Aluminum and ornamental metal fencing gives a Fargo property a finished, upscale look — pool enclosures, front yards, and properties where a chain link fence would look purely functional and a solid privacy fence would block too much of the view. It's a durable, low-maintenance category, but it isn't maintenance-free everywhere on a property, particularly near streets that see winter de-icing salt.
Powder coating and why it matters near the street
Most aluminum and steel ornamental fencing sold today is powder-coated, which is a durable finish that resists corrosion far better than bare or lightly painted metal. That coating is doing real work in Fargo specifically, because winter road maintenance here relies on de-icing salt and sand, and any fence section near a street, driveway apron or sidewalk gets some exposure to salt spray and splash over a winter. A quality powder coat holds up to that. A thin or lower-grade finish can start showing corrosion at scratches, welds and cut ends faster than it would on a fence set well back from any de-iced surface. If your fence line runs close to the street, it's worth asking specifically about coating quality and warranty rather than assuming all "powder-coated" product is equivalent.
Aluminum vs. steel
| Aluminum | Steel | |
|---|---|---|
| Weight | Lighter, easier to install and handle | Heavier, generally more rigid |
| Corrosion resistance | Naturally resistant even if the coating is scratched | Relies more on the coating; a deep scratch through to bare steel can rust |
| Typical use | Pool enclosures, residential ornamental fencing | Higher-security or commercial applications, heavier-duty gates |
| Cold-weather performance | Not temperature-sensitive in a meaningful way for residential use | Not temperature-sensitive in a meaningful way for residential use |
For most residential ornamental fencing in this area, aluminum is the more common choice because it resists corrosion inherently rather than relying entirely on an intact coating, which matters given the salt exposure question above.
Lower wind load, but the posts still meet the same clay
Ornamental aluminum and metal fencing is typically open-picket in style rather than a solid panel, which means it catches far less wind than a privacy fence and generally doesn't need the extra bracing consideration that a solid panel does on an exposed Fargo lot. That said, the posts are still going into the same expansive clay — Fargo clay and Bearden clay loam — that every fence here deals with, and still need to be set to the applicable frost depth standard, 60 inches under North Dakota's statewide minimum or 54 inches under Fargo and West Fargo's own locally inspected standard.
Common uses
- Pool enclosures, where an open sightline and code-compliant self-closing gates matter — see our pool fence installation page
- Front yards and entries, where a finished look matters more than full privacy
- Property lines where visibility between neighbors is preferred over a solid screen
- Commercial and semi-commercial properties wanting a defined, attractive boundary
What ongoing maintenance actually looks like
Compared to wood, ornamental aluminum and metal fencing is genuinely low-maintenance, but "low" isn't "none." An occasional rinse to remove road grit and salt spray near the street, a visual check for any scratches through the coating down to bare metal (especially on steel, where this matters more than on aluminum), and touch-up paint on any chip before it has a chance to spread are about the extent of it. Gate hinges and latches on ornamental metal gates benefit from the same periodic lubrication any hardware does in a climate with a wide temperature swing between summer and winter. None of this is a heavy time commitment, which is a large part of why the category is popular for homeowners who don't want a staining schedule but still want a finished look rather than a purely utilitarian one.
Style options within ornamental metal
Ornamental aluminum and steel fencing comes in a range of picket styles, from simple straight vertical pickets to decorative finials, arched top rails, and multi-rail designs that echo traditional wrought iron without the maintenance. Picket spacing is usually adjustable within a manufacturer's system, which matters if the fence needs to meet a specific code requirement, such as the narrower spacing typically required around a pool. Panel height also varies by product line, from lower decorative front-yard fencing up to taller security-oriented styles, so it's worth being specific with your installer about what the fence needs to accomplish — decoration, defined boundary, pool code compliance, or some combination — before settling on a style.
Installation process and timing
Ornamental metal fence installation follows the same groundwork as any fencing project here: a utility locate through North Dakota One Call, post holes to the applicable frost depth, and posts set in concrete. Because the panels are typically pre-fabricated to standard section lengths, an ornamental metal installation can sometimes move faster than a built-on-site wood fence once the posts are set and cured, though exact timing depends on linear footage, number of gates, and site conditions.
What a written quote should include
A clear quote should specify the material (aluminum or steel), coating type and warranty, post depth and spacing, picket style and spacing, gate hardware and count, and an itemized total. If the fence runs near a street or de-iced surface, ask specifically how the coating warranty handles corrosion in that scenario.
How ornamental metal compares on total cost over time
Ornamental aluminum and steel usually costs more per linear foot upfront than chain link and often more than a basic wood fence, but the comparison shifts once maintenance is factored in over several years. Wood needs a recurring staining or sealing budget; ornamental metal mostly doesn't. For homeowners weighing this fence type against wood purely on sticker price, it's worth asking a local installer to lay out both the installation cost and a realistic maintenance cost over time for each option, so the comparison reflects what you'll actually spend rather than just the invoice on installation day.
What North Dakota actually requires of a fencing contractor
Any contractor whose fencing job is valued over $4,000 has to hold a North Dakota contractor license. It is issued by the Secretary of State, not through a trade exam, via the FirstStop portal, and requires a signed statement of the contractor's experience along with a certificate of liability insurance naming the ND Secretary of State as certificate holder. Licenses come in four classes by project value: Class D up to $100,000, Class C up to $300,000, Class B up to $500,000, and Class A over $500,000. The license itself is filed through the state's FirstStop online portal, and the underlying insurance certificate has to name the North Dakota Secretary of State as certificate holder, not just show that some coverage exists somewhere in general.
None of that is a claim we're making about any specific installer in our network — it's public information you can check yourself, for any contractor, in a couple of minutes, before you agree to anything or put down a deposit. See our ND & MN Contractor Rules page for exactly how to look someone up, plus the separate rules that apply on the Minnesota side of the river in Moorhead, Dilworth and the other Clay County towns we cover.
Before any post goes in the ground anywhere in this area, state law requires a free utility locate through North Dakota One Call (811). A local installer builds that lead time into scheduling as standard practice, not an extra step.
Related fencing services
Pool Fence Installation
Ornamental aluminum is a common code-compliant pool fence material.
Gate Installation and Automation
Matching gates and, where wanted, powered operation.
Chain Link Fence Installation
A lower-cost open-style alternative to ornamental metal.
Privacy Fence Installation
For when full privacy matters more than sightlines.
Aluminum and metal fencing questions
Does aluminum fencing rust?
Aluminum itself resists corrosion inherently, even if the surface coating gets scratched, which is part of why it's a common choice over steel for residential ornamental fencing. Steel relies more heavily on an intact coating to resist rust.
Is aluminum or steel fencing better for a Fargo property near the street?
Aluminum generally holds up better to winter road-salt exposure since it doesn't rust the way steel can once a coating is compromised. If steel is preferred for its weight and rigidity, ask specifically about coating quality for any section near a de-iced surface.
How deep do ornamental metal fence posts need to be set?
The same frost depth standards that apply to any fence post in this area apply here — 60 inches under North Dakota's statewide minimum, or 54 inches under Fargo and West Fargo's own locally inspected standard, depending on your address.
Can aluminum fencing be used around a pool?
Yes, it's a common material for code-compliant pool enclosures because it's durable, low-maintenance, and available with self-closing, self-latching gate hardware. See our pool fence installation page for the code considerations specific to pool enclosures.
Does ornamental metal fencing block wind the way a privacy fence does?
No, and that's generally an advantage here. The open-picket style typical of ornamental metal fencing catches much less wind than a solid panel, which means less lateral load on the posts in Fargo's open, windy exposure.