Why Spring Fence-Building Season Is Riskiest for Homeowners

Hiring a contractor to build a wood fence anywhere in North America between April and June carries real financial risk — and it’s worth understanding why before signing anything.

Every spring, in nearly any major market — Toronto, Los Angeles, Houston, it doesn’t matter — several hundred new fence companies spring up. Some operate out of small cars or station wagons; others show up with professional-looking trucks, nice business cards, matching shirts and caps. What most of them share isn’t visible on the surface: little or no actual experience, no business training, no real marketing know-how, and often no solid grasp of how to build a fence that lasts. They’re eager to land a few jobs and start building a reputation — often at the homeowner’s expense while they learn.

Part of the problem is that there’s genuinely nowhere good to learn this trade. Very few books teach fence-building well; most of what’s on shelves or in libraries is generic and doesn’t cover the details that actually determine whether a fence holds up. That gap is exactly what lets under-qualified contractors flood the market every spring without anyone catching it until the fence starts failing.

The practical takeaway for homeowners: spring’s flood of new fence companies means extra diligence is warranted precisely when demand — and the temptation to hire the first available crew — is highest. Ask about experience, ask to see completed work that’s a few years old, not brand new, and be skeptical of unusually low bids during peak season.