Questions to ask a fence company

We do not check licenses, insurance or reviews. That goes for every company, and for any company that takes a job through this site. So that part is yours. These questions start with what goes in the ground and what goes on paper, since you cannot see either one once the fence is up. The quote comes from the company, and these answers belong in it.

Exactly where does it run, and who confirmed the line?

Ask where the posts or the footing will sit in relation to the property line, and what the company relied on to find the line. A wall built a little over can turn into a dispute with a neighbor. If you are not sure, the shared fence page covers it.

Who pulls the permit, and is one needed?

The city sheet lists masonry walls over 42 inches and chain link over 6 feet, and says a homeowner may be issued a permit on proof of ownership. The FTC lists a contractor asking you to get the permits yourself among its warning signs. If a company says your block wall needs nothing, ask it to show you why, and check with the One Stop Shop yourself.

Who calls 811, and can I see the ticket?

Agree on one name. Texas Gas Service says tickets last 14 business days, so ask whether the job will finish inside that or get renewed. The 811 page has the details.

What goes in the ground?

For a post fence: how deep, how far apart, and in what? For a wall: how wide and deep is the footing, and what steel ties it to the block? The block industry note says the footing is what resists overturning and sliding, and that its dowels should match the wall's vertical steel. Get the numbers in the quote. A line that just says "standard footing" tells you nothing.

What happens if you hit caliche or clay?

USDA describes El Paso County soils with a cemented layer 5 to 20 inches down and others that are heavy clay on flood plains. Ask how the company finds out what is under your lot, what it does when a hole stops at rock, and whether that changes the bill. The FTC says promises made in conversation should appear in the contract, so this should too.

What wind is this built for?

El Paso's airport logged 75 mph on March 18, 2025, and the east side saw near 80 mph in 2009. No one can promise a fence survives everything. You can still ask what wind load the design assumes, what it is based on, and whether any of the company's past jobs here came down that March.

How do you handle hot days?

The block industry note calls 40 to 90 degrees normal and describes keeping materials shaded and cool, using smaller mortar batches, and keeping mortar from losing too much water. El Paso averages 26 days a year at 100 degrees or more, most of them in June and July. Ask what changes on a June job, and what time the crew would pour.

Who hauls the old fence?

The city's collection stations do not take construction or demolition material and do not admit contractors. Ask where the old block, posts and panels go, and make sure the quote says the company takes them. If it needs a dumpster, the city sheet has a permit line for that as well.

How will you work near overhead lines and the neighbor's side?

Texas law keeps people and tools six feet clear of a high voltage overhead line unless contact is guarded against, and an alley fence can run right under the poles. Ask who deals with El Paso Electric. Ask too whether the crew needs to stand on the neighbor's side, and who gets permission for that.

What is in writing?

The work, the materials, the completion date and the price all belong on one written estimate, the FTC says, and the contract should carry the contractor's name, address and phone. Leave no blanks: the Texas Department of Insurance warns that a contractor "could fill in the blank sections later with higher costs or different work." For a fence, add the gate, the height, the finish and the cleanup.

Can I see proof of insurance?

Ask for it and call the insurer yourself. The FTC's storm page says that if a contractor won't give you copies of their license, insurance or a written contract, "that's a red flag." We do not hold or check any of these.

How do the payments go?

Hold money back until the end. The FTC says not to pay the whole project up front, and to keep the last payment until the work is done and you are happy with it. After a storm it says a credit card or check is the way to pay, and warns against wire transfers, gift cards, payment apps, cryptocurrency and cash. Signed the contract at home? It should state your right to cancel within three business days. A big deposit is a warning sign for the department as well.

Scams with a local twist

• The fake city fee. The city warns that "Scammers are posing as The City of El Paso Planning & Inspections Department" and asking for a fake "City Compensation Fee". If a call or email about your permit asks for that, check with the One Stop Shop first.
• Knocking after the wind. The FTC lists people who say they are in the area, have leftover materials or push for an immediate decision as warning signs, and a blown-down fence is an easy opening for them. Offering to waive your deductible is illegal, the department says. Once a disaster is declared, out-of-area contractors may not ask to be paid before starting work.

When a job goes bad

Start with the company. Suspected scams can go to the FTC at ReportFraud.ftc.gov, and insurance trouble to the department's help line at 800-252-3439. It keeps Central time, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. on weekdays, which is an hour earlier on the clock in El Paso.