FAQs
What is Ornamental Metal Fence?
This fence is what we used to call Wrought Iron. Wrought Iron ceased to be made in America in 1969. It is built on occasion now by blacksmiths. Today the term is loosely used to describe any reasonable facsimile of Wrought Iron. Truth is that the true replacement for Wrought Iron is any type metal fence that is hand welded .The majority of fences today are component or ”kit fence” that come in a box and need to be assembled. Some are steel and some are aluminum.
Trees may be in the fence line. Do you remove them?
If they are very small we can accommodate you. If they are large, we recommend that you contract with a tree removal company.
Do you need my property plat?
It is very helpful if you have a copy to verify where the iron property pins are located. We are not, however, surveyors and cannot validate questionable pins and or markings. You need to call the surveyor who is listed at the bottom of the plat to clear up any questions you have. The biggest single issue about building a fence is the question of property pins and fence lines. Don’t take this lightly.
I can’t find the property pins. Can you find them?
Every effort will be made by the account representative to assist you in locating and verifying the pins, but the ultimate responsibility lies with the property owner.
We are going to have to cross over an easement. Is that going to be a problem?
Normally fences are allowed to cross through or over easements. The majority of cities and counties will notify you if they need access to the easement which gives you time to have the barrier removed to allow access. If you don’t respond in the time limits allowed, they have the right to remove a portion of the fence to gain access. Check with your zoning, planning and building division if further information is requested.
I know that the UPC will mark the main utilities.
In over 99% of the cases, it is the cable, telephone or sprinkler system that gives us the problems. The telephone, cable and sprinkler systems will not be marked by the UPC. This sometimes causes the setting of the fence posts to violate a line and cause temporary disruption in services. Our experience shows that the cable and telephone companies would rather come out to repair a problem after damage has occurred as opposed to going out and marking their lines prior to construction. The case of sprinkler lines has and always will be a problem because no one ever seems to record where they run the lines and it becomes a hit or miss situation. Our experienced crews know what to look for to avoid problems, but they still may hit one every now and then.
I haven’t closed on my new house yet. Can you still go ahead and install fence?
This has always been a touchy problem as the house doesn’t really belong to you until you have closed. If you paid us a deposit to start installation prior to closing, be aware that if you don’t close for some reason, you have invested money in someone else’s property and you could possibly lose that money. We would also be looking to you for the balance of the contract.
What size fence would be right for me?
When it comes to size of fence, this is determined by budgeting considerations and exactly what the intention is in building a fence. A 10’ x 10’ pen is not adequate to hold 3 large dogs and running 500’ of fence around the entire lot may be way too much if you only really need 160’ to enclose a pool to code standards. Ask our friendly sales representative to help you come up with a plan that makes sense.
What about the distance between the vertical pickets?
Industry standard for Ornamental Fencing runs from 4” to 6” (nominal). Xtreme Fence panels are built with less than 4” spacing between verticals to insure we comply with National and Local pool code requirements. Pool fence code reads as follows: A 4” ball or sphere cannot pass through or under a fence. Simply, if you have a pool or hot tub with more than 24” of water you must meet this criteria. Xtreme Fence and hand built weld shop companies meet this code requirement. Fences like screwed or swedged aluminum fences have been shown to allow a 9” bowling ball to pass through as does the steel “kit fence” currently on the market. Would you invest $2000, $5000 or more in a kit fence that may not pass pool code. Pool codes are getting stricter by the day as the leading cause of death among 5 year olds and younger is backyard pool drowning. I remember not to long ago about a very large fence company that installed a really big expensive job around a large pool in Atlanta, GA and it was turned down and had to come out.
I have a 2 pound terrier. How can I keep her safely enclosed?
Using “Xtreme Fence” you can request that the bottom of the pickets are flat on the ground and if your dog can still squeeze through the verticals we can install doggie pickets that take the openings to about 1-1/2”. They go upward to 10”. Very effective.
Would you recommend bigger and heavier posts in my yard?
As a general rule, we recommend that you stay with the standard 2” posts. The great thing about “Xtreme Fence” is that you maintain safety and code compliance without jeopardizing an open spacious feeling. Larger posts may start to reduce this effect. Generally the larger posts are used on really big and or long runs of fence.
My yard has severe slopes and drop offs. How do you accommodate that?
No fence made of any type material can match the grade “Xtreme Fence” offers. We can literally climb up the side of a retainer wall up to 71 degrees. Other metal fences punch unsightly holes into the horizontal rails and are limited by the angle in which they can rack or angle the panel. Xtreme Fence is not only the only welded fence , but only fence period that can handle severe grade changes.
Should I put my fence in before or after landscaping.
I always recommend that the fence be installed prior to landscaping. Landscaping is like frosting on the cake to a project. Remember, Ornamental Metal fence is still considered rough construction requiring tools such as core drillers, rock hammer drills, saws etc. It becomes a tall task trying to work and move about without stepping on the tulips!
I am building a pool. When should the fence be installed?
Most jurisdictions require that the fence be installed prior to adding water to the pool. As a rule of thumb, generally prepare to install the fence immediately after the concrete decking is going in. This is just a good rule to follow.
I have very rocky soil. Will you be able to dig down to put the posts in?
In most cases normal digging can turn rough when you start hitting rock, but we use rock bars that generally dislodge small and medium size rocks. In rare cases we have had to bring in a jack hammer in to get through these guys. I remember years ago we hit a mini Stone Mountain in Roswell and had to have a special steel bracket attached to the boulder with masonry fasteners. Sometimes if you get the post down 12-14 inches you can pancake the hole. This is to say you widen the hole the amount of inches you are not able to go down and flood it with concrete. This works quite well.
I have very rocky soil. Will you be able to dig down to put the posts in?
In most cases normal digging can turn rough when you start hitting rock, but we use rock bars that generally dislodge small and medium size rocks. In rare cases we have had to bring in a jack hammer in to get through these guys. I remember years ago we hit a mini Stone Mountain in Roswell and had to have a special steel bracket attached to the boulder with masonry fasteners. Sometimes if you get the post down 12-14 inches you can pancake the hole. This is to say you widen the hole the amount of inches you are not able to go down and flood it with concrete. This works quite well.
Does someone need to be home for you to start installation?
It sure does help to have someone in the event the installers need a breaker flipped on or access to a concealed or locked water spout. I rarely have seen a job that didn’t require a question arise that needed the attention of the buyer so we could carry on with installation.
What kind of steel tubing makes up Xtreme Fence?
Only the best tubing is used. We use US hot dipped galvanized steel.
How much fence has the owner of Xtreme Fence installed since startup?
Hundreds of miles of fences of all types since 1987 when he started it all. Just adding up the amount of Xtreme Fence over the past 3 years is about 60 miles worth. This is by selling one job at a time with the average job about 250 ft.
Can lights be installed on top of your posts?
Yes indeed. I have seen people hire electricians to put small globes right on top of like every other post for night swimming and others have used solar powered lights to define the fence line.
Can I get this same fence to add on down the road say 5-10 years.
Ornamental Metal fences are the hottest thing to ever happen to the fence industry. The market share was 1/3rd of all fences generating last year over $337 million dollars in contracts and is on target to exceed 1 Billion dollars in contracts by 2008. We are absolutely convinced that not only is “Xtreme Fence” the most versatile and highest quality product on the market , but is destined to take the lions share of the new growth about to sweep the nation. The short answer is YES
What colors are available?
Just about any color you can dream of as long as you keep the fence all the same color we won’t charge any more for the customization.
Why aren’t your pickets running up through the rails like other fences?
Punching holes would violate the galvanized finish we provide you with for protection against rust. Your rackability is severely limited when you do that. The horizontal rail is considered (as with all fences) the bad or unfinished side of a fence. If you run pickets up through the rail, both sides of the fence expose the bad side and they really don’t have a nicely finished good side.
My neighbor already has a black ornamental fence. Can you match the look?
Yes. We can match the rail spacing and/or finials.
Are all of your gates self closing and self latching? Are the hinges adjustable?
Yes, all gates with the exception of double driveway gates are self closing and latching. Yes, again the gate hinges are adjustable to increase or decrease the spring tension force used to close the gates.
If I have a pool, am I required to have a fence?
If you can show me a County, City, Home Owners Association or Homeowners Insurance policy that doesn’t require fencing around a pool I would like to see it.
How much will “Xtreme Fence” cost me to maintain over the years?
I can’t think of any cost you could incur other than maybe having a landscaper pressure wash the mud off of the fence in areas that don’t have grass after a pouring thunderstorm.
What if a tree falls on the fence and a panel needs to be replaced?
Xtreme Fence is the only Ornamental Metal fence I know of that can be repaired or a section be replaced easily by the home owner. 4 screws removed per post side and the panel is out.
Do I need a service contract for the fence?
None needed. None available.
Is my home owner insurance going to go down due to me having a safety fence?
Each insurance company has their own particular set of guidelines concerning safety products installed at the residence such as security alarms. Check with your agent to see if any reductions might be available to you.
Is the warranty transferable if I sell my house?
The factory warranty is offered only to the original purchaser.
Do your own people install or do you use sub-contractors?
We use both. We have sent all sub-contractors through training seminars to receive training from our own people. We are very proud of the crews we have groomed.
Does it pay to buy in the off season?
Our growth has been so explosive we really don’t have much of an off season. The off season normally runs from December the 15th until February 1st.
Do you recommend a white or light colored fence?
The white and light colored fences are predominant in Florida due to the excessive heat and the fact that black fence in 95+ degree temperature can actually burn you just like the hood of a black car. The vast majority of Ornamental Metal fences in Georgia are black. I personally have never gotten tired of black. It looks more like the original wrought iron. Only a very, very select few people buy other than black in Georgia.
Do you have liability and workers comp. insurance?
Yes. Over 1 million dollars worth. Don’t settle for less. Require that those parties doing work on your property have proper insurance.
How much do Ornamental Metal fences cost?
Please see the price index in the comparison chart near the bottom of the page.
Get in touch
MON – FRI
8:00am – 5:00pm
Fax: 1-678-807-8181
Text Only: 1-470-719-4949
2590 Business Drive
Cumming Georgia 30028