Fence Hurricane Preparedness: How to Protect Your Fence During Florida Storms

While you may have great intentions, installing a new fence in your backyard it is harder than it looks. We’ve all seen the commercials where a husband and wife are having a great time putting up their new fence, but that's definitely not reality.You are looking forward to the privacy, security, and the rest of the aesthetic qualities a fence has to offer, but what about the installation? Getting It Done Right The First Time Let’s face it, fence installation is a lot harder than it seems. The last thing you want is a fence that is insecure or not straight, which is what happens with just a slight miscalculation. From measuring the perimeter to making sure everything is exactly level and the panels are in a straight line. If you’ve installed a fence before, you know how frustrating it is when just one of these happens. You end up wasting a lot of time and energy trying to get it right. It is worth the investment to have your fence professionally installed. They have the right equipment and experience to get it done right. Team Advantage Sure, you could save money by coercing a number of family and friends to help you install your fence. Which includes lugging the very heavy panels across your property, digging, drilling, nailing, and everything else. Or, you and your family, friends, can sit back, relax, and enjoy a BBQ, while your new fence is being installed by professionals. Let’s Not Forget The Heat And Humidity If you’ve done any work outside lately, you know how hot and humid it is. These conditions can be more than unpleasant. Combine this with a small complication and you end up with a compromised fence. Professional installers have the right equipment and used to the weather conditions, let them do all the sweating! Contact Fence Central for your next fence project. With our top-notch resources, exceptional craftsmanship, and unrivaled service, you can feel confident knowing that you will have a long-lasting fence that is custom-designed.

If you're looking to replace or install a fence here in Tampa, there's a few considerations to think through as you plan a realistic budget. In general, vinyl fence installation costs are usually a bit higher at the outset than wood and lower than metal, but all have their pros and cons and other things to think through. Factors that Influence Tampa Fence Installation Costs more Materials Vinyl panels typically cost more than basic chain link, of course, and they're also pricier than wood. But once you factor in the longevity and upkeep compared to wood, the cost is really about the same. Vinyl nationally costs between $15 and $40 per linear foot for 4- to 6-foot height fences. Wood usually stats lower on the materials side, but it demands so much more ongoing care (especially in our humid climate) that you'll very quickly spend more if you want the fence to last longer than a year or two. Aluminum and ornamental metals push the upper end of the scale for material costs. Length A 100-foot run might total $1,500 to $4,000, depending on style and site conditions, while a fence that's 200 feet can be more like $3,000–$8,000. Longer perimeters scale accordingly. Every additional linear foot requires more panels, posts, concrete, and crew time, so make sure you've carefully measured before you get any quote. Height A standard 6-foot privacy panel uses more material and takes longer to set than a 4-foot picket fence or a three-rail design. Privacy styles usually cost around $25–$60 per linear foot installed, while picket versions are more like $14–$22, and open rail styles can be even cheaper. Bear in mind that the taller the fence, the deeper and stronger the posts need to be, and this increases costs as well. Style and Gates Decorative lattice tops, scalloped edges, or color options usually raise the per-foot price by several dollars each. A single walk-through gate usually adds $300 to $1,500 to the price once you account for the hardware, hinges, and installation. Wider driveway gates cost more, of course, and multiple gates multiply that line item. If you want any automation or special locking mechanisms, be sure to mention that specifically so your quote will be accurate. Terrain Terrain and soil conditions can change the cost of your fencing project, and that's often a surprise to homeowners. If the whole area is on flat, clear ground, crews can dig the post holes and set the panels very quickly and efficiently. Rocky soil, heavy clay, dense roots, or steep slopes will all slow the work and may require specialized equipment. Sandy soil is common here, too, and that sometimes requires additional compaction or deeper footings to keep the posts stable. Talk to Us About Vinyl Fence Installation Costs If you'd like concrete information on how these factors are going to apply to your own property, contact us at Fence Central now for a free estimate. Our insistence on using American-made materials and taking the time to do things right makes us the most trusted family-owned fencing installer in the area. We serve all of Central Florida, including Highlands County, Hillsborough County, Lake County, Osceola County, and Polk County.

If you want vinyl fencing that can handle our sometimes rough Florida weather, hire experienced local installers who already know Polk County soil, the local codes, our weather challenges, and the situation in our neighborhoods. What Experienced Polk County Installers Bring to Vinyl Fencing and Other Projects Knowing the Soil more The person who sets the posts on any fence should know how this specific ground behaves in a summer downpour or a late-season storm. Central Florida soils can be anything from loose sand to heavier pockets just within a few miles, and a crew that works here week after week knows by instinct where a hole will slough and where a post needs extra concrete. A traveling installer working from a generic spec sheet does not have that experience and local insight. Knowing the Rules The Florida Building Code sets some structural expectations, including wind design, but the height limits, front-yard setbacks, sight triangles at corners, and whether you even need a construction permit are decided by each municipality. Lakeland, Winter Haven, and the county building division each have their own regulations, and an installer who files those permit applications regularly will be able to tell you what you need and what the limitations are before you buy. Knowing the Utilities The most common amateur mistake in fencing is digging before anyone has marked the buried utility lines. Florida law requires you to notify Sunshine 811 at least two full business days before any excavation. A local company will know the schedule and can arrange for everything in advance, so you are not standing in the yard with posts while the utility markings are still missing. Knowing the Properties Experienced estimators measure on site, compare the proposed line to the survey, and can then flag any easement before the work gets started and time or money is wasted. That step sounds unimportant; that is, until you have to cut a finished fence run because a utility company has a recorded right to access the strip you just enclosed. Knowing the Weather Florida's sun and weather are not minor details. Florida's UV exposure values are well above the national average for much of the year, often reaching the very high and extreme ranges in late spring and summer. That is the light that yellows thin, unstabilized PVC and makes it brittle. And while the Florida Building Code allows fences not exceeding six feet to be designed for specified wind speeds, a design number on paper is not the same as a post set to depth in wet sand after a week of rain. Local installers know how to adjust the hole diameter, embedment, and concrete volume to the actual soil they find, where to add extra reinforcement to keep a wide opening from acting like a sail, and how to protect your investment from the weather. To get a quality fence from people who know your area, call us today at Fence Central in Winter Haven at 863-215-6511 or visit us online to request a free estimate. We serve all of Central Florida, including Highlands, Hillsborough, Lake, Osceola, and Polk Counties.