Fence Contractor M.A.E Contracting: Craftsmanship You Can Trust in Beker, FL
When you live and build in North Florida, you learn to respect water, wind, and sun. Beker sees torrential summer rains that turn sandy soils into soup, nor’easters that push fence panels like sails, and UV that can fade poor-quality materials in a single season. A fence that looks fine on install day but fails in year two is not a fence worth buying. That’s the lens we bring to every job at Fence Contractor M.A.E Contracting: practical craftsmanship, materials that make sense for our climate, and clear communication from first call to final walkthrough.
Our team has built everything from a simple 80-foot side yard privacy fence to multi-acre agricultural enclosures with pole barns and reinforced gates. We also run concrete crews that know how to anchor posts, pour footings, and form clean, strong slabs. Whether you need privacy fence installation in a tight neighborhood lot or aluminum around a pool for code compliance, we pair the right approach with your site conditions and budget.
A local crew that treats your property like its own
People call us the Fence Company M.A.E Contracting, but we do a lot more than set posts and hang pickets. Good fences demand good concrete, smart layout, and attention to drainage. Our work shows up in the details: straight runs that sightline cleanly, posts set to the right depths for our soils, rails that don’t rack, and gates that swing and latch like they should on day 1 and day 1,000.
On a recent job in Beker, a homeowner wanted a 6-foot wood privacy fence for a corner lot. The street-grade was higher than the yard, which meant wind exposure and runoff. Instead of chasing the grade with full panels and leaving gaps at the bottom, we stepped the panels, added a compacted gravel trench for drainage, and set corner posts 36 inches into 3,000-psi concrete. The fence looks tailored to the property, sheds water, and has a sturdier backbone where the wind hits hardest. That’s the difference you feel when a fence contractor plans for the site, not just the material.
Materials that match North Florida conditions
Not all fences belong in all yards. We help you choose with eyes wide open about maintenance, code requirements, and long-term cost.
Wood Fence Installation
Wood remains popular for privacy, warmth, and cost. Around Beker, we recommend pressure-treated pine or cedar. Pine is budget-friendly and strong, while cedar resists rot and insects and ages to a soft gray if you don’t seal it. We set posts deeper than many crews, typically one-third of post length below grade when feasible, and we crown concrete footings so water runs away from the post rather than pooling.
The trade-offs are real. Wood requires sealing or staining every two to four years to look its best. Fence lines near irrigation heads or heavy shade tend to develop algae and mildew, so we design with airflow, trim vegetation away from panels, and recommend gentle cleanings rather than harsh power washing. For clients near the coast, we often upgrade hardware to stainless to fight corrosion.
Vinyl Fence Installation
Vinyl costs more upfront than wood but saves on maintenance and resists UV far better than budget composites. For privacy fence installation in vinyl, panel thickness and internal reinforcement matter. Thin box-store panels can flex like a kite after a storm. We source vinyl with aluminum-reinforced rails, and we space posts tighter on wind-prone runs. Vinyl’s strength is consistency, so we stair-step on slopes rather than forcing big rakes that stress the panels. White is classic, but tan and woodgrain options hold color well and hide pollen and dust.
Aluminum Fence Installation
Aluminum is the go-to around pools and in neighborhoods where line-of-sight matters. It’s light, strong, and powder-coated for longevity. If you’re installing around a pool, we take care with code-compliant height, picket spacing, and self-closing, self-latching gates at the correct heights. Many older pools fail inspection not because the fence is weak, but because the latch is mounted too low or the gate swings the wrong direction. Our crews walk through local codes with you and verify the layout in the field. For waterfront properties, we set posts in deeper footers and consider slightly wider post spacing to reduce wind loads on the sections.
Chain Link Fence Installation
Chain link earns its keep in industrial yards, dog runs, and agricultural lines. Galvanized is the workhorse, and black or green vinyl-coated chain link softens the look for residential yards. The weakness in many chain link jobs is the terminal post work. When corners and gates are underbuilt, the fabric sags and the tension bar pulls away. We oversize terminal posts when runs exceed 100 feet or when gates exceed 6 feet, and we tie rails and posts with fittings that won’t rust out in two seasons. For dog owners, we bury a small toe-in of fabric if digging is a concern.
Blending materials where it makes sense
Hybrid fences accomplish what a single material cannot. A common pattern is wood privacy along the back and sides, then aluminum across the front to preserve curb appeal and sightlines. In large properties, chain link defines the perimeter while a short run of vinyl or wood secures the patio. We help match heights, colors, and lines so the finished project feels intentional. Gates get special attention, because mismatched hardware or sagging leafs ruin even the best fence. We hang gates with adjustable hinges and beefed-up posts, then tweak swing and latch pressure over the first week as everything settles.
The role of concrete in a fence built to last
You can spend good money on premium panels and still end up with a wobbly fence if the posts aren’t set right. As a Concrete Company, we take footing prep seriously. Beker’s sandy loam drains fast, which is both friend and foe. Water doesn’t puddle long, but unsupported holes can collapse in rain and compromise footing shape.
For most residential fences, we pour 3,000 to 4,000-psi concrete and bell the bottom of the hole to resist uplift. Holes get cleaned out to solid soil, and we avoid throwing dry mix into standing water, which leads to honeycombing and weak set. In low spots, we add a few inches of compacted gravel for a capillary break. Where tree roots crowd the line, we adjust hole shapes while keeping volume and depth, so you still get the same holding power without damaging vital roots.
Our concrete crews don’t just handle posts. As Concrete Company M.A.E Contracting, we pour small slabs for gate landings, footings for heavy driveway gates, and flatwork around pole barns. That integrated approach keeps your project on one schedule and one warranty.
Good fences start with good questions
Before we price a job, we scout access, utilities, and slope, then ask how you plan to use the fence over the next five to ten years. A family expecting a new puppy has different needs than a couple planning to store a boat behind a side gate. The right answer might be a double-drive gate on steel posts or a taller panel style near a busy street. It’s not upselling to suggest a better hinge or a reinforced latch post when we’ve seen what a north wind can do to a wide gate.
Here’s a simple pre-build checklist that saves time and money:
- Mark property lines with a survey or visible pins, not guesswork. Setbacks differ by neighborhood.
- Identify irrigation heads, shallow cables, and septic components before digging.
- Choose gate widths to fit your life: lawn service mowers, trailers, or future projects.
- Think about privacy from specific angles, such as second-story windows or street corners.
- Decide how much maintenance you truly want to do, then pick materials that match that reality.
Privacy, security, and curb appeal, in that order
Most clients come to us for privacy fencing that still looks good from the street. We can build board-on-board cedar that seals tight even as wood dries, or good-neighbor designs that alternate boards for a balanced look on both sides. If noise is a concern, mass matters. Heavier boards and staggered seams damp sound better than thin panels. Plantings help too. We sometimes recommend a low-maintenance hedge along the fence line, not as a replacement but as a complement that softens hard surfaces and screens gaps at the bottom where grade changes.
Security doesn’t have to mean barbed wire. Simple design choices do a lot: no easy footholds on the outside of the fence, taller panels near hidden corners, and gate hardware that cannot be easily reached through pickets. For aluminum and chain link around commercial yards, we spec taller terminal posts and tension wire along the bottom to stop push-through.
Curb appeal comes from proportion and alignment. We sight every line by eye as well as level, because a fence can be technically straight yet look off if it fights the grade too hard. Step where the grade changes sharply, rake where the slope is gentle, and keep gate tops in a clean, consistent line.
Pole barns and the bigger picture of your property
Fences define space. Pole barns activate it. As a pole barn installation contractor, we approach barns with the same respect for soil and weather that we bring to fences. Florida storms create uplift forces that rip poorly anchored barns right out of the https://s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com/mae-contracting/fence-company-beker-fl/uncategorized/wood-fence-installation-privacy-and-picket-options-in-beker-fl.html ground. We set posts in deeper, wider footings and backfill with a concrete collar to resist both lateral and uplift forces. Truss spacing, purlin size, and metal gauge matter. Cheap metal rattles and dents, and thin posts twist. We recommend 26 to 29-gauge metal for most residential barns, with screws that bite and hold.
Pole barns serve many roles: equipment storage, hobby workshops, boat or RV shelters, and livestock cover. Design follows use. An RV shelter needs higher clearances and wider bays, while a workshop benefits from insulated panels and a monolithic slab. Our concrete crews pour slabs with proper vapor barriers, broom finishes where tires need grip, and thickened edges for weight-bearing points. If you plan to run power and water later, we stub conduits during the pour and save you from messy trenching later.
We often coordinate fence lines and pole barns, setting wide swing gates aligned with barn bays so you can pull in trailers without a three-point dance. On agricultural sites, we pair chain link or high-tensile lines with corral gates and design corners with bracing that holds tension over time.
Permits, codes, and the boring stuff that saves headaches
Beker and surrounding jurisdictions have clear rules on fence heights, pool barriers, and setbacks. Code is not the enemy. It’s a playbook that keeps you out of trouble and helps your project appraise correctly. We pull permits when required and build to the specifics: maximum height in front yards, safe climb requirements near pools, and sight triangle rules at corners to keep drivers and pedestrians safe. If your HOA has style guidelines or color restrictions, we help you submit accurate diagrams and samples so approvals move quickly.
Utilities are the other non-negotiable. Call before you dig is more than a slogan. We’ve found cable lines two inches below sod and irrigation mains exactly where a post wants to go. We mark, hand-dig in sensitive areas, and reroute as needed. The extra hour on day one prevents a week of frustration later.
What sets Fence Contractor M.A.E Contracting apart
We operate like a small shop even as we manage multiple crews. You’ll meet the person who estimates your job again during layout, and you can reach a project manager who knows your site by name. We don’t disappear after the last panel goes up. If a gate needs a tweak after a storm, call us. Adjustments are part of owning a fence, and we stand behind what we build.
Our suppliers matter too. Materials that arrive consistent, straight, and on schedule mean your project moves without stalls. We source aluminum with reliable powder-coat warranties, vinyl that stays rigid in heat, wood that is truly kiln-dried, and concrete mixes that hit the strength they claim. Cheaper inputs cost more in callbacks and replacements. We’d rather install once, right, at a fair price.
A realistic look at costs and timelines
Prices shift with material markets and fuel, so we work in ranges until we see your site. Wood privacy runs lower than vinyl, aluminum sits similar to quality vinyl depending on style, and chain link remains the most economical for large perimeters. Upgrades that truly pay off include better gate hardware, stronger terminal posts, and concrete done to spec. Those are not luxuries. They are the parts that keep the fence square and usable over time.
Timelines depend on permitting, HOA approval, and material lead times. A straightforward residential fence averages two to five days on site once materials are in. Pole barns vary widely. A small open pole barn might set within a week, while an enclosed workshop with a slab and utilities can run several weeks including concrete curing. We stage work to minimize yard disruption, and we clean up daily because you live here, not us.
Care and maintenance that respects your time
No fence is truly maintenance-free, but some come close. Vinyl and aluminum need simple rinsing. Wood needs more love, especially in our climate. A light wash with a fence cleaner and soft brush each spring, a fresh seal or stain every few years, and vigilance about soil and mulch against the boards will multiply a wood fence’s lifespan. Chain link benefits from occasional tension checks and lubrication at gate hinges.
When we finish an install, we leave you with a short care guide matched to your material and site. It covers the basics and timing for checks. If you prefer, we can schedule a yearly sweep to tighten, lubricate, and spot-fix before small annoyances become replacements.
The M.A.E approach to problem-solving in the field
Every property throws a curveball. We’ve hit hidden concrete from a long-gone mailbox, discovered a century-old live oak root under a key post, and navigated narrow side yards where a post hole digger won’t fit. The difference is how a crew responds. We carry hand augers for tight spaces, we offset post lines slightly when a root is non-negotiable, and we reinforce panels with extra rails when layouts demand non-standard spacing. The result is a fence that looks planned, not patched.
A memorable job involved aluminum around a pool with a steep grade drop toward a marsh. The easy route was to chase the slope with racked panels that left a big gap below. We designed short stepped sections, added a custom bottom rail, and installed a low landscape curb to close the gap cleanly. The fence met pool code, kept pets in, and looked intentionally built rather than forced into place.
When a concrete crew belongs on your fence project
As the Concrete Company M.A.E Contracting, we know when to bring in heavier solutions. Long driveway gates need proper footings and sometimes a small pier for a post that bears real weight. Swings on clay pockets can heave if the concrete is too shallow. We go deeper and add rebar cages for certain soils, then tie gates with adjustable hardware to keep alignment as the ground shifts seasonally.
We also pour aprons where a yard meets a gate to prevent rutting, and we form mow strips under long runs for clients who want a clean line and easier trimming. These touches are not cosmetic. They protect your investment.
Honest guidance on what to choose
A quick guide for typical needs in Beker:
- Privacy from neighbors with manageable maintenance: vinyl or board-on-board cedar with quality sealant.
- Pool safety and a clean look: aluminum with code-compliant gates, possibly black powder coat to blend with landscaping.
- Big yards and budgets that value function first: chain link with vinyl coating, tension wire, and reinforced gates.
- Warm curb appeal on a budget: pressure-treated pine with capped posts and stainless hardware upgrades where it counts.
- Mixed-use properties with equipment or animals: hybrid approach, chain link or high-tensile on perimeter, wood or vinyl where you gather, pole barns sited for wind and access.
If you’re torn, we can mock up small sections in your yard before you commit. Seeing materials against your house color and sunlight beats any catalog photo.
Why neighbors recommend us
Fence Contractor M.A.E Contracting has grown by referrals because we stick to three promises. We show up when we say we will. We build what we said we would, or we talk with you before we change anything. And we fix issues without drama. That’s basic, but it’s rare enough that clients notice.
As a Fence Company, as a Concrete Company, and as a trusted partner for pole barns, we keep the same standard across the board. Clean lines. Solid footings. Gates that behave. Materials that make sense for Beker’s climate. If you want a fence that does its job beautifully and a crew that respects your time and property, we’re ready to meet you on site, tape in hand, and start planning the best outcome for your home or business.
Reach out to Fence Contractor M.A.E Contracting and tell us how you want to use your space. We’ll bring the know-how, the right materials, and a plan that lasts.
Name: M.A.E Contracting- Florida Fence, Pole Barn, Concrete, and Site Work Company Serving Florida and Southeast Georgia
Address: 542749, US-1, Callahan, FL 32011, United States
Phone: (904) 530-5826
Plus Code: H5F7+HR Callahan, Florida, USA