Ask them to list their specs and practices. Then listen to how fast and how confidently they answer. A good fence contractor has a defined product and knows every detail of it. A bad one makes it up on the spot.
Here is what to ask a Wichita fence contractor, what a good answer sounds like, and when to walk away.
What should I ask a fence contractor first?
Ask for their specs. All of them. Then ask about the details that decide how long your fence lasts:
- What type of nails and screws do they use? Are they stainless steel?
- How thick are the pickets?
- Is there a "pretty" side and a "rough" side?
- How much concrete goes in each post hole?
These questions work because they are hard to fake. A contractor who builds the same fence every time knows these answers cold. One who does not will start guessing.
At Ovora, the answers are written down. Our cedar fence runs galvanized steel posts inside the cedar, set 30 inches deep in concrete, below the frost line. We use stainless ring shank fasteners and 7/8 inch cedar pickets. Compare any bid you get to that list.
What answers should make you walk away?
Two answers are enough to end the conversation.
The first is not knowing. If they can't say confidently what goes in the ground and what holds the pickets on, they don't have a standard.
The second is "we can do whatever you want." It sounds friendly. It isn't. The truth is, a company that builds whatever you ask for has no defined product. Every job is a fresh experiment, and your backyard is the test.
You want the opposite. You want a company with a product they have standardized, tested, and built over and over. That is how you get the same fence on job one hundred that you saw on job ten.
How do you check a fence contractor's insurance and permits?
Ask for a COI. That is a certificate of insurance. Any real contractor can send one the same day.
Then ask how the permits get handled. Does the contractor pull them, or are you expected to? Our permit guide for Wichita and the surrounding cities shows how different the rules are from town to town. That is a lot to hand a homeowner.
At Ovora, we're fully insured, and we pull permits on every job that needs one. We handle all of it for you. The goal is a fully headache-free job that takes none of your time.
Is the fence quote the final price?
Ask this one straight: what happens if your crew hits roots or rocks?
Wichita yards have both. Some companies quote low, then add a change order the day the auger hits something hard. Ask whether the quote is a cap on the final price, and ask to see it in writing.
At Ovora, roots and rocks never trigger a change order. Our quotes are itemized and in writing. Want a ballpark before you call anyone? Our fence cost guide shows live ranges pulled from our own pricing.
Who builds your fence, and who answers the warranty call?
Ask two things here. Is the crew trained in house, or are they subs? And how fast is the turnaround on a warranty request?
Plenty of good companies use subs. What matters is that you know which it is. The crew that builds your fence is the crew that decides how it turns out.
Here is our answer. We have a mix of in house crew and subs, but the bulk of our crew is in house. We prefer it that way, especially on a complex job.
On warranty, if you call us within our warranty, we're there that week to resolve it. Sometimes we're there the next day, if we can. A warranty is only worth the speed of the person who answers the phone.
Why isn't the cheapest fence bid the best one?
Because a fence is the wall of your backyard, and you live with it for 15 to 20 years.
If you're about to sign with the cheapest bidder, we wish you the best of luck. Seriously. Whether you go with us or not, we want you to end up happy with the product you receive.
But we don't aim to be the cheapest bid. We aim to be the best bid. Put the specs side by side, ask the questions above, and compare what each company actually answered. Then decide.
The bottom line
The best fence contractor is the one with a defined product, a confident answer to every question, proof of insurance, a clear plan for roots and rocks, and a warranty they honor fast.
Ready to compare? Get a free quote and ask us every question in this post. We'll answer them. You can also read our reviews first. We're at 5.0 stars across 36 Google reviews. For our full spec in one place, see why we call ourselves the best fence company in Wichita.
Fence contractor questions, answered
What should I ask a fence company before hiring them?
Ask for their specs and practices: fastener type, picket thickness, post depth, and concrete. Then ask for a COI, who pulls the permits, how roots and rocks are handled, who builds the fence, and how fast they answer a warranty call.
How do I verify a fence contractor is insured?
Ask for a certificate of insurance, called a COI. A real contractor can send one the same day. Check that it is current and lists the business name on your quote.
Do fence contractors use subcontractors?
Many do. Ask which it is. Ovora's crew is mostly in house, with some subs, and we prefer in house crews on complex jobs.
Is a fence quote the final price?
It should be itemized and in writing. Ask what happens if the crew hits roots or rocks. At Ovora, roots and rocks never trigger a change order.