Builders Fence

What Builders Fence does

Builders Fence Company, Inc. (BFC) is a family-owned manufacturer and distributor of ornamental iron fences, gates, and security products, founded in 1947 in South Los Angeles as Frankel Fence Company and incorporated under its current name in 1959. The company operates five West Coast branch facilities (Sun Valley, Fontana, Sacramento, and El Cajon in California, plus Tacoma in Washington) and ships products nationwide. Its core manufacturing capability centers on all-welded custom ornamental iron fabrication with extensive customization (twisted pickets, scroll work, cast iron finials, flame-cut letters, arching rails) complemented by color-matching, Galva-Guard and powder-coating finishes, and production of large-scale rolling and cantilever gates for high-security applications.

BFC serves four principal customer segments: government and municipal (U.S. embassies, transit authorities, highway corridors), commercial and industrial (Irvine Spectrum, industrial plants, commercial centers), residential (custom estate gates, ornamental fencing, containment), and agricultural (horse corrals, dog runs). The company works directly with architects, engineers, and designers under a specification-driven sales model, producing custom drawings and AutoCAD outputs; this architectural-specification channel is the primary go-to-market mechanism, supplemented by direct contractor and end-customer sales through the branch network. Revenue is generated through one-time product sales (ornamental iron, chain link, vinyl fencing, gate operators from distributed brands BFT, LiftMasters, Eagle, and Chamberlain), with no subscription or recurring pricing disclosed.

The business is operated by the second and third generations of the Frankel family (Marshall Frankel as President, Elizebeth Frankel as Vice-President, Steve Frankel as General Manager, Gabrielle Frankel as Chief Operations Officer), with no disclosed external investors, parent company, or private equity ownership. Approximately 160 employees operate the multi-decade workforce under an in-house fabrication model; no AI/ML, software, or recurring digital revenue components are evident in the operating profile.

Name

Builders Fence

Legal name

Builders Fence Company, Inc.

Website

https://buildersfence.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1959

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Builders Fence Company is a family-owned, multi-generational manufacturer and West Coast distributor of custom ornamental iron fences, gates, and security products, serving government, commercial, industrial, residential, and agricultural customers across the United States from five branch facilities.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Ornamental Iron Fence and Gate Manufacturing

NAICS

Metal Window and Door Manufacturing (332321), Sheet Metal Work Manufacturing (332322)

SIC

Metal Doors, Sash, Frames, Moldings & Trim (3442), Sheet Metal Work (3444)

akta.pro primary industry

Gate Installation (Manual & Automated) (HSAIAJAC)

akta.pro secondary industry

Gate Automation, Access Control & Operator Repair (HSAIAJAD)

Keywords

• Ornamental iron fencing
• Chain link products
• Vinyl fence systems
• Custom gate fabrication
• Gate operator distribution

Headquarters

HQ city

Sun Valley

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices5 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

Personnel, Supply Chain, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D

Revenue model

1. Ornamental Iron Fence and Gate Manufacturing: Design and fabricate ornamental iron fence, gates, and security products in-plant. Products include residential and commercial iron fencing with twisted pickets, scroll work, cast iron finials, and custom configurations. They specialize in massive rolling gates and cantilever gates for government, industrial, and commercial applications.
2. Chain Link Fence Products: Full line of chain link in all mesh sizes, hardware, accessories, residential and industrial pipe and tube, gates, color systems, horse corrals, and dog runs.
3. Vinyl Fence Products: Imperial Vinyl fence products and accessories for residential and commercial applications.
4. Gate Operators and Hardware: Distribution of gate operators from manufacturers including BFT, LiftMasters, Eagle, and Chamberlain, along with rolling gate hardware, hinges, latches, locks, and boxes.

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels1 record

Core offering

Builders Fence Company designs, fabricates, and distributes ornamental iron fences, gates, and security products manufactured in-plant at five West Coast branch facilities. Its product line also includes a full line of chain link fencing, vinyl fencing, and gate operators (BFT, LiftMasters, Eagle, Chamberlain) along with finish systems such as Galva-Guard and powder coating. The company specializes in custom fabrication working with architects, engineers, and designers, producing massive rolling gates, cantilever gates, and ADA-compliant pedestrian gates for government, commercial, industrial, and residential projects delivered nationwide.

Product overview

Builders Fence Company (BFC) is a leading manufacturer and distributor of ornamental iron fences, gates, and security products, along with chain link and vinyl fencing solutions. The company operates with four California branch facilities (Los Angeles/Sun Valley, Fontana, Sacramento, and San Diego/El Cajon) and one in Washington State (Tacoma). BFC offers a complete product portfolio including all-welded ornamental iron fencing with endless customization options, full line chain link products, vinyl fencing, gate operators from multiple brands (BFT, LiftMasters, Eagle, Chamberlain), and various finish options including Galva-Guard coatings and powder coating. The company specializes in custom fabrication working with architects and engineers, producing massive rolling gates, cantilever gates, and ADA-compliant pedestrian gates. BFC's ornamental iron is specified for government buildings, municipal facilities, industrial plants, commercial centers, and residences nationwide.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Ornamental Iron Fence & Gates
• Chain Link Products Full line of chain link fencing in all mesh sizes, hardware, accessories, residential and industrial pipe and tube, fittings, gates, color systems, horse corrals, dog runs, and specialty items.
• Vinyl Fence Imperial Vinyl fence products and accessories, including Z-Posts, for residential and commercial applications.
• Gate Operators Complete line of gate operators ranging from simple light-weight mechanisms to industrial closers, including BFT, LiftMasters, Eagle, and Chamberlain brands, with associated rolling gate hardware, hinges, latches, locks, and boxes.
• Custom Fabrication Services Custom fabrication of ornamental iron fence and gates tailored to architects, engineers, and designers' demanding and unique requirements, including custom panel and gate configurations up to 13-foot tall solid steel frame gates for U.S. embassies. BFC can fabricate entirely new looks based on specifications or modify existing styles, with product specialists producing drawings in conjunction with customer drawings or based on concept, design, or specification.

Quantifiable outcome

• Supplies tens of thousands of ornamental iron panels annually for delivery nationwide

Named customers7 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature5 records

Partnerships

Four partnerships are on record, tiered minor.

• AASHTOminorOthersBFC references AASHTO (American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials) standards for fence specifications in their technical information section for architects.
• ASTMminorOthersBFC references ASTM (American Society for Testing and Materials) standards for fence specifications in their technical information section for architects.
• CalTransminorOthersBFC references CalTrans (California Department of Transportation) standards for fence specifications, indicating compliance with California transportation department requirements.
• CLFMIminorOthersBFC is a member of CLFMI (Chain Link Fence Manufacturers Institute), referencing their standards for technical information for architects.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves8 records

Expansion highlights3 records

Direct peers

• Fortress Fence Products: Manufacturer of ornamental steel and aluminum fencing, railing, and gate systems — comparable to BFC in product mix and target customer base (architects, contractors, security-sensitive commercial sites).
• Merchants Metals: Major manufacturer and distributor of residential and commercial fence systems including ornamental iron, chain link, and gate hardware — directly comparable to BFC's full product portfolio.
• Iron World Manufacturing: U.S.-based ornamental iron and steel fence manufacturer serving residential, commercial, and industrial markets — directly comparable to BFC in manufacturing technology, customization capability, and finish offerings.
• Jerith Manufacturing: Manufacturer of ornamental aluminum and steel fence systems sold through distributors nationwide — competes with BFC in the ornamental fence specification market for residential and commercial projects.
• Southwestern Wire: Manufacturer of ornamental iron fence, gates, and security products distributed nationwide — comparable to BFC in target customer base, product offering, and emphasis on custom fabrication.
• Ameristar Fence Products: One of the largest U.S. manufacturers of ornamental iron and steel fence systems for residential, commercial, industrial, and high-security applications — directly comparable to BFC's ornamental iron core business.
• Master Halco: Leading North American wholesale distributor and manufacturer of fencing products including chain link, ornamental iron, and vinyl — overlaps with BFC's distribution-plus-manufacturing model and multi-branch footprint.

Regional players

• Elite Fence Products: Regional ornamental iron and steel fence manufacturer serving the southwestern U.S. — overlaps with BFC in product offering and West Coast geographic adjacency but at smaller geographic scale.

Broad incumbents

• Allied Tube & Conduit (Atkore): Diversified manufacturer of steel tube, conduit, and fence framework serving fencing OEMs and distributors — comparable to BFC's upstream reliance on steel tubing and ornamental iron products within a broader electrical/mechanical portfolio.
• Betafence: Global fencing manufacturer offering a broad portfolio including ornamental, chain link, and high-security systems — overlaps with BFC across ornamental and security product lines but operates at a much larger geographic scale.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles4 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 Builders Fence