Frequently asked questions
Which fence material makes sense? Can an existing fence be repaired? What happens if the yard slopes? Can a driveway gate be automated? How far outside Fort Smith do we travel?
Most questions come up long before installation day
Modern Fence Company has served Western Arkansas and Eastern Oklahoma since 1950. Our services include residential fencing, commercial and industrial fencing, agricultural and ranch fencing, repairs, custom gates, automatic gates, access control, maintenance, and custom metal fabrication.
Below are answers to the questions customers ask us most often. If your question involves a specific property or project, request an estimate so we can review the actual conditions rather than give you a generic answer.
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Modern Fence since 1950
A local, family-owned company working across Western Arkansas and Eastern Oklahoma.
How long has Modern Fence Company been in business?
Modern Fence Company has been serving the Fort Smith region since 1950.
We are a local, family-owned company serving residential, commercial, industrial, rural, and other qualifying properties throughout Western Arkansas and Eastern Oklahoma.
You can learn more about our company on our About Modern Fence page.
What types of projects does Modern Fence handle?
Our work includes residential fencing, commercial and industrial fencing, agricultural and ranch fencing, fence repair, custom gates, automatic gates, access control, maintenance, and custom metal fabrication.
Projects can range from a backyard privacy fence to a commercial perimeter with multiple vehicle gates.
We also work with qualifying builders, developers, general contractors, property managers, HOAs, businesses, farms, ranches, and public-sector customers.
Do you work with both homeowners and commercial customers?
Yes.
We work directly with homeowners as well as commercial property owners, property managers, general contractors, builders, developers, apartment properties, industrial sites, and other qualifying customers.
The estimating and project process may differ depending on the scope and type of property.
Where is Modern Fence located?
Modern Fence Company is based in Fort Smith, Arkansas.
Our primary service territory extends throughout Western Arkansas and Eastern Oklahoma.
How far will you travel for a project?
Our normal service radius is approximately 75 miles from Fort Smith.
We may consider larger qualifying commercial, industrial, access-control, government, or fabrication projects farther away. Some larger projects may be considered at distances of approximately 250 miles depending on scope, location, scheduling, and project requirements.
Travel charges may apply outside our primary territory.
See our service areas page for more information.
Fence types and materials
The appropriate fence depends on the property, intended use, layout, appearance, and project requirements.
What types of fencing do you install?
Our primary fencing services include:
The appropriate fence depends on the property, intended use, layout, appearance, and project requirements.
Do you install wood privacy fences?
Yes.
Wood and privacy fencing are important parts of our residential services.
A privacy fence can be planned around the yard, gates, landscaping, grade, drainage, and other existing improvements.
Visit our residential fencing section for more information about available residential fence services.
Do you install chain link fencing?
Yes.
We install chain link fencing for qualifying residential, commercial, industrial, and other properties.
The configuration can vary depending on the project, including factors such as height, coating, gates, privacy options, and intended use.
Do you install ornamental iron fencing?
Yes.
Ornamental iron fencing may be appropriate for homes, estates, commercial properties, developments, entrances, and other areas where property owners want a more open architectural appearance.
Our metal fabrication capabilities can also support qualifying custom gate and ornamental components.
Do you install farm and ranch fencing?
Yes.
We work with qualifying farms, ranches, acreage, and rural properties.
These projects may involve longer fence runs, larger gates, changing terrain, equipment access, and entrances designed around trucks, trailers, tractors, or other vehicles.
Fixing what is there, or starting again
There is no single rule that works for every fence — we evaluate the existing condition before recommending the scope.
Do you repair existing fences?
Yes.
Modern Fence accepts qualifying fence repair projects and smaller service calls.
Repair may be appropriate for isolated problems involving posts, fence sections, gates, storm damage, deterioration, or other localized conditions.
Whether repair or replacement makes more sense depends on the condition of the overall fence.
How do I know whether to repair or replace my fence?
There is no single rule that works for every fence.
Repair may make sense when most of the fence remains serviceable and the problem is limited to one area.
Replacement may be more practical when deterioration is widespread, multiple sections are failing, or the existing layout no longer works well for the property.
We evaluate the existing condition before recommending the scope.
Do you have to put the replacement fence exactly where the old fence was?
Not necessarily.
A replacement project can be an opportunity to reconsider the layout if property conditions and applicable requirements allow it.
Since the original fence was installed, a homeowner may have added a patio, shed, garden, pool, driveway extension, landscaping, or another improvement.
Gate locations and fence layout can sometimes be adjusted to fit how the property is used today.
Built around the actual entrance
Qualifying gates are fabricated in-house, which lets us build for the opening in front of us rather than a standard size.
Does Modern Fence build custom gates?
Yes.
Modern Fence fabricates qualifying gates in-house, which allows us to build around the actual entrance rather than relying entirely on standard gate sizes.
Our custom gate fabrication capabilities can support residential, ranch, estate, commercial, and industrial projects.
What types of gates do you install?
Depending on the project, gate configurations may include:
Swing gates, sliding gates, cantilever gates, driveway gates, estate and ranch gates, pedestrian gates, and commercial vehicle gates.
The appropriate configuration depends on the available space, driveway, grade, surrounding fence, intended use, and whether automatic operation is planned.
Can you build a gate for a sloped driveway?
Potentially, yes.
Slope needs to be evaluated before the gate is fabricated.
A fence can often follow changing grade relatively easily. A gate is different because it must move through the opening.
The grade, gate type, available clearance, and surrounding property all need to be considered before the final configuration is determined.
Do you fabricate gates in-house?
Yes.
Qualifying gates are fabricated through our own fabrication capabilities.
That gives us flexibility when a project involves an unusual opening, larger vehicle entrance, changing grade, ornamental design, or other property-specific requirements.
The gate, the operator and the property
The physical gate, operator, property layout, and intended use all need to work together.
Can you install an automatic driveway gate?
Yes.
Modern Fence provides automatic gates for qualifying residential, estate, commercial, industrial, and managed entrances.
The physical gate, operator, property layout, and intended use all need to work together.
Can an existing gate be automated?
Sometimes.
The gate should first be evaluated to determine whether it moves properly and is suitable for the proposed equipment.
A gate that drags, binds, or has significant alignment problems may require mechanical work before automation is added.
Do you repair automatic gates?
Yes.
Modern Fence provides qualifying automatic gate and access-control repair services.
The exact service depends on the gate, operator, access equipment, and problem being experienced.
Do automatic gates need maintenance?
Moving and electronic equipment can require service over time.
Modern Fence offers qualifying repair, ongoing maintenance, and maintenance-agreement options for applicable gate and access-control systems.
Sometimes a photograph answers it faster than a paragraph
How an entry request is actually made
The operator physically moves the gate. The access-control equipment determines how the entry request is made.
What is an access-control system?
For a gated property, access control provides a method for authorized users to request entry.
The gate operator physically moves the gate. The access-control equipment determines how the entry request is made.
What types of access control do you offer?
Depending on the project, our access control systems may include qualifying:
The appropriate system depends on the property and the people who regularly use the entrance.
Do you install access control for commercial properties?
Yes.
Commercial access-control projects may serve properties such as apartment communities, warehouses, industrial sites, offices, and other managed entrances.
The system should be selected around actual users such as employees, residents, visitors, vendors, contractors, and delivery personnel.
Can you service access-control equipment after installation?
Yes.
Modern Fence provides qualifying access-control repair and maintenance services in addition to new installations.
Plans, specifications and contractors
We work with general contractors, builders, developers, property managers, and public-sector customers.
Do you install commercial fencing?
Yes.
Our commercial fencing services support qualifying offices, retail properties, restaurants, warehouses, industrial properties, apartment communities, schools, medical properties, churches, hotels, new developments, and general contractor projects.
Do you work from plans and specifications?
Yes, for qualifying projects.
Commercial, construction, and fabrication work may begin with plans and specifications.
Field conditions can still matter, particularly when gates, railings, or fabricated components must fit surrounding construction.
Do you work with general contractors?
Yes.
We work with general contractors, builders, and developers on qualifying residential, commercial, industrial, and other projects.
Coordination may involve plans, scheduling, gate dimensions, fabrication, access requirements, or other work affecting our scope.
Steel, aluminium and stainless
Custom gates, handrails, balcony rails, stair systems, architectural components, posts, and specialty fabricated work.
Does Modern Fence perform custom metal fabrication?
Yes.
Modern Fence provides custom metal fabrication involving steel, aluminum, and stainless steel for qualifying projects.
Our capabilities can include custom gates, handrails, balcony rails, stair systems, architectural components, posts, ornamental details, and specialty fabricated work.
Do you fabricate handrails and stair railings?
Yes.
We fabricate qualifying metal handrails, balcony rails, and stair railing systems.
Because these components need to fit the actual stair, balcony, or structure, measurements and existing site conditions can be especially important.
What it costs and when it happens
A generic per-foot price does not describe every project accurately — we prefer to estimate the actual work being requested.
Do you provide estimates?
Yes.
Customers can contact Modern Fence to discuss a proposed project and request an estimate.
Providing photographs, property information, drawings, and a clear description of what you need can help us understand the project.
How much does a fence cost?
Fence pricing depends on the specific project.
Factors can include material, fence length, height, gates, site conditions, grade, removal of existing fencing, custom fabrication, access requirements, and other scope details.
A generic per-foot price does not accurately describe every project.
We prefer to estimate the actual work being requested.
How long will it take before my fence is installed?
Scheduling varies.
Timing can be affected by current workload, project size, materials, weather, gate fabrication, specialty components, and other project requirements.
We provide current scheduling information for the specific project rather than promising the same turnaround time to every customer.
What can delay a fencing project?
Potential factors include weather, material availability, custom gate fabrication, special fabrication, site conditions, changes to the project, approvals, and coordination with other construction.
A simple residential fence and a commercial project with several custom gates will not necessarily follow the same timeline.
What should I do before installation?
Depending on the project, preparation may include making the work area accessible, securing pets, identifying known private underground features, obtaining applicable property approvals, and coordinating other construction.
Our installation process explains the general project sequence in more detail.
Rock, slope, utilities, permits and HOAs
Site conditions vary across the region, so the property should be evaluated rather than assumed.
What if my property has rock?
Rock is present on some properties throughout Western Arkansas and Eastern Oklahoma.
It can affect excavation and post installation.
The impact depends on the actual site conditions, so the property should be evaluated rather than assuming all ground conditions are the same.
What if my yard slopes?
Fencing can often be planned around changing elevation.
The specific approach depends on the fence type and the property.
Gates require additional attention because they must move through the opening.
What about underground utilities?
Underground utilities need appropriate consideration before digging.
Customers should also identify any known private underground improvements such as irrigation, private electrical lines, plumbing, landscape lighting, or other features that may not be included in standard public utility locating.
Do I need a permit?
Permit requirements can vary based on municipality and project type.
Some projects may require permits or other approvals, while others may not.
Customers should identify the requirements that apply to their specific property before work begins.
What if I live in an HOA?
Some HOAs regulate fence material, height, location, appearance, or other project details.
Customers should confirm applicable HOA requirements and approvals before installation.
Workmanship, materials and what is excluded
A one-year workmanship warranty applies to qualifying projects; your project documents carry the exact terms.
Does Modern Fence provide a workmanship warranty?
For qualifying projects, Modern Fence provides a one-year workmanship warranty covering labor when a problem is determined to have resulted from our installation activity.
Project-specific documentation should be reviewed for the exact terms applicable to your work.
Does the workmanship warranty cover wood warping or cracking?
Wood warping, twisting, and cracking are excluded from the workmanship warranty because these can occur as natural characteristics of the material.
See our warranty information page for a more complete explanation of workmanship coverage and exclusions.
What should I do if I have a problem after installation?
Contact Modern Fence and describe the concern.
Photographs, project information, and a clear description of the issue can help us determine what needs to be reviewed.
If a condition may involve workmanship, it is helpful to contact us before making unnecessary changes to the affected area.
Some questions need to see the property
If you are comparing fence materials, working out whether a gate can work on a slope, considering access control, or deciding between repair and replacement, contact Modern Fence with the details and we will answer for your property rather than in general.
