Get three things on paper before you hire: proof of insurance, a written estimate that lists every item, and a payment schedule tied to the work. Texas does not issue a state license for fence builders or general contractors, so the paperwork a company will show you matters more here than in states that do.
The Lubbock Fence Company is licensed and insured. Ask us for the documents with your estimate.
What should I ask a fence contractor before hiring?
- Is a permit or HOA approval needed, and who handles it?
- Who contacts Texas811, and when?
- Are the posts wood or galvanized steel, what size, how deep and in what?
- What species and grade are the pickets and rails?
- Is tear-out and haul-off of the old fence in the price?
- How many gates, how wide, and what hardware?
- What is the start date and how many days will it take?
- What happens to the price if the crew hits caliche or a sprinkler line?
How do I check that a contractor is licensed and insured?
Ask the contractor's insurance agent to send a certificate of insurance straight to you. Because Texas has no state fence or general contractor license to look up, also check that the business is registered, ask what local registration or licenses it holds, and call recent customers. TexasLawHelp, a legal aid site, notes that general contractors here must be state-registered businesses even though the state does not license them.
What should a fence estimate include?
Footage, height, post type and depth, picket and rail material, each gate with its width, tear-out of the old fence, permit or HOA paperwork, clean-up, the payment terms and a start date. When two estimates differ by a lot, look for the line that one of them left out. Around here it is often the post type.
Should I get three quotes?
For a whole fence, yes. Three written quotes show the going rate and who took the time to measure. Judge them on what is included, then on price.
What deposit is normal?
Texas law does not set a maximum deposit for a fence job that we could find, so it comes down to the contract. A common-sense rule from TexasLawHelp is to arrange payments so you only pay for work that has been done. One state rule does help: under Texas Property Code section 162.006, a contractor with a written contract over $5,000 to improve a homestead must put the payments in a construction account. Pay by check or card and keep receipts.
The cheapest quote wants half up front and will not show insurance. Is that a problem?
Yes, it is. With no state license behind the contractor, insurance and a fair payment schedule are your main protection in Texas. A crew without insurance that breaks a gas line or injures someone can leave you with the bill. The slightly higher bid from a company that documents its insurance and scope is the safer buy.
I paid a deposit and the contractor stopped showing up. What can I do?
Write to the contractor with a date by which work must start or the money be returned, and keep a copy. If that fails, file a consumer complaint with the Office of the Texas Attorney General and consider small claims in a Lubbock County justice court. Save the contract, proof of payment and every message. A lawyer can tell you whether other remedies apply.
The crew cut my internet line or sprinkler pipe. Who pays?
It turns on whether the line was marked and what the contract says. Texas811 members mark the lines they own. Sprinkler pipe and other owner-installed lines are private and nobody marks them. Point them out before the job and have them written on the estimate. Sprinkler lines along the fence are common in Lubbock yards and are usually a quick fix.
My HOA approved the fence in writing and now wants it moved. What now?
Hold on to that approval letter. The disagreement is with the association, and it is a legal matter, not a building one. A lawyer who works with Texas property owners associations can read the letter and the deed restrictions and advise you.
Can I install a fence myself?
You can, and a short run of pickets on flat ground is a fair weekend job. The hard parts are the ones that decide whether the fence survives the wind: digging deep enough through caliche, keeping posts plumb and in line, and hanging gates. You must contact Texas811 before digging even on your own lot.
For a price on your own fence line, book a free on-site estimate. Call (806) 450-4251 or text us a photo of the yard.