The first part of the job is underground
Every post in a new fence sits in a hole, and every hole goes into ground that may hold pipes or cables nobody has thought about in years. That makes digging a sensible place to begin a Sierra Vista fence plan, ahead of color, height or style. Arizona has a statute on the subject, and knowing its wording lets you ask each bidder a sharper question about how the work will start.
What A.R.S. 40-360.22 says about excavation
Under A.R.S. 40-360.22, a person may not begin an excavation in a public street, alley, public right-of-way or utility easement (among other places the statute lists) without first determining whether underground facilities will be encountered. The operator must mark its facilities as promptly as practicable but not later than two working days after the excavator's inquiry, and excavating may not begin before marking is complete.
Bring that passage to each company that bids, and ask:
- Who will make the inquiry before the first hole is dug, you or the company?
- When will the inquiry go in, and how does the start date on the proposal allow for the marking?
- What will the crew do if a mark shows up on the planned route of the fence?
Note each answer, with the name of the person who gave it, on that company's proposal.
Lines you may need to point out yourself
Ask the contractor what the operators' marks will and will not cover. Then think back over any digging done on the lot since the house was built: a drip system for a garden bed, power run out to a workshop, a drain carrying water away from a downspout. Tell the crew lead about each one, and walk the route together before the auger arrives. If you are unsure what lies under a stretch, ask how the crew plans to dig there.
What NOAA's engineering weather data lists for Fort Huachuca/Libby
NOAA engineering weather data for Fort Huachuca/Libby (elevation 4,718 feet) gives a 1% summer design temperature of 95°F with a mean coincident wet-bulb temperature of 62°F, and a 99% winter design temperature of 32°F. In an average year at Fort Huachuca/Libby, NOAA counts about 1 hour with the wet-bulb temperature above 73°F and about 305 hours above 67°F.
Drinking water for the Sierra Vista system
Arizona Water Company's 2025 water quality report for its Sierra Vista system (PWSID AZ0402004) says the company provides groundwater to its Sierra Vista customers from wells located throughout the Sierra Vista and Sulger areas, and that the system had zero monitoring, reporting, treatment technique, or MCL violations in 2025.
Give the fence a job description
Before calling anyone, write a sentence or two about what the fence is meant to do. Some possibilities:
- hold a dog in the back yard, including one that digs or jumps;
- give a patio or a window some privacy from the street or the house next door;
- set off the front yard without hiding the house;
- close in a vegetable patch, a play area or a spot for the trash bins;
- surround a pool or spa, in which case ask the contractor and the city whether any barrier requirements apply before you pick a design.
That purpose can steer the height, how solid the face is, how close the bottom edge sits to the ground and how many gates you want. Hand the same written purpose to each company so the proposals can be compared like with like.
Materials and the upkeep that comes with them
Ask each bidder to describe what its material will need from you over the years, not only what it costs today.
- Wood. It can be stained or painted, and a damaged picket can be replaced on its own. Ask which species and grade were priced, and whether wood posts are treated for burial in soil.
- Vinyl. Ask how thick the rails are, how panels attach to the posts, and what the panel warranty excludes.
- Ornamental steel or aluminum. Ask what finish protects the metal and how a scratch is touched up.
- Chain link. Ask about the wire gauge, the top rail, and whether a coating or privacy slats are part of the number.
Gates and how you will use them
Picture every trip through the fence: people on foot, the mower, the trash bins, perhaps a trailer. For every gate, ask for its width, the direction it swings, the latch and whether it locks, the hinges, how the frame is braced, and the size of the posts on either side. A wide drive opening is worth its own line on the proposal.
Where your lot ends
Find the plat, the deed or an old survey, and look for the corner markers it describes. If the markers are missing, or the ground seems to disagree with the paper, a land surveyor can locate and flag the corners. Talk to the households on each side before the crew shows up. They may want to know which face of the fence will look toward them, or whether they can reach their side for upkeep. If a neighbor agrees to share the cost of a fence on the common line, put the terms on paper and have both households sign. Ask each company how it will place the fence relative to the boundary and who confirms the layout before holes are dug.
One license question, and proof of coverage
Ask each company: "What state license or registration, if any, covers this work, and what is the number?" Ask, too, for proof of liability coverage and workers' compensation before anyone starts. If you are unsure how your homeowner's policy treats a crew working in the yard, call your insurer.
What a written proposal should show
When the proposals arrive, check that each one includes:
- a sketch of the route with its dimensions and every gate marked;
- the height and the style of the face;
- the post material, size, spacing and the way each post is set;
- each gate with its width and hardware;
- who makes the inquiry before digging, and when;
- removal and hauling of any old fence, and cleanup at the end;
- warranty terms for materials and for workmanship, listed separately;
- the deposit, each later payment and a start window;
- the answers to the license and coverage questions.
Where a proposal leaves one out, ask that company to add it in writing before weighing its total.