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Month: December 2025

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Podcast

How to Fix a Leaning Fence Post (and When to Call a Pro)

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How to Fix a Leaning Fence Post (and When to Call a Pro)

Hi everyone! D.J. Marcussen here, owner of Fence Company Near Me. It’s a common sight here in Pinellas: after a heavy rain or a particularly strong gust of wind, you step outside and notice one of your fence posts is giving you a little wave—it’s leaning. A leaning post isn’t just an eyesore; it compromises the security of your entire fence line and needs to be addressed quickly. While a pro is always the safest bet, there are a few simple ways you can diagnose the problem and determine if it’s a quick fix you can handle or if it’s time to call in the experts.

The first thing you need to do is figure out why the post is leaning. There are typically three culprits. One, the post itself is rotting at or below ground level, which is very common with wood in our humid Florida climate. Two, the concrete footing has failed because it wasn’t set deep enough, or the saturated soil has shifted it. Three, the lean is due to a temporary external force, like a large tree limb falling on it or prolonged pressure from a storm.

If you have a minor lean caused by the ground simply getting saturated and soft, and the post itself is solid, you might be able to temporarily stabilize it yourself. You can try digging around the post base on the side opposite the lean, pushing the post upright, and then backfilling the hole with gravel or dry concrete mix. The gravel will help drain water away from the post, and the dry mix will slowly cure with moisture from the soil, adding some stability. You can also use temporary wooden braces staked into the ground to hold the post perfectly plumb while you try to stabilize the footing.

However, if you spot any of these major red flags, it’s definitely time to call a professional.

The first red flag is post rot. If you push on the post and notice the wood feels spongy, soft, or crumbly near the ground, the internal structure is compromised. No amount of gravel or bracing will fix rot; the post has lost its strength and needs to be replaced immediately. Trying to brace a rotten post is only a temporary and often unsafe measure, especially with hurricane season always around the corner.

The second red flag is major concrete footing failure. If you notice a huge crack in the concrete footing, or if the entire footing—post and all—is rocking like a loose tooth, you’re looking at a major structural failure. Trying to break up and reset a massive concrete footing on your own is extremely labor-intensive, requires specialized tools, and poses a risk to the surrounding fence sections. A professional has the equipment to lift the section safely, remove the old concrete, and set a new, properly sized footing that adheres to local codes for depth and stability.

The third time you should call us is if multiple posts are leaning or if the lean is the result of widespread panel damage. If one post fails, it puts undue strain on the adjacent sections, often causing a domino effect. If the integrity of a large section of your fence has been compromised, it’s best to let a crew assess the structural chain of damage and ensure everything is repaired and reinforced correctly.

Fixing a small lean can be a quick DIY win, but remember that your fence’s stability is critical to your home’s security here in Florida. If the cause is rot or a failed footing, the repair requires professional knowledge and proper materials to ensure the fix lasts. Don’t take chances with your fence’s foundation!

Until next time, this is D.J. Marcussen, your friendly fence guy, reminding you that a solid fence leads to solid peace of mind!

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Podcast

How to Tell Who Owns a Fence Between Two Properties

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How to Tell Who Owns a Fence Between Two Properties

Hi everyone! D.J. Marcussen here, owner of Fence Company Near Me. Following up on our chat about building a fence on the property line, another super common question we get here in Pinellas is, “Who actually owns this fence between my house and my neighbor’s?” Determining ownership is often the first, and most delicate, step before you can talk about repairs, replacement, or maintenance. Knowing who owns it clarifies who has the final say and who is responsible for the costs.

The most common, but not always definitive, indicator is the “good side/bad side” rule. For many fence styles, like wood privacy fences, there is a distinct “finished” side with the smooth planks, and a “structural” side where the posts and horizontal rails are visible. Traditionally, the neighbor who installed the fence places the structural side, or the “bad side,” facing their own yard, giving the more attractive, “good side” to the neighbor. In this scenario, the fence is generally considered to be owned by the person who has the “bad side,” meaning it was built entirely on their property, facing outward. While this is a helpful clue, it’s not always legally binding proof, as some people simply choose the structural side for their own yard for aesthetic reasons.

The only way to definitively prove who owns the fence is to look at the property survey. This is the document that legally defines the boundaries of your property. If the entire fence, including the posts and the foundation, sits entirely on your side of the property line, then you own it and have the final say on maintenance and replacement. If the fence sits entirely on your neighbor’s side of the line, then they own it. The same rule applies if the fence was installed slightly inside the line, which, as we discussed, is a common practice to avoid disputes. If you don’t have a recent survey, getting one done is the most reliable way to settle any ownership questions.

Sometimes, the fence is a “boundary fence,” meaning it was built precisely on the property line for mutual benefit. In this case, the fence is generally considered to be jointly owned by both property owners. This typically happens when neighbors have agreed to share the costs of installation and maintenance. If your home is part of a Homeowners Association, or if you purchased the home recently, check your deed or any records the previous owners may have passed along. Sometimes, written agreements about the boundary fence were recorded with the property, which dictates shared ownership and responsibility.

If the ownership isn’t clear from the “good side/bad side” rule and you don’t have a survey, the best approach is to communicate respectfully with your neighbor. Instead of asking “Who owns this?”, you might ask, “I see the fence needs some work, and I’d like to talk about how we can share the cost of the repair.” You may discover that a previous owner paid for the fence and you can establish a new, joint agreement for moving forward. If you and your neighbor are both unsure of the boundary, agreeing to split the cost of a survey is usually the wisest investment before spending money on construction.

Ultimately, whether you own the fence or not, the decision to maintain a good relationship with your neighbor often outweighs the desire to assert full ownership. A little cooperation goes a long way toward ensuring both properties stay secure and look great.

 

Until next time, this is D.J. Marcussen, your friendly fence guy, reminding you that a solid fence leads to solid peace of mind!

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Podcast

Can I Install a Fence on My Property Line?

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Can I Install a Fence on My Property Line?

Hi everyone! D.J. Marcussen here, owner of Fence Company Near Me. This is a question that comes up on nearly every single residential fence installation we do here in Pinellas. Homeowners want to maximize their space and logically ask, “Can I put the fence right on the property line?” The short answer is yes, you can, but doing so requires a few crucial steps and a commitment to communication to make sure your project goes smoothly and legally.

The first, and most important, step before installing any fence near a boundary is to know exactly where your property line is. I cannot stress this enough. If you install a fence even six inches over the line onto your neighbor’s property, that fence is considered an encroachment, and they have the legal right to demand you remove it. You need more than just old markings or where you think the line is. The only way to definitively know the boundary is by obtaining a current property survey from a licensed surveyor. This is a necessary expense that prevents far more expensive legal battles and headaches down the road. Once the survey is complete, the corners of your property should be clearly marked, giving us a precise line to work with.

The second, and equally important, consideration when installing a fence right on the property line is neighbor communication and agreement. If the fence is built exactly on the boundary, it technically becomes a “common fence” or “boundary fence.” Even though Florida law doesn’t automatically require your neighbor to contribute to the cost, if you plan to share the cost of installation or maintenance, you absolutely must have a clear, written agreement. Even if you pay for the entire fence yourself, letting your neighbor know your intentions, showing them the survey, and getting their verbal (and ideally written) confirmation will prevent disputes. You want that relationship to remain friendly, and a fence is a permanent structure that affects both of you.

Now, while installing a fence directly on the line is legally possible, many homeowners choose to take a practical approach and install the fence a small, defined distance inside their own property line. We often recommend setting the fence six inches to a foot inside your boundary. This slight offset completely eliminates any dispute over encroachment, ensures the fence is entirely your property, and gives you full control over its maintenance and repair. If you choose this route, you are solely responsible for the fence, and you can generally choose the style, height, and material you want, provided you follow local setback rules and permitting requirements.

Finally, remember that local regulations still apply. Even if you build the fence entirely on your own property, you still need to obtain the necessary permits from Pinellas County or your specific municipality. Local codes dictate things like the maximum height allowed in front, side, and rear yards, and they often have setback rules that require the fence to be a certain distance from the street or sidewalk. We handle all of this permitting and compliance, but it’s a critical part of the process, whether the fence is on the line or a foot inside it.

The best way to start your project is always with an accurate survey and a friendly conversation with your neighbor. Get those two things sorted out, and we can install a perfect, secure fence that lasts for years.

Until next time, this is D.J. Marcussen, your friendly fence guy, reminding you that a solid fence leads to solid peace of mind!

Categories
Podcast

How Much Does Professional Fence Installation Cost In Florida?

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How Much Does Professional Fence Installation Cost?

Hi everyone! D.J. Marcussen here, owner of Fence Company Near Me. We’ve talked a lot about choosing the right fence material, from wood to vinyl to aluminum, but let’s tackle the inevitable follow-up question: “Okay, D.J., now that I know what I want, how much does professional installation actually cost?” It’s a completely fair question, and while I can’t give you a universal price tag right here, I can tell you exactly what you’re paying for when you choose a professional service like ours.

The initial and most obvious factor driving the price is the cost of the materials. As we’ve discussed, this is usually the single biggest variable. Wood fencing typically provides the lowest initial material cost, while vinyl and aluminum are higher upfront because they are engineered for extreme durability and low maintenance. When you choose a professional, you benefit from our contractor-level sourcing, ensuring you get high-quality, reliable materials that are suited for the Florida climate, not just the cheapest stuff on the shelf.

Beyond the raw materials, you are paying for expert labor and craftsmanship. A professional installation includes much more than just nailing boards together. Our crew ensures the fence is square, the pickets are spaced perfectly, and the gates are hung and latched flawlessly. Crucially, we ensure the fence posts are set deep enough with the proper amount of concrete to withstand the strong winds we experience here in Pinellas. A DIY job or a rushed installation often skimps on post-setting, which is the number one cause of fence failure down the road. We build fences to last for their full lifespan, and that expertise is a major part of the cost.

Another significant component of the price involves the site conditions and preparation. Is your yard perfectly flat and easy to access, or does it have a slope, dense vegetation, or rocky terrain? If we have to remove an old fence, that demolition and hauling fee gets factored in. If there are complex corners or existing landscaping features we have to work around, that increases the time and complexity of the labor. Professionals also handle the mandatory utility locates before digging, which is a non-negotiable step for safety and is included in your estimate.

You also need to account for permitting and compliance. Here in Pinellas and surrounding areas, a fence permit is almost always required. A professional contractor handles the entire permitting process, ensuring the final design and installation strictly adhere to all local codes regarding height, setback, and material use. This saves you the headache of dealing with the building department and avoids the risk of fines or being forced to tear down and rebuild a non-compliant fence. This crucial compliance work is built into your professional quote.

Ultimately, the cost of a professional fence installation is an investment in longevity and peace of mind. You are buying the guarantee that your fence will be built right the first time, using the best techniques to withstand Florida’s elements. This reduces your risk of damage during a storm and minimizes your maintenance and repair costs over the next two decades.

If you’re ready for an accurate quote, the best step is to call us for a free, on-site consultation. We’ll measure your yard, discuss your material needs, assess the site conditions, and provide you with a transparent, all-inclusive price.

Until next time, this is D.J. Marcussen, your friendly fence guy, reminding you that a solid fence leads to solid peace of mind!

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