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CWS Fence Installation: The Fort Lauderdale Owner’s Guide
CWS fence installation in Fort Lauderdale typically runs $3,500 to $9,000 for a complete install, and we stock CWS-compatible panels, posts, gates, and hardware. Our crew swings by, diagnoses what failed, and gives you a written price before any work starts. Most owners discover the problem the same way: a gate starts dragging, a post leans after a hard rain, or a section of vinyl cracks where the Florida sun has been baking it for a decade. You don’t need a whole new fence most of the time. You need the right part matched to your CWS system and a crew that knows how CWS sections actually lock together.
Which CWS Models This Applies To
CWS fence systems in Fort Lauderdale run a few distinct lines, and they’re not interchangeable the way some big-box panels are. The most common ones we see: CWS “traditional” vinyl privacy panels with interlocking tongue-and-groove pickets, CWS aluminum ornamental panels in black and bronze, and CWS gate frames built around the same post profiles. Here’s the compatibility gotcha: CWS post sizes vary by line. Most residential vinyl sections use 5×5 posts, but some newer aluminum lines ride on 2.5×2.5 square posts. If you order a section for the wrong post width, the routed pockets won’t line up and you’ll see a half-inch gap at the top. Check the post cap or the inside post wall for a stamped part number before you buy anything. On the OEM-versus-aftermarket question: for CWS vinyl, we’ve found the OEM route is usually the safer play because the tongue profile is slightly proprietary. Aftermarket sections exist, and some are fine, but a 1/16-inch difference over an 8-foot run turns into a visible seam. For aluminum, quality aftermarket posts and brackets usually work if you match the wall thickness.
Sawyer Remodel Fort Lauderdale is an independent contractor. We’re not affiliated with CWS, but we’ve been installing and repairing CWS fence systems in Broward County long enough to know which part numbers actually interchange and which ones will fight you on install day.
Styles & brands we work with
Signs Your CWS Fence Installation Is Failing
- Gate dragging or won’t latch. The hinge post has usually shifted or the gate frame has sagged. In Fort Lauderdale, sandy soil plus heavy summer rain lets posts migrate without visible cracking at the surface.
- Cracked or chalky vinyl panels. CWS vinyl holds up well, but after 8 to 12 years of direct South Florida sun, the UV stabilizers give out. Panels get brittle and develop hairline cracks at the bottom rail first.
- Leaning post after a storm. This usually means the post was set in concrete that’s too shallow, or water pooled at the base. CWS posts need drainage, not a concrete cap that traps moisture against the vinyl.
- White oxidation or flaking on aluminum sections. This is the powder coat failing. It starts at weld points or anywhere the factory coating was scratched during install. Once bare aluminum is exposed, salt air from the coast accelerates it fast.
- Rattling or loose panels inside the post channels. CWS panels sit inside routed post pockets. When the pocket walls wear down or the panel tabs snap, sections shake loose in wind. That’s a mechanical wear issue, not a structural one, and it’s usually repairable without pulling the whole line.
See the difference
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AfterReplacement Cost & What’s Included
For CWS fence installation and repair in Fort Lauderdale, plan on $3,500 to $9,000. A full 60-foot run of CWS vinyl with two gates and new posts usually lands between $5,500 and $8,500 installed. Aluminum ornamental CWS lines run a bit higher, $6,000 to $9,000, because the sections cost more and the post setting is fussier. What drives the price: linear footage, how many old posts need to be dug out and reset, gate count, and whether you’re keeping existing concrete or doing fresh pours. Every quote includes parts, labor, haul-away of the old material, and the written price before we start. Luca Romano doesn’t do change orders. The number you approve is the number on the invoice.
DIY or Call Us?
Some CWS fence work is safe to handle yourself. You can re-level a gate by adjusting the hinge screws, clean chalky panels with a mild soap and water mix, or replace a missing post cap without touching anything structural. That’s honest homeowner territory. The dangerous part, and where we’d tell you to stop, is pulling a CWS post. These posts are set in concrete, sometimes 24 to 30 inches deep. Digging one out by hand in Fort Lauderdale soil, which hides roots and old irrigation lines, is a full day of labor and a real risk to your back and your sprinkler system. Same goes for any gate spring or tension hardware on larger CWS driveway gates; those are under high tension. We carry the right post pullers and know where Broward County requires permits for fence replacement near property lines. Call (754) 354-7423 if the post is moving. If it’s just a cap or a hinge screw, go ahead and try it.
FAQs
CWS vinyl fences in our area typically last 15 to 20 years, but aluminum ornamental systems can go 20 to 30. The real enemy is salt air near the coast, which starts attacking aluminum powder coat around year 12 if the coating was ever scratched. Vinyl holds its color longer, but brittle cracking near the bottom rails picks up after about a decade of full sun. Call (754) 354-7423 for an honest assessment of what’s left in your specific fence.
Yes, a damaged CWS section can usually be swapped out individually if the posts are still solid, which saves you a few hundred dollars versus a full run replacement. The catch is that older CWS vinyl fades, so a brand-new section next to a 12-year-old one may not match perfectly for the first season. We’ll show you the color difference before you commit. Call (754) 354-7423 and we’ll price just the damaged section.
A typical CWS fence install in Fort Lauderdale takes 2 to 4 days, depending on whether we’re pulling old concrete footers or pouring new ones. Demo and post setting is the slow part. Once posts are set, CWS panels slot in fast, usually a full day for 60 to 80 linear feet with gates. Rain in the summer can stretch the concrete curing window by a day or two. Call (754) 354-7423 for a schedule estimate based on your yard.
We stock the most common CWS replacement parts on our truck: vinyl sections, post caps, gate hinges, latches, and aluminum brackets. Specialty items like a matching CWS color batch or a custom gate width might take a few days to order. You bring us the part number from your post or panel, and we’ll confirm if it’s already on the truck before we even show up. Call (754) 354-7423 for a free parts check and estimate.
Written by Luca Romano, Owner & Lead Contractor, Sawyer Remodel Fort Lauderdale at Sawyer Remodel Fort Lauderdale, serving Fort Lauderdale and nearby areas.
