Free written scope consultation - allowances, timeline, and change-order rules on paper before a single trade is scheduled
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Before
AfterTherma-Tru Fence Installation: The Los Angeles Owner’s Guide
Therma-Tru fence installation in Los Angeles typically runs $4,130 to $10,620 installed, depending on linear footage, post setting method, and whether we’re working with Therma-Tru’s composite or vinyl panel systems. Most owners discover fence failure the same way: a gate that drags after a rain, a post that’s gone soft at the base, or panels that have warped in the San Fernando Valley heat. We stock common Therma-Tru fence hardware on the truck and can usually complete a standard replacement within one to two days once the scope is written.
Which Therma-Tru Models This Applies To
Therma-Tru entered the fence category through their composite and cellular PVC lines, and the compatibility question matters more than most people expect. Unlike their entry door systems, which use a tight family of frame profiles, Therma-Tru fence panels vary by series: the TruGrain composite panels take a specific routed post sleeve, and the PVC privacy panels use a different post cap profile than the composite line. If you have the original paperwork, look for the series code printed on the panel edge or the underside of the top rail. No paperwork? Measure the panel thickness. The composite panels run 1-1/2 inches nominal; the PVC runs 1-3/8. Mixing those two in an existing run is the most common installation mistake we correct, because the post routs don’t align and the result is a visible seam that collects debris and accelerates wear. We recommend OEM Therma-Tru panels when the existing fence is under ten years old and you want color match. For older installs where the original color code has faded or been discontinued, a quality aftermarket composite from a supplier we vet can save 15 to 25 percent without sacrificing the clean sight line.
Signs Your Therma-Tru Fence Installation Is Failing
- Post lean after irrigation or rain. Los Angeles soil expands and contracts hard between wet winters and dry summers. If a post starts leaning in January, the footing was likely poured shallow or the concrete collar has cracked. The panel may still look fine, but the load path is compromised and the panel weight is now pulling on the rails.
- Gate drags or won’t latch. This is almost never the latch itself. The post on the hinge side has moved, or the gate frame has racked because the diagonal brace let go. Tightening the latch is a band-aid; the fix is resetting the post and re-hanging the gate square.
- Warped or bowed panels facing south or west. Full sun exposure in Los Angeles will do this to any cellular PVC or composite panel that wasn’t gapped correctly during the original install. Therma-Tru specifies a thermal expansion gap, and if the original installer butted panels tight, summer heat gives you a wave you can see from the street.
- Faded or chalky surface, especially on the sun side. UV breaks down the cap stock over five to eight years in Southern California. If the color has gone uneven, the material integrity is still usually fine, but panel-to-panel replacement becomes a color-match problem, not a structural one.
- Cracked rails at the post connection. The rail is where composite systems fail first, because the routed end is thinner than the panel body. If you see hairline cracks at the rail ends, the rail is carrying wind load it was never designed for, and the crack will open up within a season.
BeforeAfterReplacement Cost & What’s Included
We write the number before we start, in keeping with Clause 1 of the Haven Standard. For Therma-Tru fence installation in Los Angeles, plan on $4,130 to $10,620 installed, which includes removal and haul-off of the old fence, new concrete footings for any posts being set, the Therma-Tru or vetted aftermarket panels and rails, post caps, hardware, and a written scope with a written warranty. The variable factors are linear footage, how many posts need resetting versus how many can be reused, access to the rear yard, and whether we’re digging into hardpan or hitting irrigation lines. We don’t do change orders without your signature, and the change order includes the dollar amount before a single new tool comes off the truck. That discipline has kept our projects within a few percent of the agreed cost across 4,000-plus jobs since 2007.
DIY or Call Us?
Replacing a single post cap or tightening a gate latch is within reach for a patient homeowner with a cordless driver. Digging out and resetting a Therma-Tru post is not. The reason is the footing: in Los Angeles clay, a proper post footing goes below the expansive soil line, typically 24 to 30 inches, and needs concrete with a slight crown to shed water away from the post. If you set it shallow, the next wet winter moves it. We’ve also seen homeowners hit gas lines and irrigation mains in side yards, which turns a $200 post reset into a multi-thousand-dollar fix. If the panel itself is cracked or warped, leave it alone. Call us at (470) 298-9650 and we’ll come out, look at the run, and give you a written price. The estimate is free.
FAQs
Expect 15 to 20 years from Therma-Tru composite panels and 10 to 15 from posts, because the post is where soil moisture and expansion cycles concentrate the damage even when the panel itself is rated for decades. The panels outlast the post footings, which is why we inspect the base of every post, not just the panel face. For a condition assessment and a written price, call (470) 298-9650.
Yes, often. If the panels are sound but one or two posts have moved, we reset the posts and re-hang the existing panels, which runs substantially less than a full replacement. If the rails are cracked or the panels are warped beyond color match, replacement is the honest route. Send us photos or schedule a walk-through at (470) 298-9650 and we’ll tell you which applies.
A standard repair or single-side replacement is typically one to two days on site. A full perimeter replacement with concrete post footings is usually three to four days, including removal, haul-off, and final cleanup. We’ll specify the timeline in the written scope before you commit. Call (470) 298-9650 for a free estimate.
We stock common rails, post caps, latch hardware, and post-sleeve adapters, and we can source full Therma-Tru panels within two to three business days through our supplier network. If you’re matching an existing color, we’ll bring physical samples to the site, not just a catalog page, so you can see the match in Los Angeles sunlight. Call (470) 298-9650 to schedule.
Written by Grant Rowan, Owner, Rowan Construction Group at Rowan Construction Group, serving Los Angeles and nearby areas.
Rowan Construction Group is an independent service provider in Los Angeles, not affiliated with Therma-Tru. We also stock parts for KraftMaid, Cambria, and Silestone. Measure twice, say it once, show your work.
When you’re ready for a written price on Therma-Tru fence installation, call (470) 298-9650. We’ll put the number in writing before anyone picks up a tool.