What National Chains Don’t Understand About Fencing in the Midwest

When you are shopping around for a fence, a national big-box store may seem like a tempting option. Often, a national store will offer special financing, and they have a large selection of fencing materials and styles from which to choose. But is that the right option? If you live in the Midwest, we have some compelling reasons that a local fence installer is a better way to go.

Understanding Midwest Fencing Problems

Fencing in the Midwest has to be tough enough to face all the weather that comes its way. Here, summer brings blistering heat and high humidity, and can seriously damage a fence. Temperature spikes up to 100 degrees, direct sunlight with harmful UV rays, and the moisture in the air, all at the same time, can weaken the structural integrity of your fence. What’s more, all that heat on clay-rich soil causes the surface to dry and shrink, which destabilizes fence posts. Winter brings sub-freezing temperatures that can damage metal and vinyl fencing, and blizzards with wind speeds that have been clocked at up to 60 miles per hour! The snow and ice that build up on fences cause different types of damage, including decay and structural stress. Snow is heavy, and wet snow is significantly heavier than dry snow, so this puts quite a bit of pressure on fences. Then there is the freeze-thaw cycle, which happens when the ground freezes and thaws, making the soil expand and contract. When this happens, upward pressure causes fence posts to move and shift out of place.  If you are purchasing a fence from a national chain, there is a very real chance that they know nothing about the Midwest or its weather issues, and they may not have any real knowledge of the product, either. There is no real way for you to assess a fence by looking at it on the internet, and if you do not have an expert helping you make your decisions, you could end up with a product unsuitable for your Midwestern home.

Local Vs National Fence Company

If you compare local fencing companies to a national fence provider, it’s easy to see why hiring a local fence installer is a better option.

• Local Fence Installers:
  • Understand your local weather
  • Understand your community’s rules and regulations
  • Know which materials are best for your region
  • Often have good deals with suppliers, and pass the savings on to their customers
  • They are part of your community, so hiring them supports the local economy
  • Their goal is to provide quality work and make repeat customers
• National Fence Companies:
  • It may not even be anywhere near your area
  • Are not fencing experts
  • May offer special financing, but can be costlier than local after additional fees.
  • Profits go to the company, not your community
  • The goal is to maximize profits; customers are secondary

Beyond Fencing in Cold Climates: Compliance with Local Laws

Of course, local fence installers understand more about their area than simply the weather. Their expertise in local regulations and permits is invaluable. Because they know details about the regional landscape, construction codes, and zoning laws. This can save a homeowner substantial hassle and, in some cases, hefty fines that can be incurred through ignorance of the steps necessary to maintain compliance. Dealing with a local fence installer makes it easier to stay within the bounds of the law.

Problems Dealing with a Chain and Fence Contractor Issues

A quick internet search will give you access to a host of stories from people who had bad experiences with a big box chain to have a fence installed. Homeowners complain about a lack of communication, about a job postponed far beyond the expected installation date, about incompetent contractors, and about being overcharged after the fact. In some cases, complaints made to the store were deflected, and the blame was placed on the installer that the store had contracted to do the job. On the other side of the coin, a contractor reported that the store would upcharge from the fence installer’s price, overpromise to the client, then blame any problems on the installer. Some people have good experiences with fence installation from national big box stores, but why risk it? Choosing a local fence installer might take a little bit more legwork ahead of time, but the benefits are well worth it.

Contact Paramount Fence for Your Chicagoland Fencing Needs

Paramount Fence Inc. is a fence company with strong ties to the community and a reputation for excellence in professional fence installation. Our family-owned and operated business is a full-service fencing company in the Chicagoland area, proudly serving the following counties in Illinois: Kane, DuPage, Kendall, DeKalb, McHenry, and parts of Cook, Will, and Lake. With over a century of combined experience, we’ve been the premier name in fence installation in our community since 2006, and we’ve built an impeccable reputation for professionalism, expertise, and superior results. Using modern, cutting-edge methods, equipment, and techniques, we will help you find the fence of your dreams, and we’ll be with you through every step of your fence installation project. Paramount Fence Inc. is a member of the American Fence Association and has earned an A+ rating with the Better Business Bureau. To learn more about our work, browse our gallery to check out our prior projects, or contact us for a free on-site estimate from Chicagoland’s trusted local team.