Unilock Fence Installation: The Fort Myers Owner’s Guide
Unilock fence installation in Fort Myers typically runs between $3,500 and $9,000 for a complete project, depending on linear footage, post style, and what we find underground. We stock Unilock-compatible fence materials locally and can source any Unilock fence panel or post component. The most common call we get is from a homeowner who noticed a post leaning after a heavy summer storm, or a gate that suddenly won’t latch. Southwest Florida’s sandy soil and wet-season saturation have a way of revealing which fence posts weren’t set deep enough the first time around.
Groundwork Construction Co. of Fort Myers is an independent contractor, not a Unilock dealer or affiliate. We source genuine Unilock components and have the installation experience to handle their full fence line correctly.
Which Unilock Models This Applies To
Unilock’s fence systems in this market generally fall into two categories: the Estate Wall and Pillar series, and the more decorative Brussels Dimensional System. The Estate line uses larger, heavier blocks designed for structural fence runs and privacy screens. The Brussels Dimensional blocks are modular, with a tighter, cleaner face, and they’re often paired with aluminum fence inserts or wrought-iron-style panels.
If you’re trying to identify which Unilock fence system you have, look at a full block. Measure its face length and height. Estate blocks typically run 12 to 18 inches long with a split or tumbled face. Brussels Dimensional blocks are closer to a 7-inch by 7-inch face profile. The cap piece is another tell: Estate caps are thicker and overhang more than Brussels caps. Getting this right matters because the post-core hardware (the steel post inside the block column) and the panel brackets are system-specific. We carry hardware for both lines on our trucks, and we can match caps and blocks by tile number once we see your existing installation.
Signs Your Unilock Fence Installation Is Failing
- Post lean greater than half an inch out of plumb. In Fort Myers, this almost always traces back to an undersized concrete footing. Sandy soil and a high water table mean a 12-inch footing often isn’t enough; we set Unilock fence posts on 18- to 24-inch footings.
- Gap opening between capstone and top course. The adhesive bond between the cap and the top block has separated. Florida heat cycles cause thermal expansion, and polyurethane construction adhesive that wasn’t rated for outdoor block will fail within 3 to 5 years here.
- Gate dragging or binding at the latch side. The post the gate hangs from has shifted. Even a quarter-inch of settlement in the footing translates to a gate that won’t close. You’ll see scrape marks on the pavers or concrete below.
- Hairline vertical cracking through block faces. This happens when the internal steel post wasn’t centered in the core, or when the concrete fill inside the block column settled unevenly. Once a crack opens, water gets in, and wet-season expansion makes it worse.
- Fence panel rattling or loose in the bracket. The metal insert brackets corroded or sheared. Unilock panels rely on powder-coated aluminum brackets, but if they were overtightened during install or exposed to salt air near the Caloosahatchee, the bracket ears snap clean off.
Replacement Cost & What’s Included
A full Unilock fence installation in Fort Myers lands between $3,500 and $9,000. On the lower end, you’re looking at a single gate post rebuild with block matching and panel reattachment. A full fence run of 40 to 50 linear feet with new posts, panels, caps, and footing work climbs into the $7,000 to $9,000 range. The two biggest cost drivers are linear footage and what we find when we dig: if the original footings were undersized or there’s old concrete that has to be broken out, the labor ticks up.
Every estimate we give is upfront pricing, no surprises. The number on the quote is the number you pay. Our 730-Day Done Right Promise covers the full installation: if something shifts, cracks, or separates within two years, we make it right at no charge. Parts and labor, in writing.
| Scope | Typical Fort Myers Range |
|---|---|
| Single post rebuild (block + footing + cap) | $600 - $1,200 |
| Gate post replacement with hardware | $900 - $1,800 |
| Partial fence run (10-20 linear ft, 2-3 posts) | $2,000 - $4,500 |
| Full Unilock fence installation (40-50 linear ft) | $5,500 - $9,000 |
DIY or Call Us?
You can safely inspect a few things yourself. Check whether a leaning post rocks when you push it. Look for cracked block faces and measure the gap under a sagging gate. Those observations help us price the job faster when you call.
What we don’t recommend is digging out and resetting a Unilock fence post on your own. These posts have a steel core inside a concrete-filled block column. The footing is typically a few hundred pounds of concrete buried 18-plus inches deep. Manhandling that without the right equipment risks injury and almost always leaves the post out of alignment. There’s also the concrete fill inside the block column, which has to be mixed and poured correctly around the center post or the new post leans within a season. We’ve fixed enough DIY resets in McGregor and Whiskey Creek to say it plainly: the second attempt costs more than doing it right the first time. Call (844) 638-7249 and we’ll get eyes on it.
FAQs
With proper footings and installation, a Unilock fence in Southwest Florida should last 20 to 30 years. The block itself holds up well. What shortens the lifespan is undersized footings in sandy soil, and adhesive failure on capstones from our heat and humidity cycle.
In most cases, a leaning post can be reset rather than replaced entirely, provided the block faces aren’t cracked and the internal steel post hasn’t corroded. We excavate around the footing, re-plumb the column, and pour a new, larger footing with proper compaction. If the blocks are damaged or the steel core is rusted through, we replace the whole assembly.
Most single-post replacements are done in one day, including new concrete. We dig the old footing out in the morning, set and plumb the replacement by midday, and let the concrete cure overnight. We clean the site before we leave. Capstone adhesive gets a full 24-hour cure before we call it done.
We keep common Unilock post caps, panel brackets, and hardware on our trucks. If a full block match is needed and the style is still in production, our suppliers in the Fort Myers area typically have it within 3 to 5 business days. Discontinued colors or older textures take longer, and we’re upfront about that timeline before any work starts.
Ready for a Straight Answer on Your Unilock Fence?
A leaning post or a gate that won’t latch is not something to ignore. It gets worse with every rainstorm, and in Fort Myers, those don’t stop. Call us at (844) 638-7249 for a free estimate. You’ll get a live person on the line, 24/7, not a voicemail box. Derek Hollenbeck and our team will come out, assess what’s actually happening with your fence, and give you a written number with no hidden charges. We don’t just break ground, we build something worth standing on.
Written by Derek Hollenbeck, Owner & General Contractor, Groundwork Construction Co. of Fort Myers, serving Fort Myers and nearby areas.