Question 1

I see the name Elyria Fence or Elyria Fence Company on other websites. Do you have more than one location?

Accepted Answer

Other local businesses steal our name and place it on their own website to give the impression that you are viewing Elyria Fence's business and projects. The name Elyria Fence Company is a registered service mark (trademark) of our company. We do pursue these local businesses to remove our name from their websites and products, but there is always another that seems to pop up. "Imitation is the sincerest form of flattery that mediocrity can pay to greatness." By Oscar Wilde. There is only one Elyria Fence!

Question 2

You're a veteran owned business. Does Elyria Fence offer a veteran's discount?

Accepted Answer

One of the only discounts Elyria Fence offers is a veteran's discount. Our owner is a disabled veteran that volunteered to serve in the Vietnam War. It was important to him to honor our area veterans, and show appreciation for their service. If you're currently serving or have served in the armed forces feel free to ask your estimator about our veteran's discount. You'll need to show your military id, military spouse id or your veteran's id to receive it.

Question 3

What cities does Elyria Fence install their fencing, gates, arbors, pergolas and lattice work?

Accepted Answer

The Elyria Fence Company has been pleased to offer our fences, lattice fence, pergolas, trellises, garden arches, and arches for installation in the following Ohio cities since 1932: Akron, Amherst, Ashland, Avon, Avon Lake, Bainbridge, Bath, Bay Village, Beachwood, Bedford Heights, Belden, Bellevue, Berea, Berlin Heights, Birmingham, Boston Heights, Bratenahl, Brecksville, Broadview Heights, Brooklyn/Old Brooklyn, Brookpark, Brunswick, Carlisle Township, Cleveland, , Columbia Station, Copley, Creston, , Eaton, Elyria, Fairview Park, Fairlawn, Friendsville, Garfield Heights, Gates Mills, Grafton, Hinckley, Homerville, Huron, Hudson, Independence, Kelly's Island, Kipton, LaGrange, Lakeside , Lakewood, LaPorte, Litchfield, Lodi, Lorain, Lyndhurst, Macedonia, Maple Heights, Medina, Milan, Monroeville, New London, New Russia Township, Northfield, North Olmsted, North Ridgeville, North Royalton, Norwalk, Oakwood, Oberlin, Ohio City, Olmsted Falls, Parma, Penfield Township, Peninsula, Pepper Pike, Pittsfield, Polk, Richfield, , Rittman, Rochester, Rocky River, Sagamore Hills, Salem, Sandusky, Seville, Shaker Heights, Sharon Center, Sheffield, Sheffield Lake, Sheffield Township, Sheffield Village, Solon, South Amherst, Spencer, Strongsville, Stow, Tremont, University Heights, Valley City, Valley View, Vermilion, Wadsworth, Wakeman, Wellington, Westlake, West Salem, Woodmere.

Question 4

Are your products American Made?

Accepted Answer

Absolutely! As a (disabled) veteran owned company we firmly believe that it's our responsibility to stay loyal to the country that we love so much. Every product that our company sells, and installs is manufactured in the United States. It's unfortunate that many companies are advertising that their products are American Made, and yet the reality is that they are only assembled in the United States out of poor quality imported materials. We can genuinely say that everything we offer was manufactured in America out of American product. Our Ornamental Aluminum fences are manufactured in Michigan out of American aluminum. Our vinyl fences and railings are manufactured in Indiana out of vinyl product that originated from Nebraska. Our chain link fences (vinyl coated and aluminized) are all constructed out of American steel, and the wood that we use for our amazing and unique wooden fences is harvested out of Michigan. We're proud of this country, and there is no real reason to look outside the USA for products. Well... unless your intention is to offer something of poor quality in order to save a couple of dollars!

Question 5

Does Elyria Fence sell material only?

Accepted Answer

If you are in our local area we will happily supply you with the loose boards, frame, posts, etc for you to build a fence or gate yourself. All of the products that we offer are available in material only packages to our local area if we have enough stock. Of course, all of our fences are custom-built. Therefore, there are no prefabricated panels in stock. Outside of January and February our shop is too busy to build panels for a DIY project. We do not ship any of our products. For the most part, vinyl fences, vinyl railings, ornamental aluminum fences and railings are set up on territories. You can contact those manufacturers, and they should be able to put you in touch with a local dealer if you are outside of our local area.

Question 6

What do I need for a ballpark quote?

Accepted Answer

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. 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. There are currently no companies in Northern Ohio that provide the designs that we build. There are also no companies currently in Northern Ohio that use the high quality of wood nor the species of wood that we use. You will see other local companies stealing our name and/or photos to use on their website. There is only one Elyria Fence!  It would be impossible to receive an apples to apples quote between us, and any other companies in Northern Ohio. We also highly recommend that you look up each company through the Better Business Bureau and also Angie's List. Be mindful that many companies go out of business (taking customer deposits with them) just to open back up under a new name. Be sure to search under their old aliases for a proper review of their business practices. 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.

Question 7

Does Elyria Fence apply for city building permits?

Accepted Answer

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 to four weeks for us to receive your permit.

Question 8

Do I need a survey

Accepted Answer

We rely on the homeowner to know where their property pins are. Our estimator's can assist in locating them with a pin locator if the customer knows a general location. If the pins are not located by the homeowner or the estimator with the homeowner's help then yes, you will need a survey. If a homeowner is not able to locate the pins and unwilling to hire a surveyor then we will ask that our client sign off on the location of the new fence. If it is ultimately determined later down the road that the fence was placed on a neighbor's property it's the financial responsibility of our customer to pay to move it.

Question 9

Who calls OUPS to have the underground utilities marked?

Accepted Answer

The Elyria Fence Company calls OUPS to have all publicly owned utilities marked ahead of digging for your fence posts. If you have customer owned utilities it's pertinent that you notify us. Our company relies on the homeowner to inform us of underground that is considered private. Examples of this could be electric running from the house to a detached garage. Underground utilities for a pool are also considered privately owned. If a homeowner has a gas line that feeds a grill or fire pit we would also need to be notified. These lines can typically be marked, but we need to hire a "private locator" to do it. Ultimately, the homeowner is responsible for letting us know of any private lines underground.

Question 10

Once my wooden fence is installed do I need to seal it?

Accepted Answer

We always recommend that everyone use a high quality (not the lowest price) wood sealant on their fence. 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 right away if it's possible. It's best to contact your local paint store for an expert opinion. We have had positive feedback from our customers that have used Sikkens and Benjamin Moore. 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. .

Question 11

Is there a long wait for installation?

Accepted Answer

We always recomment to ALL customers - if you need a early summer installation, please, please, please arrange your estimate NOW. We pride ourselves on the quality of our work. Thankfully, this places our company in high demand. Help us to provide you with excellent customer service by planning way in advance on your installation schedule. Our waiting list for installations will vary throughout the year. Of course, the spring & 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 been in business since 1932, 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 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 upcoming 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 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. We are definitely all living in an "instant" world. We do not have the ability to provide anyone with an instant fence. Due to the fact that we are one of the few companies in the United States that still builds things from scratch so to speak we have high demand. If you need an "instant fence" we are probably not the right company for you. All good contractors are behind. Depending on the season we are in we can be anywhere from 3 weeks behind to 15 weeks behind. We appreciate our customer's patience, and assure you we are worth the wait!

Question 12

Can I have an installation date?

Accepted Answer

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. If you have purchased vinyl or ornamental aluminum we have to wait for the manufacturer to ship that to us. In the height of the season it can take 6-8 weeks just to get your material in for those products. None of these issues are predictable. Even for the most seasoned businesses. 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 estimated time frame of the weekly waiting list. 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.

Question 13

If you are so behind, why not hire more installers?

Accepted Answer

We hear this a lot. We would love to hire additional carpenters and installers. This is an issue that has plagued the trades for several years. There is a massive shortage within the trades. We are willing to train the young carpenters coming out of vocational school, but many young people do not choose the skilled trades as a career. In addition, like many companies and industries - we struggle to find candidates willing to work full-time that have a valid driver's license and/or that can pass a drug test. As a company we are responsible for sending professional installers to your home that will potentially be on your property for several days. It is our job to not just supply you with a beautifully crafted product, but to also place drug-free skilled individuals onto your property (regardless of what is currently legal in Ohio). We would prefer to run behind than to sacrifice quality and reputation to be a little quicker!

Question 14

Does Elyria Fence use concrete when setting posts?

Accepted Answer

Yes! We will happily go into detail on the unique way that we set our footers during the estimate. Through the decades of working in Northern Ohio we have learned long ago what works, and what doesn't work. We definitely concrete every post in with the exception of split rail.

Question 15

I would like to grow a Wisteria vine. What type of arbor or pergola will I need?

Accepted Answer

Wisteria Vines are a very unique flower to grow. They are quite heavy and very wide. It requires a very special structure to support it. Minimally, the arbor or pergola will need to be 4' deep. They grow very long, and will require a structure that will be longer than the typical arbor or pergola. Lastly, it's best to use a 6x6 post for your structure. This will provide years of strength for your Wisteria. With proper planning and care you will enjoy your vine for years and years with no issue or problems from the structure supporting it!

Question 16

I am planning to landscape around my future fence. Should the landscaping go in before the fencework?

Accepted Answer

If you have the ability to put your landscaper off - always do the fence first. Remember that for our installers to install your fence we have to be able to walk in the area, dig holes (which can produce a lot of excess dirt), place the post in, and fill the hole with concrete. It would be impossible for us to guarantee that there will be no plant damage. Whether our installer accidentally steps on a flower, or possibly a post hole is going right into your prized tulips - these are things that are often not avoidable for us. Always arrange your fence before the landscapers. It will ensure a much more pleasant installation for you, and your landscaper will appreciate the plan as well!

Question 17

I've already landscaped the area, and I've decided to add a fence. How will that affect my newly planted flowers?

Accepted Answer

Our installers do their very best to not leave a mess in yards or landscape beds. It's important, though, to be realistic. If we have installers setting posts and nailing fence in the middle of a bunch of flowers - there will probably be some flowers that get stepped on. They make every attempt to avoid damage, but it's very difficult. Plus, posts will need to be set in the midst of the flowers. Some flowers will be necessary casualties simply due to digging a hole, and pouring in the concrete. We prefer to set our posts at even widths apart. It makes the panels all the same length, and is considerably more attractive. There will  certainly be scenarios that line a post up with the location of a current flower. We will make every attempt to avoid damage to current flowers and other plantings, but we cannot be responsible for possible damage to current plantings that are in line with the fence that's been ordered.

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