Fence questions answered

We build fences and gates in Ohio and Pennsylvania. Call (440) 241-4312 with your address and we will confirm we can reach your property.

Yes. The estimate is FREE. We talk through the job, walk the line and give you the scope and price in writing.

Call (440) 241-4312 or send the form on our FREE estimate page. If we miss your call, leave a message and we will call back.

Yes, utility marking is needed before any digging, and 811 provides it FREE. We take care of the request as part of the job.

It depends on your city, township and homeowner association. Many places have permit or height rules, so check locally before you build.

It depends on where the fence sits and on state law. Read our guide to Ohio and Pennsylvania fence laws, and talk to a local attorney for your situation.

Farm and ranch fence, horse fence, wood privacy fence, picket fence, woven wire fence, chain link fence and gates, plus repairs.

The owner was raised Amish, and the company is family owned. Read the owner story on our About page.

A post rated for ground contact, at UC4A or higher, or heartwood of a naturally durable species, set deep enough and braced where wire pulls. The material matters, but the setting and drainage matter just as much. A contractor should walk your soil before naming a post and a method.

No. OHIO811 describes the notice as quick, at no cost and required by law. PA One Call says its service costs nothing for homeowners digging on their own residential property. Whoever is digging, you or a contractor, still has to place the notice before any post hole is started.

There is no statewide fence permit that we found. Your township, city or village zoning decides, and many ask for a zoning permit with a site plan showing setbacks. OSU Extension lists a fence among projects that typically need a township zoning permit. Call your local zoning office before you order anything, and ask for the answer in writing.

Penn State says 54 to 60 inches, with the top at wither height, and more for large horses, stallions and jumpers. UGA says at least 5 feet for a perimeter and 4.5 feet for dividers. Illinois Extension says 6 feet for taller breeds or known jumpers. Tell us the breed and we size it.

It depends on the pasture. Board or rail fence gives a visible line, woven wire with a top strand holds mixed stock, and high tensile suits long runs. University of Tennessee gives a 54 inch minimum for perimeter cattle fence, and Ohio NRCS gives 48 inches. Strong corners matter more than which style you pick.

Not usually. Fresh treated lumber is wet, and a finish over wet wood tends to fail. Viance, a preservative maker, says about 60 days is typical, and a water test tells you for sure. If drops soak in, the wood is ready. If they bead, wait. We check boards in the shade as well as the sun.

Local rules decide. Ohio front-yard fences are often limited to about 4 feet, and one township we reviewed sets 3 feet in the front setback zone. Cities, townships and HOAs differ, so confirm with your local zoning office before you choose a height. This is general information, not legal advice.

UGA says pasture gates for tractors and mowers should be 14 to 16 feet wide. Penn State says vehicle and tractor gates should be at least 12 feet, with a maximum of up to 16 feet. Measure your widest implement and add room to swing, and we will check it on the walk-through.

Unless a written agreement says otherwise, Ohio's default for a shared partition fence is that each owner pays half to build and maintain it. For an existing fence, owners share maintenance and an equitable rebuild share. The statute is mainly written for rural line fences. This is general information, not legal advice.

The Ohio NRCS specification calls for top and bottom wires of 10 gauge or heavier and intermediate wires and stays of 14.5 gauge or heavier, with stays no more than 12 inches apart. A lower gauge number is thicker wire. Ask your builder for the gauge and the galvanizing class in writing.

The Residential Code of Ohio generally requires a building permit only for a fence over 6 feet, but cities, villages and townships set their own zoning rules on height and placement, and a homeowners association may add more. Check with your local zoning office before you build. This is general information, not legal advice.

Repair fits local damage on sound posts, such as a few broken boards, a loose gate or slack wire. Replacement fits posts that are soft or snapped at the ground line, failing corner braces, or damage that keeps returning. A post that rocks in the ground or crumbles when probed near grade is usually past repair. A FREE estimate shows which side your fence falls on.