Fence Company in Des Moines, IA · Fully Insured Professionals

Fence Company in Des Moines, IA: Installation, Repair & Gates

Homeowners searching for a fence company near me in Des Moines usually want the same things: a straight run, a gate that latches, and someone who answers the phone. Des Moines Fence is a local shop, not a national franchise, and the same crews who build a new wood, vinyl, chain link, or ornamental metal fence are the ones who come back to repair it. We work in Des Moines and the surrounding suburbs, including West Des Moines, Ankeny, Urbandale, and Johnston, where clay soil, humid summers, and storm season all take a toll on fence lines. From new installation to storm damage and gate repair, we quote by the linear foot and explain what we find. Request a free estimate and we will walk the fence line with you.

Whether you need a privacy fence in a newer subdivision or a post replaced on an older lot, we know how this ground behaves and what holds up here.

Why Fences Lean in Des Moines: Clay Soil and Rotted Posts

Most leaning fences in the Des Moines area are a post problem, not a panel problem. The clay soil here swells when wet and shrinks when dry, working a post back and forth season after season until it racks out of plumb. Add rot at the ground line, where humidity keeps the wood damp exactly at the point carrying the load, and you get a fence that looks like it failed all at once but actually failed slowly. We read the whole fence line, not just the section that was called in, and we test every post rather than the one that moved. We also check whether the concrete footing itself has heaved or the post has failed inside a sound footing.

That distinction matters because it decides the honest call. A fence with sound pickets and rails and a handful of failed posts is worth repairing, and resetting or replacing those posts saves the rest of the run. A fence where the posts have gone at the ground line along the whole run is at end of life, and repairing it section by section costs more over five years than replacing it once. We say that plainly, and we quote both options when both are real. On rotted wood, we replace the decayed material; moisture at the ground line is the cause. We do not perform termite or pest inspections, apply treatments, or carry out pest control, which is a separate regulated trade.

Call (515) 528-3444 to talk through what you are seeing. You can also read more about fence post repair and replacement or schedule a free estimate.

Storm Damage Fence Repair in Des Moines

Severe wind and thunderstorms can push whole runs over on the same line, snap posts at grade, and send panels down. When we rebuild after a storm, we aim to come back with better posts than the ones that failed, set to the right depth and spacing for this soil. We provide a free damage assessment, photographs section by section, and a written estimate the homeowner may choose to give their insurer. We help document the damage; coverage decisions rest with the carrier.

We do not promise or imply that a claim will be approved or that any repair will be covered, and we never offer to waive, absorb, discount, or pay any part of a deductible. We are not adjusters and do not act on your behalf with your carrier. No fear selling, no urgency pressure. Learn more about storm damage fence repair.

Cedar, Pine, Vinyl or Chain Link: Choosing for This Climate

Material choice should follow how you use the yard and how much upkeep you want. Cedar and pressure-treated pine both make good privacy fences; cedar resists rot naturally and takes stain beautifully, while pine is the smarter budget call when the budget is tight and you accept a shorter service life. Vinyl is low maintenance and genuinely beats wood where you want no staining cycle, but it does not suit every style or budget. Chain link is the toughest per dollar, and gauge and mesh size matter; galvanized lasts, and black powder-coated looks sharper along a driveway. Aluminum and ornamental iron suit pools and front yards, and racking to follow grade keeps the top line clean on sloped lots.

Under this sun and humidity, a cedar fence wants cleaning and re-staining every two to three years, and that cycle is what decides whether it lasts closer to ten years or closer to twenty. We quote by the linear foot and do it on site, because slope, access, tear-out, and gate count change the number. See wood and privacy fence installation and vinyl and PVC fence installation for more detail.

Permits, HOA Rules, Property Lines & Pool Barriers

Permits, height limits, and setbacks are set by the city or county and vary across Greater Des Moines. In most jurisdictions, a permit may be required, and many cities in the area require a survey or site plan; requirements vary by city and county, so confirm with the local building department before work starts. In master-planned communities, HOA and deed restrictions commonly govern height, material, and color, and architectural approval is usually needed first, so it is worth checking before you buy materials. We are fence contractors, not land surveyors. We do not offer or imply a property survey, boundary determination, or an opinion on where a line lies. We install on the line the homeowner identifies, working from their existing survey or plat. Determining a boundary is the work of a licensed land surveyor, and we recommend confirming the line and any neighbor or association consent in writing beforehand.

Pool barriers are installed to meet the pool barrier codes that apply at the address, with self-closing self-latching hardware. We are not certified pool barrier inspectors and do not certify compliance; final determination rests with the local building official, and no barrier replaces supervision. Setting posts is excavation, and we request Iowa 811 utility locates before digging; locates cover participating operators only and do not mark private lines such as irrigation or landscape lighting, so tell us about those. We are fully insured and can provide a certificate of insurance on request. Requirements vary, always verify with the Des Moines building department and your HOA before starting your project. Contact us with questions.