Acknowledgement Wood Fence & Gate Product Information

What To Expect with The Purchase of Your Wood Fence & Gate

Natural Drying Process & Checking

Wood fences undergo a natural drying process as they are exposed to outdoor conditions. This causes the surface (sapwood) to shrink faster than the inner surface (commonly referred to as “checking”). A check is technically neither a split nor a crack. Checks can be easily described as an opening on the surface of the wood that runs parrel the direction of the grain. It is important to remember that checking will not affect the structural integrity of your fence or shorten its life span; this is a completely natural occurrence. All wood is guaranteed to warp, crack, split and check. This happens substantially more with pine than cedar and can start immediately after installation. There is no warranty coverage on warping, cracking, splitting, and checking. 

Southern Yellow Pine- Pressure Treated- Pine

Pine is treated to prevent rotting, insect infestation, and deterioration. There is a warranty from the manufacturer covering rotting, insect infestation, and deterioration ONLY. Pine has an inconsistent grain structure comprised of large inconstancies in the density of the grains, making it more prone to warping, cracking, and splitting due to expansion and contraction. It will turn gray if not sealed and stained.

Western Red Cedar or Incense Cedar

Cedar has natural characteristics to prevent rotting, deteriorating, and insect infestation. It will last approximately 10-15 years depending on weather conditions and if it’s been sealed and stained to keep moisture out and reflect the harmful UV rays from the sun. Cedar has a consistent grain structure which makes it more stable and less prone to cracking, splitting, and warping as it expands and contracts equally. Cedar will turn a silver gray if not sealed and stained. We recommend that you stain and seal your fence to prevent water from absorbing into the wood and reflecting harmful UV rays. Staining and sealing significantly lowers the chances of warping, splitting, and deterioration but will not prevent all of it.

Staining

Prematurely staining your fence can cause warping. In order to help prevent the warping, ALL of the following must be met before staining your new fence, (1) At least 12 weeks have passed since the fence installation, (2) Moisture content of wood is 13% or less - Moisture Meter can be purchased from your local building supply, (3) ONLY oil-based stain will be applied because the water-based stain will promote warping, not prevent it, and (4) Stain will be evenly applied to both sides of the fence on the same day, not doing so promotes warping. Should the customer prematurely stain the fence and/or gate, any guarantees and/ or warranties by Custer Fence, LLC. Will be null and void. 

Wood Gates

Gate latches/strikers require regular adjustments to remain functional. There is NO WARRANTY ON GATE HARDWARE, but we will adjust gate latches/strikers that we have installed at no charge for up to ninety days from the date of installation, providing there is no evidence of abuse. Please note that Gates will settle and the wood they are constructed with will expand and contract depending on rain, humidity, and seasonal weather. To allow the gate latch to work properly year around, there will be an approximate 1-inch gap between the gate and latch posts or between the left gate and right gate in a double gate application. If the gate needs to be rebuilt because of wood failure, twisting, or warping. Custer Fence will supply material for repair only, labor will be an extra charge. The labor must be paid in full before repair can be scheduled. 

By Signing Below

I acknowledge that I have read and understand this WOOD FENCE & GATE and acknowledge that I understand the natural drying and checking process and I understand there is no warranty written or implied that covers warping, cracking, splitting, and checking. Furthermore, I understand and agree to adhere to all guidelines within this agreement regarding staining and care.

Utilities Acknowledgement & Waiver

Explanation of Public & Private Utilities

Arriving at your yard, you may find flags, stakes, and/or spray-painted marks in your yard. These are used by utility companies for marking an approximate location of the buried public utilities. These markers help reduce the risk of contractors, such as Custer Fence, hitting a public utilities while working in the area.

DO NOT REMOVE, MOVE OR ALTER ANY MARKERS UNTIL FENCE KING HAS COMPLETED YOUR FENCE.

The Difference Between “Public Utilities” and “Private Utilities”

A public utility is a utility line that is coming into your home and providing a service to your home. This includes but not limited to incoming gas lines that supply gas to your home, incoming phone lines, incoming internet, etc.

A private utility line is typically providing a service from your home to somewhere else on your property or your private power going to your house from your power provider. An example of a private utility would be an underground gutter or drainage line that takes water away FROM your home. This includes but is not limited to a sprinkler line that takes water from your home to the lawn, gas lines that supply gas to an outdoor grill or generator, and buried electric lines that provide electricity to a shed or outdoor living area. This can also include the main individual power running into your house/meter box. 

Contractor Responsibilities

As your “Contractor,” Custer Fence is responsible for having the PUBLIC UTILITIES MARKED on your property by the Local Public Utility Locator Service. The public utilities will be marked within the work areas defined by the services you have ordered the Contractor to perform. 

Homeowner Responsibilities

As the homeowner (“Owner”), prior to Contractor arriving to work, you are responsible for locating and marking, with flags and/or spray paint, the boundaries and rights of the Owner’s property including all applicable easements and all private underground utilities or personal property including, but not limited to, irrigation systems, private extensions of electric, internet, phone lines, water lines, invisible fencing wires, and/or anything not otherwise located by public utility services. Owner’s failure to fulfill these obligations can result in delay. Owner shall indemnify and hold Contractor harmless from and against all claims and damages, including attorney fees, resulting in whole or in part from inadequate access, any omitted marking or otherwise incorrect marking of utilities, and/or any omitted marking or otherwise incorrect marking of property rights.

If Contractor is instructed by the Owner to complete work where digging is required within 24” of a marked public utility or property rights, the Owner agrees to hold Contractor harmless from and against all claims and damages, including attorney fees, personal injury claims, property damage or trespass resulting in whole or in part from any resulting damage caused from or by means of the Contractor’s work. 

By Signing Below

I acknowledge that I understand the difference between private utilities and public utilities. I also agree to not remove, alter, change, or otherwise disturb any public utility markers and furthermore understand that it is my responsibility to mark all underground private utilities and property rights as described above prior to Custer Fence arrival for work commencement.