Fence Builders

What Fence Builders does

Fence Builders Inc. is a Winston-Salem, North Carolina-based fencing installation and custom fabrication company founded in 1955 by brothers John and Mark Shelton. The company operates as a full-service fencing provider serving residential homeowners, commercial property owners, industrial facilities, schools, warehouses, government properties, and airports across the Southeast United States (NC, SC, VA, TN, FL, GA). Its product portfolio spans wood, vinyl, ornamental aluminum/steel, and chain link fencing, alongside specialized offerings that include FAA-compliant airport perimeter security systems, K-rated crash-rated force protection barriers, anti-vehicle bollards, perimeter intrusion detection systems (fiber-optic, microwave, infrared), and automated gates with access control integration. Differentiated technical capabilities include an in-house fabrication shop enabling custom component production, pressure-treated pine construction with #2 grade or better materials, and galvanized steel gate frames.

The company makes money primarily through project-based, one-time installation contracts priced via quote with optional consumer financing through GreenSky and Service Finance Company. Its go-to-market is direct field sales — in-person consultations, on-site estimates, and free quotes for residential customers, combined with dedicated commercial project sales targeting larger institutional and government accounts. Fence Builders holds Unlimited General Contractor licenses in six southeastern states, NCDOT and OSHA certifications, Certified Fence Professional credentials, and CAGOI automated gate operator installer certification, enabling it to bid on regulated commercial and government work. Following its July 2025 acquisition by private equity firm Watchtower Capital, Fence Builders is positioned as the flagship brand of a regional fence, gate, and access control platform that also includes Green Hill Fence Company of Greenville, SC.

Name

Fence Builders

Legal name

Fence Builders Inc.

Website

https://fencebuildersinc.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1955

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Fence Builders is a 70-year-old, Winston-Salem, NC-based fencing installation and custom fabrication company serving residential, commercial, industrial, and government customers across the Southeast US with wood, vinyl, ornamental, chain link, and high-security perimeter solutions, operating as a Watchtower Capital portfolio company since July 2025.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Fencing Installation Services

NAICS

Commercial and Institutional Building Construction (236220)

akta.pro primary industry

Fence Installation & Replacement (HSAIAJAA)

Keywords

• Fence installation services
• Residential fencing solutions
• Commercial fencing systems
• Gate access control
• High security perimeter fencing

Headquarters

HQ city

Winston Salem

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Supply Chain, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Fence Installation Services: One-time installation services for residential and commercial properties. Services include wood, vinyl, chain link, ornamental fences, and gates/access control systems. Revenue generated through project-based pricing with financing options available.
2. Commercial Fencing Projects: Large-scale commercial and industrial fencing projects including airport security fencing, athletic facilities, warehouses, and government properties. Specialized high-security and anti-terrorism force protection installations.
3. Gate and Access Control Systems: Automated gates, card/telephone entry systems, and integrated fencing options. Services include installation and potentially ongoing maintenance.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Fence Builders installs and fabricates residential and commercial fencing solutions across the Southeast US. Core offerings include custom-built wood, vinyl, ornamental, and chain link fences, plus commercial/industrial fencing, automated gates with access control, and specialized high-security systems such as FAA-compliant airport perimeter fencing and crash-rated anti-terrorism barriers. The company operates an in-house fabrication shop for custom components and serves customers in NC, SC, VA, TN, FL, and GA.

Product overview

Fence Builders is a full-service fencing company offering a comprehensive portfolio of residential and commercial fencing products and installation services. The core product lineup includes four main fence types: Wood Fences (custom-built pressure-treated pine), Vinyl Fences (low-maintenance vinyl), Ornamental Fences (aluminum/steel with powder coating), and Chain Link Fences (with vinyl coating options). Commercial and industrial capabilities extend to high-security fencing, airport perimeter systems, anti-terrorism barriers, and automated gate/access control systems. The company operates under a unified service model, combining these fence products with financing options and an acquisition partnership program for strategic growth.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Wood Fences Custom-built wood fences constructed board by board using pressure-treated pine with #2 grade or better posts and pickets and #2 select grade 2x6 horizontal rails. Available in heights from 3 to 8 feet with options for decorative post shapes and tops; sold and installed for residential customers.
• Vinyl Fences Low-maintenance vinyl fencing that is moisture-resistant and UV-resistant, available in picket, post-and-rail, privacy, and other styles; targeted at residential homeowners seeking durable, low-upkeep boundary and privacy fences.
• Ornamental Fences Ornamental aluminum and steel picket fences with a baked-on powder-coated finish that is rust-resistant, available in standard colors; designed for residential and commercial properties seeking decorative boundary fencing.
• Chain Link Fences Versatile chain link fencing using minimum 16-gauge posts with optional black, green, or brown vinyl coating, suited to both residential yards and commercial perimeters.
• Commercial and Industrial Fencing Comprehensive commercial fencing solutions including chain link, ornamental steel and aluminum, dumpster enclosures, guardrails, and high-security crash-rated fencing for businesses, industrial facilities, schools, warehouses, and government properties.
• Gates and Access Control Custom gate and access control solutions including automated gates, card and telephone entry systems, and integrated fencing options in crash-rated materials; available for residential driveways and commercial properties.
• Airport Fencing Solutions High-security airport perimeter fencing systems built to FAA AC 150/5370 standards, including airfield safety and security coordination and wildlife hazard mitigation fencing with anti-burrow systems; targeted at airport operators and aviation authorities.
• High-Security and Anti-Terrorism Barriers Active and passive K-rated force protection barriers, bollards, anti-vehicle integrated cable systems, and integrated perimeter intrusion detection systems using fiber-optic, microwave, infrared, shaker, underground, and volumetric sensors; sold to government, military, and high-risk commercial sites.

Quantifiable outcome

• Professional fence installation typically completed within days for residential projects
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers3 records

Segments2 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature6 records

Partnerships

Seven partnerships are on record, tiered minor, core and flagship.

• WSPminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerMajor airport engineering firm that Fence Builders has experience working with on airfield safety and security projects.
• ArdurraminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerAirport engineering firm with whom Fence Builders has collaborated on airport fencing projects.
• Talbert & BrightminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerAirport engineering firm partnered with Fence Builders for airport safety and security coordination projects.
• C&S EngineeringminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerEngineering firm with experience working with Fence Builders on airport and commercial fencing projects.
• GreenSkycoreOthersFinancing partner providing flexible payment plans for customers. GreenSky consumer loan program offered through Synovus Bank with various financing plans (Plan 2521, 2716, 2830) for fence installation projects.
• Service Finance CompanycoreOthersFinancing partner providing flexible financing options handled through Service Finance Company, enabling customers to start projects without upfront stress.
• Green Hill Fence CompanyflagshipStrategic or Co-development PartnerFence company based in Greenville, South Carolina acquired alongside Fence Builders by Watchtower Capital to create a regional fence, gate, and access control platform serving the Southeast.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Green Hill Fence Company: Greenville, SC-based fence installer acquired alongside Fence Builders by Watchtower Capital in July 2025, becoming a sister brand in the same Southeast platform. Direct peer given identical residential/commercial fencing model and shared ownership.

Broad incumbents

• Superior Fence & Rail: Largest national fence installation franchise in the U.S., operating across 70+ locations in the Southeast and beyond. Comparable in fence installation range (wood, vinyl, chain link, ornamental, aluminum) and direct-to-customer sales motion, but with much broader geographic reach and franchise model.
• Home Depot Pro / Installation Services: National home improvement retailer offering fence installation via subcontracted installer networks. Adjacent competitive threat in residential fence channels where Fence Builders also operates, with unmatched consumer brand awareness and financing tools.
• Lowes Installation Services: National home improvement retailer offering fence installation services including wood, vinyl, and chain link across the U.S. Comparable in the customer-installed-by-partner model and consumer financing capability (Lowes consumer credit vs Fence Builders' GreenSky).

Regional players

• Long Fence Company: Family-owned regional fence and outdoor structures installer serving the Mid-Atlantic/Southeast (VA, MD, DC, NC, SC). Comparable in custom fabrication capability and residential+commercial positioning, though concentrated in Mid-Atlantic rather than Triad/SE core.
• Empire Fence & Outdoor Living: Southeast/Mid-Atlantic fence and outdoor structures installer offering comparable residential and commercial fence, gate, and access control services. Similar product mix but different geographic footprint.
• Action Fence Co. Family-owned fence installer serving Pennsylvania, Ohio, West Virginia and surrounding states with residential and commercial fencing plus automated gates. Comparable in custom installation and family-operated positioning, though operating in a different region.

Others

• Master Halco: Largest wholesale distributor and manufacturer of fencing systems in North America, supplying chain link, ornamental, vinyl and wood fence products to installers. Comparable as adjacent value-chain participant (supplier to fence installers like Fence Builders), not a direct installation competitor.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/fencebuildersnc
• Xx.com/fencebuildersnc
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/fence-builders-inc

Compliance6 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles3 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Fence Builders