Freedom Fence & Aluminum — Local services in Sarasota

Summary: Our experience with this fence company was a mixed bag. From the initial quote on February 4th to the installation on April 7th (a timeframe we were informed of), they offered competitive pricing. We had 88 linear feet of 4-foot wood picket fence installed, which included one 3-foot single gate, one 4-foot single gate, and one 12-foot double drive gate, for ~$2,600. However, the installation itself had numerous quality control issues and a lack of clear communication from the crew. Although the company was responsive in addressing the immediate problems, the result lacks long-term quality, with gates already sagging and becoming unaligned about three months after installation. This company might be a fit if you prioritize cost, but be prepared for potential quality issues and the need for significant follow-up.

Highlights: Competitive Pricing: The cost for the fence installation was competitive compared to other quotes we received. Custom Installation: The crew built the fence onsite instead of using prebuilt panels. Responsive to Issues: After contacting the company about the problems, they responded promptly and sent a crew to address the initial concerns.

Lowlights: Poor Scheduling & Communication: The crew showed up significantly late on the scheduled day without prior notice, arriving after 5 PM when we were not home. Recommunication of Project Details: The installation crew seemed uninformed about the project details, requiring us to re-explain our needs despite providing site maps and measurements. Subpar Initial Construction Quality: The initial installation had numerous issues, including gates missing proper cross braces—a basic requirement for fence gate stability—with the crew even asking us for direction on how these should be installed. Other issues included sections of the fence not being flush with the ground, improper hardware (e.g., latches that were hard to open and sticky, oversized hinges), misaligned gate construction, and nail pop-throughs. Even aesthetic cuts felt unplanned and unprofessional. Significant Worksite Safety Hazard: A reciprocating saw blade was left on the ground, which our three-year-old child found, posing a serious safety risk. Additionally, trash was improperly disposed of, endangering our animals. We spent considerable time cleaning up the yard after the project. Rushed Remedial Work: The company sent the same installation crew to fix issues, they stressed that all problems had to be resolved that day, dismissed the importance of issues, which left us feeling that larger, more complex issues might not be adequately addressed. Persistent Quality Issues: About three months after the installation on April 7th, the lack of quality in construction is evident, with gates already sagging and becoming unaligned, indicating a lack of durability in the...

Less than two years ago, we had a new fence installed by Freedom Fence as the old fence was sagging in. The fence itself was well done. Completely fabricated during the installation process and very strong.

Ironically, the gate for the old fence was still viable, albeit drooping, so we were excited to get new gates that would work flawlessly. From the onset, we were not happy with the gate construction. We should have said something, and that is entirely my fault. We were leaving shortly after the install date on a trip, and it was one more thing to add to the list that was dropped and never revisited. The gates never met up properly, and the wood was split, there was no metal frame, nails were protruding, and it was a mess. However, it worked, and we were disinclined to complain at the time.

Fast forward to a recent windstorm (not hurricane-related) and the bottom chunk of one of the slats blew off. As it turns out, there was a crack in the wood, and rather than replace it during the build, they stapled it together. I had it painted, and it was never noticed.

The gate itself (double gate) warped to the point where it would not catch, or when it did it bent the latch. There was no second down drop put in place for the main gate, so during a strong wind, it whipped so much it bent the down drop on one side. During this last near miss of Idalia, the disjointed nature of the gate finally took its toll and ripped off the hinges. I called for a quote on properly crafted gate replacement. I did not expect it to be free at all, as I knew I was well beyond any guarantee. I simply thought they did such a great job on the fence, that the gate should be equally done. The quote came back at 18% of the cost for the entire fence and gates on both sides we had installed recently. Nearly 1/5 again to build a proper gate that should have been done the first time. Even the quote specialist was surprised when he found no drop-down on the gate.

I might have thought that the company would want to make it right, or if they really don’t want the limited work involved in fixing their error, then tell me that.

I did not expect after such a short time, and after understanding first-hand by visual inspection the details that were missed, that the company would require 1/5 or the entire original estimate to fix something they should have done right, to begin with. I cannot give 1 star or even 2, as the fence portion, to the best of my knowledge, is sturdy and fine. I imagine this is more about disappointment in finding yet another company that doesn’t stand behind its workmanship. I get it, it is entirely on me for waiting so long to even bring it up and until 'bad things occurred' - that is my fault. I guess with some contractors if you want it done right, you have to stand behind and watch, as...

Before I understood anything about vinyl fences, I thought my fence was installed well. Like other reviewers write, it "looked good." Now, I know a lot more about these fences. Vinyl privacy fences should be able to withstand over 100 mph winds, if installed correctly. Because of Freedom Fence's poor workmanship and materials, my fence does not withstand even 60 mph winds. Every time there is a storm, I have to deal with extensive damage, which costs me time and money. Apparently, they didn't actually measure the distance between posts and the owner didn't supervise or check the crew's work. The distance between posts should be a multiple of 6" from the inside of the posts to ensure a tight fit with the 6" pickets. Most of them are way off, so that they had to fill in the gaps with cut partial pickets, which have no structural stability. To fix this will require many of the posts to be reset, essentially rebuilding the fence from scratch, which will cost me a lot. On top of this, most of the pickets they used are too short. They barely make it into the channel of the top rail. As a result, the pickets blow out in the storms. They refused to correct this. They also did not use post stiffeners, rail stiffeners, or screw in the pickets to the rails (which is impossible since they are too short). These things are required in Miami and enable the fence to withstand major hurricane winds. They didn't offer these as options or even mention them. This contractor doesn't want the fence to hold up because he makes a lot of money repairing the fences that he installed poorly. He makes all this extra money because he doesn't honor his warranty. The written warranty says: "We offer a lifetime workmanship warranty on all our fences (unless stated otherwise). We do this because we take pride in our work and guarantee that your fence will be of good build quality. This is only a workmanship warranty and does not cover any material. If any alterations are made to the fence after installation, the warranty will be voided. MATERIAL WARRANTY Typically, there is no warranty on any wood products. Our aluminum and vinyl products carry a lifetime warranty from the manufacturer. Let us know if you desire a copy of the warranty." Here's what he did after a previous hurricane: He offered to fix all the blown out pickets and broken gate for a bit less than $2,000. He would not accept any responsibility. Building fences poorly is lucrative for him. He got over $7k from me from the installation and expects to get thousands more every time a storm damages it. Freedom Fence gets 2 stars for installing posts 3' into the ground (at least they claim they do - I wasn't around to supervise), but they get no more stars for the rest...