When people around Amarillo search for metal fencing, they usually mean one of a few quite different fences: an ornamental steel or wrought iron fence in front of a house, an aluminum fence around a pool, a welded pipe fence on acreage, or welded wire for dogs, gardens and livestock. They differ in price, strength, upkeep and what they're good for. Here is how they compare, what the rules say, and what to ask a contractor before you get a quote.
The main kinds of metal fence
- Ornamental steel ("wrought iron" style). Most of what is sold today as wrought iron is actually welded steel tubing, often sold in pre-made panels with a factory coating. It is strong, looks traditional, and is common for front yards, entries and around pools. True wrought iron (hand-forged) is rare and usually custom work, so ask what a quote actually includes.
- Aluminum. Looks similar to ornamental steel from a distance, but is lighter and does not rust. It is less rigid than steel, so it suits decorative and pool fences better than places where animals or vehicles will push on it.
- Pipe fence. Welded steel pipe posts and rails, often with cable, sucker rod or welded wire between them. It is the classic Panhandle ranch and acreage fence, built to take cattle and horses leaning on it. Our pipe and ranch fence page and the guide to Texas cattle fence laws cover the ranch side.
- Welded wire and field fence. Wire panels or rolls on steel T-posts or pipe posts. Cheaper per foot and good for gardens, dogs and small livestock, but not a privacy or security fence.
- Corrugated or panel steel privacy fence. Sheet steel panels on a steel or wood frame. It gives full privacy, but like any solid fence it catches the full force of the wind, so the posts matter even more.
Rust, galvanizing and Amarillo's climate
Bare steel rusts, so the coating is what decides how long a steel fence looks good. The American Galvanizers Association, the trade group for hot-dip galvanizers, says properly specified hot-dip galvanized steel can give 70 years or more of maintenance-free protection in most outdoor environments, and that rural atmospheres are the least corrosive of the five environments it tracks. Its numbers are for hot-dip galvanized structural steel and its estimates depend on the zinc thickness and local humidity, rainfall and pollution, so treat them as the association's figures, not a promise for any particular fence. Amarillo's dry air helps compared with the Gulf Coast, but scratches, welds cut after coating and the bottom of posts where water and sprinklers sit are where rust usually starts.
When you compare quotes, ask:
- Is the steel hot-dip galvanized, pre-galvanized tube, powder coated, painted, or a combination? A galvanized base under powder coat or paint usually lasts longer than paint alone.
- Are field welds and cut ends cleaned and touched up with a zinc-rich primer or paint?
- For pipe fence, will the pipe be painted after welding, and with what?
- How do posts meet the ground: set in concrete with the top of the footing shaped to shed water, or driven?
Wind and posts
The National Weather Service office in Amarillo describes the city as one of the windiest in the United States. An open picket or pipe fence lets most of that wind through, which is one reason metal fences hold up well here. Add solid panels, privacy screen or windscreen fabric and the fence starts acting like a wall, so the posts, post depth and footings have to be sized for it. Ask each contractor how deep they set posts, how far apart, and what size and wall thickness of post they use. Our guide to building a fence that stands up to Amarillo wind goes into more detail.
Metal fences around pools
Ornamental steel and aluminum are popular pool fences because they are open and see-through, but a pool barrier has stricter rules than an ordinary fence. The City of Amarillo requires a permit to build, alter or repair a swimming pool or spa barrier at any height. The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission's pool barrier guidelines, which local codes broadly follow, recommend:
- a barrier at least 48 inches high, with no more than 4 inches of clearance at the bottom on a hard surface (2 inches over grass or gravel);
- openings that won't let a 4-inch sphere pass through;
- if the horizontal rails are less than 45 inches apart, rails on the pool side and vertical pickets no more than 1¾ inches apart, so a child can't use the rails as a ladder;
- if the rails are 45 inches or more apart, picket spacing of no more than 4 inches;
- gates that open outward, away from the pool, and are self-closing and self-latching.
Many standard ornamental panels don't meet these spacings, so tell the contractor up front that the fence is a pool barrier, and ask them to confirm the product and the permit with Amarillo Building Safety.
Permits, height and 811
Outside of pool barriers, City of Amarillo Building Safety lists most residential fences 8 feet tall or less as exempt from a building permit, whatever the material. The fence still has to meet zoning rules, including height limits that differ between front and rear yards and corner-lot rules for visibility. Many subdivisions also have HOA or deed rules on fence style and color, which often matter more for an ornamental front-yard fence than for a backyard one. See our Amarillo fence permit guide. If you are outside the city, the rules in Canyon, Hereford and other nearby towns differ. Setting posts is digging, and Texas law requires a Texas811 notice before you dig; ask the contractor to confirm they make the request (see calling 811 before setting fence posts).
What drives a metal fence quote
We don't publish prices, because they depend on the property. These are the things that move a metal fence quote:
- Type and weight of material: aluminum, ornamental steel panels, custom-fabricated steel or pipe, and the wall thickness of the tubing or pipe.
- Height and length: total footage, and whether the fence steps or follows a slope.
- Gates: walk gates, double drive gates, rolling gates and gate operators. Wide steel gates need heavy posts and good hinges to keep from sagging.
- Finish: galvanizing, powder coat or paint, and color.
- Custom work: welded on-site fabrication, decorative tops, scrolls or a matching entrance usually cost more than standard panels.
- Site: caliche or rock, slopes, tear-out of an old fence, and access for equipment.
Ask for a written quote that names the material, post size and spacing, finish and gate hardware, so you can compare companies line by line. Our material comparison puts metal next to wood, vinyl and chain link.
Getting a metal fence quote
This site is a free referral service, not a fence company. If you send a request and choose "Pipe, Ranch & Metal Fences", we pass it to one independent local fence contractor, who looks at the property and quotes you directly. Texas has no statewide license for fence contractors, so check reviews and proof of insurance before you hire (see our hiring checklist).
General information only, not legal or engineering advice. Rules change, so confirm with the agency linked below or a licensed professional before you start work.
Sources
- City of Amarillo Building Safety: Work Exempt From Permit
- National Weather Service Amarillo: Climate Narrative for Amarillo
- U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission: Safety Barrier Guidelines for Residential Pools (Publication 362)
- American Galvanizers Association: Atmospheric Corrosion Performance of Hot-Dip Galvanized Steel
- American Galvanizers Association: Time to First Maintenance
- Texas811: Homeowner / DIYer
Last reviewed: October 2026.
Related: Pipe, ranch & metal fences · Wind-resistant fences · Fence material comparison · All guides