Maintaining customer satisfaction is a crucial aspect of any business, but it’s even more important for fencing companies that have earned the prestigious Diamond Certified award. For Redwood Residential Fence Co., the key to achieving and maintaining high levels of customer satisfaction is simple: offer the best quality fences for the best possible prices. “It’s really a simple formula,” says owner Ubi Ruiz. “When we combine our experienced employees, quality materials and excellent customer service, we’re able to ensure the satisfaction of every client.”

Redwood Residential Fence has been installing wood, picket, metal and agricultural wire fences for residential clients in Sonoma County and parts of Napa, Mendocino, and Marin Counties since 2002. The company is best known for replacing old and damaged wood fences with custom-made new fences, but it’s also qualified to build and install retaining walls and gates.

Unlike less experienced fencing companies that buy their lumber from retail yards and overcharge for their services to make up for the additional expenses, Redwood Residential Fence maintains ongoing relationships with several local sawmills so it can get the best possible prices for its lumber and pass those savings to its customers. “We have $50,000 to $100,000 worth of lumber in our yard at any given time, and buying in bulk like that gives us a lot of clout with suppliers,” says Mr. Ruiz. “Our goal is to offer our customers the lowest prices around, and once they see the quality of their finished products, they’re even more pleased with the savings.”

Another distinguishing feature of Redwood Residential Fence is its highly skilled and experienced employees, all of whom have been with the company for many years. “Professionalism is very important to us, but we also promote an easygoing work environment, which leads to happier employees and better quality work,” says Mr. Ruiz. “We take care of our employees, and they take care of our customers in turn.”

If you want to install a fence on your property, make sure you hire a contractor with specific expertise. Some homeowners assume they can hire a handyman or landscaper to build a fence, but those professionals don’t have the proper training or skills to perform the job correctly. “Installing a fence isn’t necessarily complicated, but it does require specialized knowledge that only fence contractors possess, like the right type of wood to use, the proper way to frame a lattice and how deep the post holes should be,” says Ubi Ruiz, owner of Redwood Residential Fence Co. in Cloverdale. “Also, if a handyman or landscaper doesn’t carry proper insurance, it can end up costing you a lot of money if something goes wrong during the project. With a licensed fence contractor, you won’t have to worry about any of that.”

If your fence installation is part of a larger landscaping project, Mr. Ruiz recommends building the fence first and then finishing the rest of the landscaping work. “It’s easier, faster, and less expensive to build the fence first because you don’t have to deal with existing plants and irrigation systems,” he explains. “Plus, you can design your landscaping work with the fence as a backdrop, which can open up a lot of creative options.”

Before choosing a specific type of fence, consider how you’ll be using it. Is it for security or to keep a pet in the yard? Do you want it to improve the look of your home? Will it block noise or add privacy? Once you determine your fence’s primary function, you can pick one that best meets your needs. Also, keep in mind that California law prohibits residential fences from exceeding six feet in height (they can be up to eight feet tall if the top two feet consist of open lattice work). In Sonoma County, permits are only required for new fence construction, not replacement. The exception is Petaluma, where permits are required for both.

Q: How long will it take to install my new fence?

A: We can complete most residential fencing jobs in one day. Sometimes it can take up to three days, but that’s rare. We work fast because we know the most efficient ways to put up fences.

Q: Do I have to make a down payment on my fence?

A: No, you don’t have to pay until we’re finished with the job and you’re completely satisfied.

Q: Should I talk to my neighbors before installing a fence on my property?

A: That’s usually a good idea. Ultimately, it’s your responsibility to deal with your neighbors, but we’re happy to talk to them and explain what we’re doing and how the fence will look when it’s completed. We can even install fences on several properties at once to give the area a coordinated, distinctive look.

Q: What kind of wood do you use for your fences and decks?

A: Most of the time, we build fences with redwood that we purchase directly from local sawmills, but we can also build decks with composite materials like Trex.

Q: Can you build a deck around a tree?

A: Yes, but we don’t necessarily recommend it because the tree might negatively affect the deck as it grows. One exception is if you want to preserve an old tree.

Q: Can you provide references?

A: Of course, and we won’t just give you three or four of our best customers—we’ll give you our entire client list from the past year so you can check the quality and longevity of our work yourself.