The Best Fence Chicago Has To Offer || 5 Questions To Ask

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Sprucing up our backyard has been a few years in the making! You won’t believe the BEFORE. Oh my word!

The biggest component in our transformation was our new fence. We used First Fence – a local Chicago fencing company who I HIGHLY recommend! They were SO helpful and knowledgeable I asked them to help us today!

Let me tell you. Picking out a fence is overwhelming. After a ton of research, we learned of some MAJOR hidden factors to consider when deciding who to work with. If you let price determine who you hire, it can cost you more money in the long run.

Why You Should Never Choose Your Fence Based On Price

Here’s why…

Quotes are NOT apples to apples. Since I’m no expert, deciphering what you’re getting {and not!} is challenging.

Our major takeaway? Going with the cheapest option can cost you big bucks in the long run. This became crystal clear after Chris at First Fence explained how high quality materials and the installation process can be the difference between a fence that lasts five years versus ten.

Since First Fence did a phenomenal job enlightening us, we were able to increase the value and curb appeal of our home!

To help you do the same, this post is broken down into three components as follows…

5 Questions To Ask Fence Companies {These questions suggested by First Fence will help you prequalify companies – saving you money and time.}
Our Exact Process
BEFORE + AFTER

TIP: If you live in the Chicagoland area and want as much advice as possible SPECIFIC to your home, book an actual appointment with First Fence. They’re SO WONDERFU!

5 Questions To Ask Fence Companies

HOW LONG HAVE YOU BEEN IN BUSINESS? The answer to this question will help you understand a company’s experience. The longer the better! First Fence has been in business for over 30 years!
HOW DO YOU INSTALL YOUR FENCES? HOW MANY FEET ARE YOUR POSTS SET IN? Fence installation will determine how long your fence lasts, whether or not it will lean or even fall down! BEST PRACTICE: Fences should be installed using cement (not sand!) and at a minimum of 3 feet deep to prevent heaving. One reason to do your homework! First Fence does this for EVERY customer and why their fences last for years! Saving you some major dough and time long term.
DO YOU HAVE PHOTOS OF PAST PROJECTS? The best way to see the quality of a contractors work? Ask for PROOF. First Fence has over 50 fence projects on their website and always posting newer projects on their Instagram {along with some awesome inspiration!}.
ARE YOU LICENSED AND INSURED? This is SO IMPORTANT and a question most homeowners fail to ask! First Fence is BOTH licensed and insured – which protects YOU and YOUR FAMILY every step of the way.
DO YOU USE FRE-FAB’D SLABS? A lot of fence companies use pre-fabricated fence sections. They may tell you this is faster than building a fence board by board, but those benefits do not outweigh the drawbacks! One huge advantage to custom building onsite {like First Fence does!} is that you can accommodate elevation changes (swales in the land, etc) so the finished product looks like it has been built right into the landscape!

NOTE: If you have more questions, First Fence has an awesome FAQ section Sean and I found very resourceful!

Now that you know what to look for, here’s our personal journey and transformation.

Addressing Our Water Issue

Prior to moving in our home, we planned on replacing the chain link fence right away. But shortly after living there, we realized we had a BIG water issue to fix first.

When it rained, a small pond would form {as you can see above!}. After the water drained {which took days}, mud and debris would be left everywhere. In the winter, it turned into a mini ice skating rink. Slips and falls were just waiting to happen.

As a result, we re-graded our back yard and installed a new patio. Both re-directed the water and helped with drainage beautifully.

But as you can tell, our yard still looked, well… pretty ‘meh’.

Why A Fence

For a split second, we considered taking our fence down completely and leaving our yard open.

But with a dog and a new baby, safety is and always will be a priority. We have coyotes in the area and knowing Penelope can’t run in the street is worth the peace of mind alone.

Secondly, Elmhurst homes are VERY close together. Given the proximity to your neighbors, there are some unavoidable eye sores. When we looked out our windows we saw trash cans, a compost pile, a mix of other fences, telephone poles and more. A new fence would give us a clean slate and fresh background to make the oasis we’ve always wanted.

Last but not least, Sean and I are all about increasing home value and maximizing our ROI when it comes to upgrades. Just because something looks good, doesn’t mean you’ll get your money back. Given quality fences are highly desirable, we knew it would be a great investment.

Why We Chose First Fence

We looked at a few fencing companies but kept hearing about the quality work of First Fence. As soon as we met Chris, we could tell why. Not only has the business been around for thirty years, it’s family owned! He walked us through materials, styles and why their fences last for YEARS opposed to their competitors.

He explained when you see leaning fences, many times it’s because they aren’t installed deep enough. Peeling and chipping? It all comes down to the quality of material. And to fix these issues, you’re looking at an entire new fence just a few years later. First Fence specializes in giving the best of the best in both these areas which is what lead us to moving forward with them!

Why A PVC Fence

We considered a few options when it came to the material and height.

A true wood fence was one of them. But the Midwest’s harsh winters cause so much damage to real wood and requires A LOT of yearly upkeep. Mama don’t have time for that!

As we narrowed it down, the white PVC fence was a no brainer. Not only is it easy to wash off but there’s zero chipping or warping. The quality also makes it highly desirable. First Fence also mentioned how a PVC fence would increase the value of our home. The white matched our house exterior and would feel cohesive too. And let’s get real, a white fence is all part of the American dream right?!

As far as height goes, Chris suggested we go with the highly sought after six feet, which helps with re-sale. We’re all about trusting the experts, so we let them take the lead on that.

As for installation, it was seamless. It only took two days to remove the chain link and install the new one!

Shop The Post: Leopard Dress c/o Talbots {more printed dresses} || Bar c/o Serena & Lily || Leather Jacket {old but more here!}

PRO TIP: If you want a fence, First Fence is ready to serve you – they even install in the winter!

As you can see the pictures speak for themselves!

Everything looks so crisp and clean. Our friends and family could not believe the difference it made.

Since our fence upgrade, our yard became an extension of our home. When you have a small house (like us) and a new baby – this extra space is priceless! First Fence’s facelift made us want to be outside and entertain even more.

What’s Next?

Next year will be phase three – landscaping. And the white will really make it POP! We planted a variety of hostas, flowers and potted plants to spruce it up for now. We also purchased some new patio furniture from Restoration Hardware that we LOVE. I will be documenting this next phase in Spring of 2020 so you can see the entire evolution.

The best part about our fence and yard is that we know it will look like this for YEARS to come. No maintenance. Zero upkeep. Easy. Now if only plants would act like this, right?!

Now for my favorite part – the BEFORE + AFTERS.