Fence installation & repair in Ann Arbor, built for Michigan winters.

National published figures for 2026 put most installed fences at $20 to $60 per foot. Your price depends on the length, the height, the gates, the slope and what has to be removed. Our fence cost guide has the ranges by material.

It depends on the address and the fence. Ann Arbor's city code has a fence chapter, and each nearby city and township has its own rules. We check them for your lot before we quote.

About 42 inches. That is the frost depth used by Michigan's building code for footings. Posts set shallower are lifted by frost.

The party doing the digging. On our installations we file the request, at least three business days before work starts.

Yes. Panels are racked to follow the ground or stepped down it. Many Ann Arbor yards slope, so this is routine work for us.

The owner who builds it. Under Public Act 34 of 1978, a neighbor owes a share only if they use the fence to hold animals. Otherwise the cost is shared only by agreement.

It will be possible for us to have your fence installed in a matter of fourteen days to about a month. Keep in mind however, that in some situations, a little more time is needed. For these, it can take two to two and a half months before the fence can be installed. Fences that are ready-made and can be installed once shipped can be put up the soonest. This includes premade materials like SimTek. On the other hand, projects that require extensive project fabrication would need time allotment for this production phase. This is the case for ornamental metal fences.

The fence installation process takes less time compared to the waiting time prior to installation. The timeframe we follow for a typical project consists of seven days. However, not all these days will be working days with crew and equipment present. Only about half of these days will be allotted for our crew to fit the posts and install the fence. Interspersed between these days are free days which are allocated to give time for curing, drying, and maturation of materials. This includes letting the cement settle. Every step in the process is important in making sure that the fence has been properly installed.

It is not uncommon for fence projects to require more than one permit. This depends on many factors including the regulations in your area, the type of property you own, and the type of fence you will have installed. A reputable fence company would know that these permits are prerequisite to having a seamless and unproblematic project. Securing permits makes sure that the project follows the regulations. To complete this task, cooperation from the property owner would be crucial as they will be asked to provide some papers and documents. Call us at 734-441-3554 for the complete list of these papers.

Today, there are many fencing materials available. At Ann Arbor Fence, we offer the full range, from the cheapest ones to the priciest ones. Every property owner’s needs will differ. Hence, it is important to offer each of them many choices to suit their purchasing capabilities and their fence needs. In the conventional category, we have wood, chain link, steel, aluminum, and brick. For the modern alternative ones, we have vinyl and SimTek. These materials can come in forms of different fence types. Meanwhile some of these are more versatile than others. For instance, chain link can be used almost anywhere.

At the moment, we cannot say for certain if there are legal restriction for your fence. This is because these legal restrictions on fences vary considerably from place to place. While we are aware of the general fence regulations in Ann Arbor, your particular neighborhood may have some limitations we do not know about yet. The most common restriction that applies to fences is the zoning ordinances. These rules may regulate certain aspects of structures including its placement, size, and height. These may apply for specific geographic zones only. Therefore, it is worth knowing whether these are in effect in your area.

Talking to your neighbors about the fence projects you are planning or are about to start can help lessen any possible problems in the future. The truth is you are not strictly required to tell them about your fence installation plans. It is very rare to have legally binding statements like this in place. However, we are certain that your neighbors would appreciate the heads-up, especially is the activities may be a little distracting to them. Letting them know ahead of time gives them the opportunity to anticipate how it may affect them. Moreover, communication is also important for safety reasons.

For most fence types, the depth of the fence posts we install is usually about one meter deep. This is equivalent to about three feet. There will be instances where a deeper post may be needed. For instance, a taller fence would need to be supported by posts which have been implanted deeper so that they can be stable enough. Typically, the hole that was dug should be about three times as wide as the post itself. Meanwhile, the ideal fence post depth should be at least one third to one half of the full height of the fence aboveground.

For most cases, it is ideal that no structure other than the fence posts should be in contact with the ground. Having a fence that touches the ground may be more difficult to maintain. Moreover, there may also be some drainage issues or water accumulation. Because of this, fences that touch the ground are at greater risk of being subjected to moisture damage. It is recommended to have set the fence two to five inches off the ground. This distance is enough to prevent moisture damage. At the same time, this gap is small enough to keep your property secure.

In general weather conditions including rain, wind, sunlight, temperature, and humidity can affect the condition of your fence. in terms of the fence installation proper, prevailing weather conditions may also affect the processes. There will be some instances when the installation would have to be put on hold so as not to risk damaging the materials and equipment being used. Fret not, Ann Arbor Fence has expert crew members who would know when a pause is warranted. Rest assured, we will make sure that not much delay would be incurred, and your project can still be completed within schedule.

Each fence material available would have their own advantages and disadvantages. The wide variety of fence materials may be overwhelming to choose from. the material you will ultimately choose will depend on your preferences and needs. For example, if you are looking for a particular aesthetic, some fence materials may work for you better than others. However, if you are simply looking for something practical, uncomplicated fence types like chain link may do the job. Some can perform well in terms of aesthetics and durability at the same time. Examples of these include modern metal fences like aluminum and steel.

The maximum fence height you may have may be subjected to local regulations. For residential fences, no standard is set. However, there are common measurements fence companies go by. For instance, front yard fences are usually just around three feet in height. Meanwhile, backyard fences can be as tall as six to eight feet. The height of your fence would really depend on what you would need it for. For privacy purposes, the height of six to eight feet may be ideal to completely conceal your property. If you already have a fence installed and are considering adding height to it, there is an option to extend them by adding toppers.

A fence that was built properly and maintained with care can last for many years, depending on the type of material used. Some fence types may need more meticulous maintenance than others. For example, a conventional fencing material like wood is more susceptible to damage. Hence, it would require repainting and chemical treatment to extend its lifespan. A treated cedar wood fence can last for even forty years. Proper installation plays a big role in how long a fence last. If the fence is kept away from moisture, it is more protected from damage.