Building a fence in Cape Coral
A Cape Coral fence goes into sandy ground on a flat lot, and it has to stay standing when a hurricane arrives. Post setting, drainage and material choice matter more than style.
Hurricane wind
NOAA's engineering weather data for Fort Myers lists a 50-year basic wind speed of 140 mph. Hurricane Ian came ashore on Cayo Costa on September 28, 2022 with estimated maximum winds of about 150 mph. A six-foot solid panel presents a large face to that wind, and panels that tear loose become debris that breaks windows down the street. Ask the installer how deep each post goes, how far apart posts are spaced, and what the posts are set in. Ask whether shadowbox or louvered designs, which let wind through, would suit your lot, and whether your city has rules for fence height and wind.
Sand and swales
Much of the ground here is sand and fill. Sand that is dry and loose gives a post little grip, and soaked sand gives even less. NOAA lists a 100-year rainfall rate of 4.5 inches per hour, and lots depend on swales to move storm water to the street or canal. A fence line that crosses a swale with a solid bottom board can dam water and flood a yard. Ask how the installer will keep the bottom of the fence clear of the grade where water needs to pass.
Termites and wood
A University of Florida study published in February 2026 found that the invasive Formosan subterranean termite is now established in most of Florida's coastal counties and major urban centers. Wood fence posts in contact with soil are an easy meal. If you choose wood, ask for posts rated for ground contact, keep mulch and soil from piling against the boards, and ask whether a wood fence touching the house affects your termite contract.
Vinyl and aluminum
Vinyl doesn't rot or feed termites, but needs metal reinforcement in gate posts. Aluminum resists corrosion near salt water and lets wind and views through, which is why it's often chosen for pools and waterfront yards.
Pools
If the fence is part of a pool barrier, ask the installer what height, gap and gate rules apply, whether gates must be self-closing and self-latching, and how the design meets them, before you order.
Before you sign
Have the property line marked, check HOA rules and any seawall setbacks, and ask whether the installer arranges a utility locate. Get a written quote listing post depth and spacing, materials, gates, permit and cleanup.