Three quotes for the same fence can land thousands of dollars apart. Sometimes one company really is cheaper. More often, the low number is quietly leaving something out.
When you collect bids from fence companies in St. Augustine, the total at the bottom is the least useful line on the page. What matters is everything above it: the materials, how the posts go in, the gates, cleanup, permits, and the warranty. Line those up and the real price shows itself.
At Masters Fence, we write estimates you can compare item by item, for homes and businesses across St. Augustine, Jacksonville, and Palm Coast. If you want a detailed quote to check the others against, reach out to our team at (904) 510-6540.
What should a real fence estimate from fence companies include?
A real estimate names the material grade, the post size and setting method, the gate hardware, cleanup and haul-away, who handles the permit, and the warranty terms. If any of those are missing, ask before you compare prices.
Material grade is where vague quotes hide the most. "Wood privacy fence" could mean thin pickets or thick ones, and posts rated for ground contact or not. "Vinyl" could be a thin-walled panel or a heavier one. "Aluminum" comes in residential and heavier commercial grades. Ask for the specific product on paper.
Where you live changes what grade makes sense. On Anastasia Island and along the beaches, salt air works on fasteners and metal, so a quote with stainless or coated hardware is not the same job as one with plain steel screws, even if the fence looks identical on day one.
For a home project, a good residential fence contractor should be able to tell you exactly what goes into each part of the fence without checking notes.
Why does post depth matter so much when comparing quotes?
Because posts hold the whole fence up, and setting them shallow is the easiest way for a company to save time without you noticing. Two quotes that list the same fence can differ in how deep each post goes and whether it sits in concrete.
A common rule of thumb is to bury about a third of the post's length, set in concrete. Ask each company how deep they dig, what size the posts are, and how far apart they space them. Wider spacing means fewer posts and a lower price, and also more sag between them later.
St. Augustine learned about wind the hard way during Hurricanes Matthew and Irma. A fence with shallow posts in sandy soil is the first thing to lean after a storm. That is not a line item you see on day one, but it is one you pay for after the next big blow.
Which costs do low fence quotes usually leave out?
The usual missing pieces are gate hardware, removal of the old fence, haul-away, permits, and any real warranty. Each one can come back later as an add-on charge or as work you end up doing yourself.
Permits trip people up. Inside the City of St. Augustine, fences need a building permit, and properties in unincorporated St. Johns County go through the county instead. Many neighborhoods also have an HOA that wants to approve the style first. Ask whether the price includes pulling the permit or whether that is on you.
We once worked with a first-time homeowner who could not make heads or tails of the different quotes he was getting. We talked him through them, pointing out things other companies may not include. One was removing his existing fence, so the old boards would not end up sitting in his driveway for months.
Gates deserve their own line. Ask for the hinge and latch brand, whether the gate frame is reinforced, and what happens if it sags in the first year.
How do you choose between fence companies without overpaying?
Make every quote answer the same questions, then compare the answers, not the totals. Once the scope matches, the cheapest complete quote is usually easy to spot.
A simple way to do it is to write your own short spec sheet: fence type and height, material grade, post depth, number of gates and their hardware, removal and haul-away, permit, and warranty. Send it to every company and ask them to price that exact list. Anyone who will not put the details in writing has told you what you need to know.
Pick a local company that answers plainly and stands behind the work after the check clears. If you are fencing your home, take a look at what we include as a residential fence contractor, then request a detailed quote from Masters Fence or call (904) 510-6540. Every line will be spelled out so you can compare it fairly.