Trade checklist · Fence & Deck
Fence and deck quote review
Two quotes for a 150-foot cedar privacy fence or backyard deck can look identical on paper while pricing completely different post gauges, post hole depths, picket thicknesses, and joist spans. Paste your quote below for a written benchmark note.
Scope checklist
FN-TRADE-FENCE
finalist.cc trade read
What we check on a fence or deck quote
When a person at finalist.cc reads a wood, ornamental iron, or composite fence or deck quote, we check ten material and structural lines so you can see where quotes cut corners.
1. Line by line across a fence or deck quote
| Line | What a vague quote says | What a clear scope states | Flag |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fence post type & gauge | “Metal posts” or “4x4 posts” | 2-3/8 inch galvanized steel pipe with stated wall thickness (Schedule 20 / .095 wall vs. heavy Schedule 40 / .154 wall, or 13-gauge PostMaster), and maximum post spacing (6 ft vs. 8 ft on center). | Vague |
| Post hole depth & concrete | “Set in concrete” | Post hole depth (for example, 30 to 36 inches for a 6-ft fence, or 36 to 42 inches for an 8-ft fence), hole diameter (9 to 12 inches), and wet-mixed vs. dry-bagged concrete poundage per hole. | Wind-failure point |
| Cedar species, grade & thickness | “6 ft cedar board-on-board fence” | Western Red Cedar vs. imported Japanese cedar or stained pine/whitewood, grade (#1 vs. #2 rustic knotty), picket thickness (5/8 inch vs. 3/4 inch), picket width (5.5 inch vs. 6 inch), and overlap width on board-on-board. | Vague |
| Rails, kickboard & trim | “3 rails and rot board” | Number and size of horizontal rails (2x4 cedar for 6-ft height, 3 or 4 rails for 8-ft height), 2x6 pressure-treated ground-contact kickboard (UC4A), top cap (2x6 or 2x8), and fascia trim. | Check spec |
| Fasteners & gate framing | “2 walk gates included” | Stainless steel or hot-dipped galvanized ring-shank nails (electro-galvanized nails bleed black streaks on cedar), welded steel gate frames vs. wood-only gate frames, and heavy-duty adjustable hinges/latches. | Black-streak risk |
| Deck footings & framing lumber | “Pressure-treated subframe” | Concrete pier diameter and depth below frost/clay line, uplifted post bases (standoff brackets above concrete), beam sizes (doubled 2x10 or 2x12), and UC4A ground-contact pressure-treated rating. | Vague |
| Deck joist spacing & tape | “Composite decking installed” | Joist spacing on center (12 inches OC vs. 16 inches OC; composite boards often flex at 16 inches OC and require 12 inches OC for diagonal layouts), plus butyl joist flashing tape over beams and joists. | Composite flex |
| Ledger board & structural hardware | “Attach to house” | Whether the deck is free-standing or ledger-attached, ledger Z-flashing and water barrier, structural lag screws or through-bolts, and galvanized or stainless joist hangers with structural connector screws. | Safety critical |
| Stain, seal & pre-dip | “Staining included” | Oil-based penetrating stain brand and color, whether pickets are pre-dipped before assembly (so board-on-board overlaps do not leave raw stripes when wood shrinks), or sprayed on site. | Vague |
| 811 utility locate, survey & haul-off | “Tear down old fence” | Old fence demolition and haul-off, 811 underground utility locate, who marks the property pins, and whether municipal or HOA permit packages are included. | Ask in writing |
2. Questions we help you send back to the fence or deck contractor
- What exact post wall thickness (Schedule 20 vs. Schedule 40) and post hole depth are priced, and what is the maximum post spacing?
- Are the pickets Western Red Cedar (#1 or #2 grade, 5/8-inch or 3/4-inch thick), and are they fastened with stainless steel or hot-dipped galvanized ring-shank nails so they do not bleed black streaks?
- Are walk and driveway gates built on welded steel frames, and are gate posts Upsized to Schedule 40?
- For the deck, what is the joist spacing on center (12-inch vs. 16-inch OC), and does the quote include butyl flashing tape on the joists and standoff post bases on the concrete piers?
- Are pickets pre-dipped in oil-based stain before board-on-board installation, or sprayed after assembly?
Other trade quote reviews on finalist.cc: Roof replacement quote review · HVAC replacement quote review · Foundation and drainage quote review.
Send your fence or deck quote
Paste your fence or deck quote below, or choose that it is a PDF or photo. A person at finalist.cc reads it against our checklist and replies by email with a benchmark note.
What happens next
- A person reads the quote line by line.
- If the quote is a PDF or a photo of a handwritten sheet, we reply by email and ask for it; you attach it to your reply.
- You get a benchmark note by email: included, missing, vague, the arithmetic, questions to ask, and a scope for a second contractor.
We do not send your quote or your details to fence or deck contractors.