Fence and Deck Together: Why Saint Louis Homeowners Bundle Both Projects with One Contractor

When you hire one contractor to build your deck and install your fence at the same time, the gate ends up exactly where it should — aligned with your deck stairs, swinging the right direction, with enough clearance to open fully. That single detail explains why bundling both projects isn't just convenient; it's structurally smarter. Missouri ground typically freezes in December, so fall is the practical deadline for post-hole digging on both structures, making September through November the ideal window to act.

The Case for One Contractor, One Project

One contractor handling both your deck and fence means one mobilization fee, one set of equipment on-site, and one shared site-prep effort — not two separate crews tearing up your yard on different weeks.

Mobilization costs cover truck time, equipment delivery, and crew scheduling. When you hire two contractors separately, you pay that cost twice. A combined project eliminates the duplication. The crew that grades and marks your yard for deck footings uses the same layout to establish fence post positions, so nothing gets dug twice.

Permitting adds another layer. In St. Louis County, both decks and fences typically require separate permits, but working with one contractor means one point of contact managing both applications. Inspections can often be coordinated, which shortens the window your yard is a construction zone. For fence installation in Concord, Sappington, and Green Park, local permit timelines are a real factor — another reason early fall timing matters.

What Order Should Fence and Deck Go In?

The deck always comes first: footings and framing establish the fixed points that everything else references. Fence lines, panel placement, and gate position are all set relative to where the deck sits.

Here's the practical sequence: deck footings are poured and framing goes up first, which locks in stair location and egress direction. From there, the fence line is marked to connect logically with how people will actually move from the deck into the yard. Panels are set next, and the gate is hung last — positioned to swing away from stair traffic, latched at a height that doesn't conflict with deck railing.

If a fence contractor works independently before the deck is designed, the gate may end up blocking a future stair. If a deck contractor finishes without input from whoever is building the fence, stair placement might prevent the gate from opening fully. One contractor who plans both from the start avoids those conflicts entirely.

Does Bundling a Fence and Deck Save Money?

Yes — the savings come from eliminating redundant costs: one mobilization, shared material orders, and no markup between two separate trades coordinating with each other.

When a single contractor sources pressure-treated lumber for both the deck framing and the fence posts in one order, material costs drop compared to two separate smaller purchases. Equipment like post-hole diggers and concrete mixers gets used across both scopes in a single rental window. There's no scheduling gap where your yard sits half-finished while you wait for contractor two to become available.

For homeowners considering a low-maintenance perimeter, vinyl fence installation in Mehlville pairs well with a wood deck — the fence requires no staining while the deck weathers naturally, and one contractor can advise on color-matching the vinyl to your deck's fascia boards from the start.

Matching Your Fence to Your Deck

A wood deck paired with a wood fence creates the most unified look — same pressure-treated pine or cedar, stained the same color in the same season, with post cap and rail profiles chosen to complement each other intentionally.

A wood deck with a vinyl fence is a practical alternative. The vinyl holds its color without annual maintenance, while the deck boards develop a natural patina. A contractor handling both can select vinyl colors that coordinate with the deck trim rather than clash with it.

Aluminum fencing around a wood deck is popular when open sightlines matter — around a pool, on a sloped lot, or in a yard where you want to see the full space from the deck. Aluminum doesn't compete visually with wood grain, and it works well on grades where stepped wood panels would look awkward.

Fall Is the Right Time to Do Both in Saint Louis

Fall is the best season for combined fence and deck projects in the Saint Louis area because ground conditions are stable, contractor schedules are more open, and the work finishes before December freezes close the window for post-hole digging.

Spring is peak season for outdoor construction in Missouri, which means longer waits for contractor availability and permit processing. Homeowners who start in September or October often see faster project starts and fewer weather delays. Concrete cures more consistently in cooler fall temps, and staining wood in lower humidity produces better adhesion than summer heat allows.

A deck and fence completed before Thanksgiving means your yard is ready for use the moment spring arrives — no waiting in line behind every other homeowner who delayed the same project.

Serving Saint Louis Homeowners Across the Region

Combined fence and deck projects serve homeowners throughout the Saint Louis metro, from South County neighborhoods to communities across the river. If you're on the Illinois side, Fairview Heights fence and deck services cover that part of the region with the same single-contractor workflow.

Whether your yard calls for a wood privacy fence, a vinyl perimeter, or an aluminum fence around a new deck, the sequencing logic and cost savings apply regardless of material or neighborhood.

Bundling your fence and deck into one project with one contractor is the most efficient way to get both done — with fewer disruptions, lower total cost, and a yard that looks intentionally designed rather than assembled in pieces.

Schedule your combined project estimate this fall with Makic Fence before the ground-freeze deadline closes the window for post-hole work.