How to hire a fence contractor in Durham

North Carolina's Attorney General, the FTC and the Better Business Bureau give much the same advice. Here it is, applied to a fence job in Durham.

Licenses: what applies to fences

We found no North Carolina license specific to fence installation. A general contractor license is required only when a job costs $40,000 or more (G.S. 87-1, NC contractor board), far above what most fences cost (see the cost guide). So for a typical fence, judge a contractor on insurance, track record and the contract. Note too that the licensing board cannot make a contractor fix work or refund money (NC contractor board).

Get it in writing

• Get at least three written estimates (NC Attorney General).
• The contract should spell out the quality of materials, the total price for labor and materials, any warranties, the start and finish dates, and who cleans up (NC Attorney General).
• Ask for a written workmanship warranty before the work starts (HomeGuide).

Check insurance yourself

Ask to see the contractor's insurance policy, then call the insurance company to confirm the coverage (NC Attorney General), including workers' compensation, property damage and liability (BBB hiring guide).

Paying

• Do not pay large amounts in advance (NC Attorney General), and never the full amount up front (FTC).
• Stagger the payments so the last one is due after the work is finished and you have inspected it (BBB).
• Ask for a lien waiver, the contractor's statement that suppliers and subcontractors have been paid (BBB).

Permits, 811 and property lines

• Most Durham fences need no permit, but pool barriers, floodplain lots and historic districts need approvals (see the rules). Be suspicious of a contractor who asks you to take out the permits yourself (NC Attorney General, FTC).
• Your contractor must notify NC 811 at least three full working days before digging. The homeowner exemption does not cover a hired contractor (G.S. 87, Art. 8A).
• Only a licensed land surveyor can establish a property line (G.S. 89C-3). Use your property records and a survey so the fence stays on your land (Angi).

Questions to ask every contractor

• Can I see your certificate of liability insurance, and do you carry workers' compensation?
• Who notifies NC 811, and when?
• How deep will you set the posts, and in concrete or gravel (HomeGuide)? For wood posts, what treatment rating are they? Use Category 4A or higher is the standard for ground contact (AWPA).
• Will the finished side face out? Durham requires it (Durham UDO 9.9).
• Who confirms the property line, and will you work from a survey?
• Is removing and hauling away the old fence in the price?
• What written warranty do you give on workmanship and on materials?
• What is the payment schedule, and will you give me a lien waiver at the end?
• When can you start, and how many days will the work take?

Warning signs

• A contractor who knocks on your door or leaves flyers (NC Attorney General).
• Pressure to pay most or all of the price before the work is done (FTC).
• A request that you get the permits yourself (NC Attorney General).

If you sign at home

The FTC's Cooling-Off Rule can give you until midnight of the third business day after a sale to cancel, and it applies to many sales made in your home, including when you invited the salesperson (FTC Cooling-Off Rule). Exceptions apply, so read the FTC's page before relying on it. North Carolina's own three-day cancellation law covers only home sales made on credit (G.S. 25A-38).

Check the record

Look up complaint history with the Better Business Bureau or the North Carolina Attorney General's office (NC Attorney General). For any job of $40,000 or more, check the license in the NC Licensing Board for General Contractors search.