPANY – Check it out on Google, with
the Better Business Bureau, and get references! Let us repeat: The state of Florida does not
require a license for fence contractors. You may find someone that is cheaper, but in all
likelihood, they won’t be around for very long. We are encouraged by the American Fence
Association’s legislative push for state licensing to help our profession maintain excellent
standards and protect you the consumer.
PRO TIP: Unfortunately, some fencing contractors will pay for the first month’s insurance, get their
certificate, and then not pay another dime. This happens for general liability too. In order to fully
protect yourself, ask to speak to their agent directly for a current COI (certificate of insurance). If a
contractor is injured on your property installing your beautiful aluminum fence and does not have
coverage, your home owner’s insurance is on the hook. And does this fencing contractor carry
workmen’s comp for their employees? Be proactive in protecting yourself as a homeowner!
Alright, back to the questions!
- Where is it made? Foreign material is often substandard, defective and cannot be returned.
Florida Fence only uses American-made aluminum from the State of Florida. - What gauge aluminum should I buy? Simply put, the gauge is the thickness of the metal, and the
purpose and overall look will help to determine this. You won’t want a hefty fence if you are just
using it for ornamentation, but you certainly want strength to surround your pool! Stress the flip
side - How far apart will the fence pickets be? Well, this will be determined not only by the overall
purpose, but also by how big a dog you have! Are you keeping something in or out? Is the fencing
decorative or functional? - What kind of gates should I get and where will I need them? Gate size is important – did you ever
try to bring a riding mower into a gate that was installed for a push mower? Plan ahead! - And speaking of gates…will heavier gate extrusion posts be used to support the gate itself?
Huh? What? What does this even mean? Simply put, gates are heavy and they are constantly
moving. They need to be supported better with special posts. - Will all the posts be sunk in concrete? On all sides of the post? Some installers might try to cut
corners (no pun intended, well…maybe it was intended! ) and either concrete alternating posts or
just use concrete on a couple of sides of each post. Strength is critical for endurance! And having
posts set in concrete (and letting the concrete set!) is very important…so ask about what is being
done for the strength and durability of the fencing. And make sure actual concrete is being used! - What coatings are used for the fencing and where are they made? You definitely want to be sure
you have safe, non-lead coating on the fence you have around your children and pets. Another
measurement of quality is the application of powder coating.
These are a few questions that everyone should ask and, of course, please contact us and we can
address every one of your concerns and walk you through the process.
