How to Choose a Fence Contractor in Covington, LA

Choose a fence contractor in Covington, LA by checking four things: proof of insurance, a written itemized quote, how deep the posts go and what holds them, and what other homeowners on the Northshore say. A company that passes all four will build a fence that stands up to St. Tammany ground and hurricane wind. This guide gives you the eight questions to ask.

Fence work looks simple from the street, and that is why the market has so many one-truck operations. The difference between a fence that lasts and one that leans in three years is almost entirely in the posts and the hardware, which you cannot see once the job is done. The questions below get at those hidden parts before any money changes hands. They apply equally in Covington, Mandeville, Hammond and anywhere else on the Northshore.

Is the fence contractor licensed and insured?

Ask for it in writing, and ask before the estimate visit. Insurance protects you if a worker is hurt on your property or a post-hole auger cuts a buried line. A contractor who hesitates to send a certificate of insurance is telling you something. Northbound Fences is licensed and insured and has been building fences around Covington since Eric Bankston founded the company in 2005, and proof is available at the estimate.

Does the quote itemize the work and hold its price?

A good fence quote lists the material, the height, the linear footage, each gate as its own line, old-fence removal and haul-off, and any clearing or grading. If a number on the quote cannot be tied to something on your lot, ask what it is. Then ask the second question: is this the final price? Northbound Fences writes transparent quotes with no hidden fees, and the price you are quoted is the price you pay. Our guide to what a new fence costs in Covington walks through each line so you can read a quote with confidence.

How deep do the posts go, and what holds them?

This is the question most homeowners never ask and the one that matters most. South Louisiana ground stays wet for long stretches, and a post set shallow or set in loose fill will tilt within a few seasons. Ask the contractor how deep the posts are set, whether they are set in concrete, and how the corner and gate posts differ from line posts. Corner and gate posts carry more load and should be heavier and set deeper. A contractor who answers with specifics has done this in our soil before. A contractor who says "standard depth" has not thought about it.

What materials and hardware are being used?

For a wood fence, ask what grade of pressure-treated pine is going in and whether the posts are rated for ground contact. Pickets and rails can be a lighter treatment, but posts that touch soil need the ground-contact rating or they will rot from the bottom up. Ask about hardware too. Hinges, latches, screws and nails should be galvanized or stainless so they do not rust-streak the boards after the first humid summer. Formosan termites are active across St. Tammany and Tangipahoa Parishes, and the best fence for Louisiana humidity and termites explains which materials hold up and why. For the full range of what Northbound builds, see fence installation.

Who pulls the permit, and how are gates priced?

Whether you need a fence permit depends on whether the lot is inside Covington, Mandeville or Slidell city limits or in unincorporated St. Tammany, and HOA rules sit on top of that. Ask the contractor who handles the permit and whether the fee is in the quote. Our St. Tammany Parish permit guide covers who issues what. Gates should always be priced separately from the fence line, because each one needs heavier posts, hinges and a latch, and a double driveway gate is its own small project. If gates are folded into a per-foot price, something is being averaged that should not be.

What do references and Google reviews say?

Read the reviews for patterns, not stars. Comments about a fence still standing straight years later, a crew that cleaned up, and a final bill that matched the quote tell you more than a rating. Ask for a reference or two from jobs near you, in Covington or Mandeville, and if you can, drive past a fence the contractor built a few years ago. Posts that are still plumb after a few hurricane seasons are the best reference there is.

What are the red flags when hiring a fence company?

• Cash-only deposits. A large cash deposit with no paperwork is the most common way homeowners lose money on fence jobs. Northbound Fences accepts cash, checks and insurance claims, with a written estimate first.
• A per-foot price over the phone. Nobody can price your fence without seeing the lot. A phone number is a hook, and the real price appears later.
• No certificate of insurance. If it cannot be produced, assume it does not exist.
• Vague answers about posts. "Standard depth" and "the usual" mean the contractor has not planned for wet ground.
• Pressure to sign today. A fair quote is still fair next week.

What are the eight questions to ask a fence contractor?

Bring this list to the estimate. A contractor worth hiring will answer every one without hesitation.

• Can you send a certificate of insurance before the visit?
• Will the quote itemize material, footage, gates, removal and permits?
• Is the quoted price the final price?
• How deep are posts set, and are they in concrete?
• Are posts rated for ground contact, and is the hardware galvanized?
• Who pulls the permit, and is the fee included?
• Can I see a fence you built in my area a few years ago?
• How do you handle storm damage and insurance claims later?

Ready to ask them? Call (985) 630-4452, Mon–Fri 9 AM–6 PM, or send the estimate form and the crew will walk your line with you.