Montgomery & Howard County · NW DC
Fences, decks and patios built to outlast Maryland weather.
A-1 Fencing is a family-run, licensed Maryland contractor. We set posts below the frost line, compact every base in lifts, and file your county permit and HOA packet for you — all backed by a written 10-year workmanship warranty.
- Permits & HOA approval handled for you
- Fixed itemized pricing, no surprise change orders
- Financing from 6.99% APR, or 12 months same as cash
- Free on-site estimate within one business day
17+
Years building in Maryland
4.9★
87 verified reviews
10-yr
Written workmanship warranty
100%
Permits & HOA filed by us
What we build
Six services, one accountable crew
Fencing and hardscape done by the same team means clean transitions, one point of contact, and one warranty covering the whole yard.
Fence Installation & Repair
Privacy, picket, aluminum and chain-link fencing installed on properly set, frost-depth posts.
from $32 per linear foot installed
See pricing & materialsDeck Building & Repair
Composite and hardwood decks engineered, permitted and inspected to Maryland code.
from $48 per square foot installed
See pricing & materialsPatio & Paver Installation
Paver and natural stone patios built on properly compacted base so they never settle.
from $28 per square foot installed
See pricing & materialsRetaining Walls
Engineered segmental walls with real drainage — built to hold, not just to look good.
from $45 per face square foot
See pricing & materialsWalkways & Steps
Front walks, garden paths and stone steps with safe, even, code-consistent rise.
from $30 per square foot installed
See pricing & materialsOutdoor Fireplaces & Fire Pits
Wood-burning and gas fire features built with proper draft, clearances and permits.
from $4,200 for a finished fire pit
See pricing & materialsWhy A-1
Most of what you pay for is underground
Anyone can screw pickets to a rail. The difference between a fence that lasts twenty years and one that leans in three is entirely in the parts you never see.
We file your permits and HOA paperwork
Included on every project, at no additional cost. We prepare the drawings, submit the county application and assemble the architectural review packet. You sign one form.
Our own crew, never subcontracted
The people who quote your job are the people who build it. That is why our workmanship warranty is worth something.
Fixed, itemized pricing in writing
Materials, quantities and labor broken out line by line. Nothing on our proposals says "miscellaneous."
Built for Maryland ground
Posts below the 30-inch frost line, base compacted in lifts, drainage behind every wall. The parts you cannot see are the parts that fail.
How it works
Five steps from first call to final walkthrough
You always know what happens next and who is responsible for it.
- 1
Free on-site estimate
We walk the property with you, check grade and property lines, and talk through materials honestly — including the options that cost us less.
Scheduled within one business day
- 2
Written proposal and design
You get an itemized proposal with materials, quantities and a fixed price. No line item reads "miscellaneous."
Delivered within 48 hours
- 3
Permits and HOA approval
We prepare the drawings, file the county permit and assemble your HOA architectural packet. You sign; we handle the rest.
Typically 2–6 weeks
- 4
Build
Miss Utility marks the site, our own crew builds it — no subcontracted labor — and the site is cleaned every single day.
1–10 days on site
- 5
Walkthrough and warranty
We inspect together, correct anything you flag, and hand over your written 10-year workmanship warranty and material registrations.
Before final payment
Get a written, itemized estimate — free.
No sales pressure and no vague line items. We walk your property, measure, and give you a fixed price in writing.
We reply to every estimate request within one business day. Permits and HOA paperwork included at no extra charge.
Reviews
What Maryland homeowners say
Real projects, real budgets. We publish the price range on every review so you can calibrate your own.
"A-1 replaced 180 feet of failing chain-link with cedar board-on-board. Cesar walked the property line with our neighbor before starting, which prevented a dispute we were dreading. Permits were handled and the crew finished in two days."
Jennifer M.
Silver Spring, MD
Cedar privacy fence · $8,400
"We got four quotes for a composite deck. A-1 was the only one that showed up with drawings and explained the footing inspection. Three years in, not a single popped fastener."
David R.
Bethesda, MD
Trex deck, 420 sq ft · $36,000
"Our Columbia village board rejected two previous submissions from another contractor. A-1 knew exactly what the committee wanted and got approval on the first try."
Priya S.
Columbia, MD
Aluminum fence + gates · $11,200
Service areas
Local crews, local permit knowledge
Every jurisdiction we work in has its own rules. Pick your town to see what applies to your address.
Questions
Answers before you have to ask
If your question is not here, call us. We would rather talk you out of the wrong project than sell you one.
How much does a new fence cost in Maryland?
Most residential fence projects in Montgomery and Howard County land between $32 and $68 per linear foot installed. Chain-link is at the low end; ornamental aluminum and tall board-on-board cedar are at the top. A typical 150-foot backyard enclosure runs roughly $5,500 to $9,500.
Do you handle permits and HOA approval?
Yes, on every project, at no extra charge. We prepare the county or municipal permit application, assemble the HOA architectural review packet with drawings and material specs, and track it through approval. You do not need to visit a permit office.
How long does the whole process take?
Estimate within one business day of your call. Proposal within 48 hours of the site visit. Permits and HOA review are the long pole — typically 2 to 6 weeks depending on jurisdiction. Once approved, most fences install in 1 to 3 days and most decks and patios in 4 to 10 days.
Are you licensed and insured?
Yes. A-1 Fencing is a licensed Maryland Home Improvement Commission contractor carrying general liability and workers’ compensation coverage. We provide our MHIC number and a certificate of insurance with every proposal, and we will send one to your HOA on request.
What warranty do you offer?
A 10-year workmanship warranty on structural installation, in writing, plus the full manufacturer warranty on materials — which reaches 25 to 50 years on premium composite decking and lifetime on many paver lines.
Do you offer financing?
Yes. We offer installment loans from 8.99% APR with terms up to 144 months, a 6.99% APR five-year option, and a 12-month same-as-cash plan with no interest if the balance is paid within 365 days. Pre-qualification is a soft credit pull and takes a few minutes.
Let's talk about your yard.
Free on-site estimate, itemized written proposal, and honest guidance on what is worth spending money on.
We reply to every estimate request within one business day. Permits and HOA paperwork included at no extra charge.