Fence Installation in St. Louis, MO

Most people build one fence in their lifetime, so there's no reason you'd already know how this works. This page walks you through how we build a fence, what drives the price, and the surprise costs that catch homeowners off guard.

Our goal is simple: tell you what to expect before you sign anything.

What should you know as a homeowner before a fence project? Here is what you need to have ready, what happens during the build, and what you are covered for afterward.

Get a survey done. When you contact a surveying company, ask them to set metal stakes in the ground marking your property line so there is no confusion later. Those stakes can be relocated easily with a metal detector if they get buried. A survey makes it easier for us to pull your permit, and it cuts down on neighbor disputes down the road. If you need a reference for who we like to use, we highly recommend Topos Surveying Corp. They have always treated us and our customers with respect and gotten to us in a timely manner. Their phone number is 314-838-5806. On average they charge between $800.00 and $1,400.00, and expect to put down a deposit to book their schedule.

HOA approval — you handle this. Many neighborhoods require HOA sign-off on fence height, style, and material before installation. This one is on the homeowner. Maniaci Construction does not submit HOA applications.

Permits — we handle this. Some municipalities require a permit for a fence. Maniaci Construction Inc. will pull it.

Utility locates (call 811) — we handle this. Before any digging, underground utilities need to be marked. Maniaci Construction Inc. will handle this or make sure it is done.

Sprinkler heads — tell us. Utility marking companies will not mark your sprinkler lines or heads. If you have an irrigation system, notify Maniaci Construction before we dig. This is the single most common thing that gets missed.

During the project

Post depth and setting method — Concrete vs. gravel, and how far below the frost line we go. This is what determines whether your fence is still straight in fifteen years.

Material quality — Pressure-treated lumber grade, vinyl thickness, or gauge of chain link and aluminum can vary widely between "cheap" and "built to last." If you find yourself wondering why Maniaci Construction Inc. costs more than other fence contractors in our area, it is likely because our standards of excellence are much higher and corners do not get cut in order to win your business.

Timeline and weather delays — Realistic expectations on start and finish dates, especially with material lead times. Rain moves things.

After the project

Warranty — What is covered (materials vs. labor), for how long, and what voids it. Each specific fence can have a different warranty, and we list each one under its own fencing type. In general:

Pressure treated fences — 1 year
Fences made entirely of cedar — 3 years
Vinyl, chain link, steel, and aluminum fences — 3 years

What we do not cover — It is basically a common sense warranty. If you throw someone through the fence, if a car drives through it, or if you got a little comfortable driving the lawn mower, we absolutely will not fix it for free. If anything arises from our workmanship or if there is a material failure, then we will cover it at no charge. If you purchased a pressure treated fence from us and the posts have splits in them and the material shrinks, that is completely normal — and we will mention this half a dozen times before a contract is signed and throughout the duration of the project.

Final walkthrough — Before final payment, the homeowner should walk the fence line with a project manager from Maniaci Construction Inc. to confirm everything meets expectations.

Basic Pricing Guide On Fences!

BEFORE YOU USE OUR PRICES, YOU NEED TO KNOW ROUGHLY HOW MANY LINEAR FEET OF FENCE YOU HAVE. HERE ARE TWO WAYS TO FIGURE IT OUT.

Option 1 — Walk it heel to toe.

Walk your fence line placing each foot directly in front of the other, heel touching toe, and count your steps. Most men's work boots are right around 12 inches long, so one step is roughly one foot of fence. Count 240 steps and you have about 240 linear feet.

If you wear a smaller shoe, measure one boot with a tape measure, multiply that number of inches by your number of steps, then divide by 12 to get feet.

Option 2 — Google Earth.

Open Google Earth using the button below labeled "Google Earth - Measurement Tool" and type in your address. Click the ruler icon at the top center and start clicking on the map along the outline of your fence line. If you have heavy tree cover, the canopy will block your view of the yard and you are better off using Option 1. If you want a quick 4 minute video tutorial on how to use Google Earth for measuring, click the button below labeled "Google Earth Tutorial."

Google Earth - Measurement Tool

Google Earth Tutorial

Basic 6' Tall Pressure Treated Privacy Fence

How we build it: 5/8" pickets on one side. Three 2x4 rails attached to 4x4 posts using 3" structural exterior rated screws. Pickets secured to the 2x4s with 1-3/4 in. x 0.080 in. galvanized metal ring shank nails — a total of 9 nails per picket, 3 nails into each 2x4. Post holes are dug 9" wide and 24" down.

Gate framing is constructed using cedar S4S to prevent shrinking and clearance issues. We use a 4x6 post for our gates to hold the additional weight they carry. Gate posts are set in concrete 12" wide by 30" deep.

These fences usually have a life span of 25 to 30 years.

What it costs:

$65 per linear foot without demo of an existing fence, including two 4' gates. This is based on 140' of fence.
Add $10 per linear foot if you have an existing fence that needs to be replaced and demo is required. This includes removing the existing post and concrete and utilizing the existing hole.
Add about $5 per linear foot if you live in an area like Eureka or Pacific with a lot of rock, where digging holes becomes much more difficult.

For smaller projects, prices may end up being higher due to mobilization costs, project management costs, permits, drawings, and utility marking.

A real example: The average back yard is about 240 linear feet. Say you live in St. Charles, St. Peters, O'Fallon, or Wentzville where the ground is easy to dig in, you want two 4' gates, and you have no existing fence currently — that would run you around $15,600.00.

The photo shown with this section is an actual fence built by Maniaci Construction Inc.

Shadow Box Pressure Treated Privacy Fence

A shadow box fence alternates pickets on opposite sides of the rails, so it looks finished from both your yard and your neighbor's — and it lets air pass through, which helps it stand up to wind.