What do I need for a ballpark estimate?
Does Elyria Fence apply for city building permits?
Do I need a survey? Who takes care of the underground utilities?
Once my wood fence or deck is installed do I need to seal it?
Does Elyria Fence sell material only?
What areas do you work in?
Is there a long wait to have my job installed?
Can I have an exact installation date?
Does Elyria Fence use concrete when setting posts?

What do I need for a ballpark estimate?

First you will need to know approximately what your total footage is. You will want to know the height of fence you are looking for. If it's wood you are interested in, it's helpful for us to know the design you like best, and whether or not you want a space between the boards or solid. If you are interested in a deck you will need to know the approximate square footage. Lastly, it's important to keep in mind that our company has no interest in competing on the basis of cost using low quality materials and workmanship. Elyria Fence insists on building the best product that we can with the highest quality materials available.
Of course, we would be more than happy to come to your home, and give you an accurate installed price. Our estimators are extremely knowledgeable, and will bring photos of previous work we've done. They will work with you on a design that best fits your needs and home.

Does Elyria Fence apply for city building permits?

Yes, we do all the work on that end. Each city has different building codes, and your estimator will be very knowledgeable on each of them. We are licensed and bonded in most cities, and have a good working relationship with the building departments. Every city is different, but on average it takes approximately two weeks for us to receive your permit.

Do I need a survey? Who takes care of the underground utilities?

Our estimators will help you determine if you need a survey. If it's best to go ahead with it we will be happy to make recommendations of reputable surveyors. We also call all of the underground utility companies. This ensures the safety of all of our employees, and prevents any inconvenience for our customers due to lack of electricity, etc.

Once my wood fence or deck is installed do I need to seal it?

We always recommend that everyone use a high quality (not the lowest price) wood sealant on their fence or deck. White Cedar is the best option for a wood fence, and you can expect years of enjoyment out of it. However, if you protect it the fence will last even longer. Elyria Fence also recommends staining your fence or deck right away if it's possible. It's best to contact your local paint store for an expert opinion. Elyria/Lorain Paints, who is not connected with our company in any way, has always given good advice to our customers for each of their projects. They are located at 6936 Lake Ave in Elyria, and may be reached at 440-324-4144. Keep in mind that in terms of a stain/water repellent you get what you pay for. A good stain/water repellent is a good investment. Not only will the stain work harder for you, but it will need to be done less often.

Does Elyria Fence sell material only?

All of the products that we offer are available in material only packages. Of course, all of our fences are custom-built. Therefore, there are no prefabricated panels in stock. We also offer delivery in our local area, and the charge is based on your location. Don't forget that if it's a material only project we must charge sales tax.

What areas do you work in?

Our installation territory is vast. If you are located in Northern Ohio, it's probably best to to call or email to confirm if we work in your neighborhood. More than likely we do! You will find our work throughout Cuyahoga County (including downtown Cleveland). We also work extensively in all of Medina County, Lorain County, and Huron County. We work in Erie County, but do not extend west past the islands. We do provide local delivery, but do not provide any shipping services out of state. Our products are available as a material only order, but if you are located out of state you will need to pick up the order at our store. All of our designs are proprietary to our company. We take great pride in each of them, and do not sell any type of building plans.

Is there a long wait to have my job installed?

Our waiting list for installations will vary throughout the year. Of course, the summer months are the busiest therefore the wait will be a bit longer. All of our installers are trained in the "Elyria Fence Way" for installations. We have seventy years of experience, and we are a small company that prides itself on each and every job we install. We want our customers to be happy with the fence or deck they receive, and therefore refuse to rush through any job. Our customers receive a high-quality, handcrafted, custom-built product that is not available anywhere else. We survive on word of mouth advertising, and therefore our customers' happiness is of the utmost importance. Our customers' installations are handled on a first come first serve basis. Therefore we highly recommend that everyone plan ahead for that Memorial Day Party or any other upcoming plans. The more notice you give us, the easier it is for us to accommodate your plans. The best time of year to purchase a fence or deck with little wait is in the winter months. Elyria Fence has the equipment to allow us to work year around, and the wait will be shorter for the customer.

Can I have an exact installation date?

We do the best we can to accommodate all of our customers. However, it is nearly impossible for us to give an exact installation date. There are so many factors that come into play that are behind the scenes of your individual installation. First and foremost, if it's raining we can not run a lot of our equipment due to electrical cords, etc. If we are in a drought, the ground is extremely hard, and therefore the digging of the holes is much slower. In this industry, like any business, there is a statement that is common, "If it can go wrong, it will go wrong." All of these things and more can change installation dates.
When you place the deposit on your fence we will be able to give you an idea of the weekly waiting list. We usually have an idea of an exact date a week ahead of your installation. Our scheduler or your estimator, will call a day or two before to make sure the date is ok with the customer. If you think you may have a conflict with a vacation or anything else that you foresee please let us know. We will make sure to work the schedule date around your availability.

Does Elyria Fence use concrete when setting posts?

Yes. All of our fences and decks (excluding split rail) are set in concrete. The hole is dug two and a half feet deep (this is below the freeze line) and "belled" out at the bottom, and the top will be back-filled with dirt. The dirt will prevent the concrete from freezing, and the "bell" will prevent the post from being heaved out of the ground. Proper installation of posts is critical to a fence installation. If concrete is not used or if it's used incorrectly the fence will never hold up. We do not use concrete on our split rail. Split rail fences are so open that there is little risk of it being blown over, etc.

Copyright 2000-2005 Elyria Fence Inc.