How to Choose a Fence & Deck Builder in Kelowna

A fence and a deck are two of the most visible things you will ever add to a property, and both sit outside in sun, snow, and frost year after year. Choosing the builder comes down to four things: knowing exactly what you want built, quotes that itemise the same job, confirmation that permits and insurance are handled, and a written record of what was agreed. This guide walks through each step.

Define the job before you call anyone

Fence and deck quotes are only comparable when every builder is pricing the same thing. Write the basics down before the first call.

• Fence, deck, or both — some builders specialize in one and subcontract the other.
• Material: pressure-treated wood, cedar, composite, vinyl, or chain-link. Each differs in cost and upkeep.
• For fences: height, style, and where the gates go.
• For decks: height off the ground, stairs, railings, and size.
• Slope: a yard that drops along the fence line or under the deck changes how the build is engineered.
• Property lines: confirm where the line actually runs before a single post hole is dug.

Get two or three written quotes you can compare

Ask two or three local builders for a written quote on the same scope. A good fence or deck quote reads like a parts list with labour attached, not one lump number — a single number hides exactly where a cheap build cuts corners.

1. Send every builder the same written scope, materials included.
2. Ask for the measurements the price is based on: linear feet of fence or square feet of deck, post spacing, and board or picket counts.
3. Ask how posts are set — hole depth, diameter, and how much concrete. For decks, ask the same about footings.
4. Check the hardware: fasteners rated for your material, and joist hangers on a deck rather than toenailed joints.
5. Ask what is included beyond the structure itself: gates and latches, staining or sealing, grading around the fence line, cleanup, and disposal of the old fence.
6. Confirm the quote's validity period, the payment schedule, and that any price change needs your signature, not just a phone call.

Permits, bylaws, and the parts you cannot see

In Kelowna, fence height and where a fence can sit are set by the City's zoning rules, and a deck may need a building permit and inspections depending on its size and height. Do not take a builder's word for it — confirm with the City of Kelowna before signing anything. A builder who answers permit questions with "don't worry about it" is telling you something. While you have them on the phone, ask the structural basics: how deep the posts and footings go, and how the fence follows a slope — stepped, racked, or a mix of both.

Red flags worth pausing for

• A quote that is one lump number — no measurements, no post or footing details, no materials list.
• Posts set shallow with little or no concrete, or footings skipped to "save you money".
• No clear answer on who confirms the property line or pulls the permit.
• Pressure to decide on the spot, or a price that climbs once the crew arrives.
• Nothing in writing about warranties — the material warranty and the workmanship warranty are two different things.

Where to start in Kelowna

Browse the local fence and deck builders on this directory, compare the materials they work in and what they have built, and send the same written scope to the two or three that look like a good fit. A few extra minutes of comparison is far cheaper than re-digging post holes.