Fence Company in Lakeland, FL

Wood Privacy Fences, the Traditional Look in Lakeland

Wood suits the older homes near Lake Morton and in Dixieland as well as newer subdivisions. Dog-ear boards, shadowbox panels and board-on-board privacy runs are all common, some fresh and some gone silver with age. It is a natural starting point for most yards.

Wood in Florida does ask for some care. Posts sit in damp ground, and termites go after lumber that touches soil, so fence posts are generally pressure-treated for ground contact. A coat of stain or sealer every few years slows the graying and cupping that sun and rain bring on.

The wood fence page covers the common styles, what to settle with your HOA first, and how a wood fence generally goes in.

Aluminum Around Pools and Where the View Matters

Aluminum is a natural fit when the yard ends at the water. The pickets are slim and spaced apart, so from the patio you still look across the lake or the pond behind the house instead of at a wall of boards.

It is also a common choice around pools. Pool barriers come with their own requirements, and the local building department is the place to ask what applies to yours.

Black is the usual color, with bronze and white also offered. It looks at home beside a new house or a 1920s bungalow. Styles, gates and lake lots are covered on the aluminum fence page.

Repairs, Gates and Fences Hit by Storms

Not every call is for a new fence. Posts rot at the soil line, a section leans after a wet summer, boards split, and gates start to drag as their posts shift. Many of these can be put right without replacing the whole run.

Gates take more wear than any other part of a fence. A double drive gate for a boat or trailer puts a lot of weight on its hinge post, and a sagging gate usually traces back to that post or to a frame that has pulled out of square.

After a storm, photograph the damage before anything is moved and ask your insurance company about coverage. Then call, and we come out and look. The fence repair page goes into when repairing makes sense and when it doesn’t.

How a Fence Job Runs, From Survey to Final Walk

1. Find the property line

A fence belongs on your side of the line, so dig out the survey from your closing papers. If there isn’t one, or the corner markers can’t be found, a land surveyor can mark them. Guessing from the neighbor’s old fence is how disputes start.

2. The visit and the free quote

We walk the line with you, measure it, note where you want gates and how the ground slopes, and talk through materials. Then you get a free quote, with no obligation.

3. Approvals

If you have an HOA, send in its application with the quote attached. Check with the City of Lakeland’s permitting office, your own city’s building department if you live in another city (Auburndale, Bartow, Winter Haven, Mulberry and Polk City have their own), or Polk County in unincorporated areas, about whether your fence needs a permit.

4. Mark what is buried

Before any post hole is dug, have buried lines marked. That marking covers the utility lines, not private ones such as sprinkler pipe, a wire to a pool pump or landscape lighting, so flag those yourself.

5. Install day

• Clear pots, toys and furniture from along the fence line.
• Keep dogs inside while gates are open and the old fence is down.
• Leave a side gate unlocked so there is a way into the backyard.
• Give the neighbors notice, especially along a shared line.

6. The final walk

Before the job is called finished, walk the fence with the installer. Swing every gate, try every latch, and point out anything that doesn’t look right.

Storms, Sun and Fences in Polk County

Lakeland summers are hot and humid, with afternoon thunderstorms most days. Those storms bring short, hard gusts, and a solid privacy fence catches wind much like a sail. Wet ground and wind together can tip a section, especially where posts were already loose.

Hurricanes reach this far inland too. Charley crossed Polk County in August 2004, passing near Lake Wales. Ian in 2022 blew down trees across Lakeland, and Milton in October 2024 left about two-thirds of Lakeland Electric’s customers without power. Falling limbs and uprooted trees cause much of the fence damage after storms like these.

Sun and moisture work more slowly. Wood grays and cups, mildew grows on fences in the shade of big old trees, and wet soil softens wood posts where they meet the ground. A walk along the fence each spring catches small problems while they are still small.

Questions Lakeland Homeowners Ask a Fence Company

Do I need a permit to put up a fence in Lakeland?

Check before anything is built. Ask the City of Lakeland’s permitting office, your own city’s building department if you live in another city (Auburndale, Bartow, Winter Haven, Mulberry and Polk City have their own), or Polk County in unincorporated areas. Approval from a homeowners association, if you have one, is a separate step on top of that.

Who works out where my property line is?

That falls to the homeowner. The survey from when you bought the house is the best guide, and if the corner markers have gone missing, a land surveyor can find and reset them. The fence follows the line you show, so it pays to be sure of it first.

Can my fence run all the way down to the lake?

That depends on the lot and on what the city or county allows near the shoreline, so ask them before planning a fence to the water’s edge. Many lakefront owners stop short of the water, or choose an open style so the view stays clear.

What kind of fence works best for a dog?

Wood privacy fences and chain link both suit most dogs, and vinyl works for many. The right choice depends on the dog, so describe yours when we come out and the fence can be planned around it.

Is it worth fixing an old fence instead of replacing it?

Often it is, when the trouble is limited to a few posts, a section or a gate. When most of the posts have gone soft at the ground, a new fence is usually the better use of the money. The fence repair page explains how that call gets made.