Frequently Asked Questions
Answers to the questions we hear most often from Sherman homeowners before booking a fence installation. Don't see yours here? Reach out and we'll answer it directly.
Do I need a permit to install a fence in Sherman or Denison?
It depends on the city — fence rules are set locally across the Texoma corridor, and height limits, corner-lot visibility requirements, and whether a permit is required all vary between Sherman, Denison, Anna, Van Alstyne, and Howe. Rather than guessing from an outdated summary, we confirm the current requirements with your city before any posts go in the ground, and we handle the paperwork where a permit is required. Fences on unincorporated county land generally don’t need a city permit at all.
My neighborhood has an HOA — will that affect my fence options?
Very likely, especially in the newer subdivisions from west Sherman down through Anna. Corridor HOAs commonly specify fence style (board-on-board with cap rail is a frequent requirement on visible lines), height, and approved stain colors. We ask for your HOA’s fencing standard before finalizing a quote and provide the product and color documentation many associations require — so you’re not re-doing an installation or a stain job after the fact.
How long does a typical fence installation take?
Most residential projects are completed within 1–3 weeks of a signed estimate, with the install itself usually taking 1–3 days. The main scheduling variables are spring storm season (April–June repair surges fill the calendar fast) and permit turnaround where one is required. Ranch and acreage jobs are scheduled after an on-site walk, since terrain and total footage drive the timeline more than anything else.
Should I choose cedar or vinyl for a privacy fence in North Texas?
Cedar wins on looks and up-front cost; vinyl wins on lifetime cost because it never needs staining. The honest math: a cedar fence in Texas sun needs re-staining every 2–4 years to reach its full lifespan, and if you’ll actually keep up with that (or hire it out), cedar is hard to beat. If you know maintenance won’t happen, quality vinyl — the UV-stabilized grade, not big-box panels — usually costs less by year ten. Either way, the posts and footings matter more than the panel material in our clay soil.
What actually determines the cost of my fence?
Four things drive most of the price: total linear footage, material (chain link costs the least per foot, cedar in the middle, iron and vinyl at the top), number and width of gates, and site conditions — slope, mature trees, teardown of an existing fence, and access along the line. On cedar specifically, post material matters: steel posts add modestly up front and are the single best durability upgrade in North Texas clay. Ranch and acreage jobs price differently — corner/brace count and terrain drive cost more than raw footage. We give you a firm, itemized estimate on-site so there are no surprises once work starts.
What areas do you serve?
We install and repair fencing along the US-75 corridor across Grayson and northern Collin County — Sherman, Denison, Howe, Van Alstyne, and Anna, plus the acreage and unincorporated land around them. If you’re nearby but not listed — Melissa, Gunter, Tom Bean, Bells, Pottsboro — call or text us; it takes a minute to confirm whether your address is in range, and travel distance mainly affects scheduling on smaller jobs.
When should a new cedar fence be stained — and how often after that?
New cedar needs to dry out before it can absorb stain — typically 30–60 days after installation, a bit longer in a wet spring. After the first coat, plan on re-staining every 2–4 years: west- and south-facing runs take the most sun and fade first, shaded lines last longer. A fence kept on that cycle avoids the more expensive stripping-and-brightening restoration work a gray, neglected fence needs — and it roughly doubles the useful life of the wood compared to never staining at all.