About Business

Business Summary

Preston Hollow Fence Company is a regional fencing contractor and custom gate installation business based in Richardson, Texas, serving the greater Dallas–Fort Worth metroplex. Tracing its founding origins back to 1960 and acquired by industry veteran Tommy W. Gilbert, Jr. in 2003, the company specializes in custom Western red cedar privacy fences, ornamental wrought iron fencing, automated driveway gates, access control systems, wood retaining walls, and protective fence staining.

Business Description

Preston Hollow Fence Company is a residential and commercial fence contractor based in Richardson, Texas, specializing in custom cedar privacy fences, ornamental ironwork, automatic driveway gates, and wood retaining walls across the Dallas–Fort Worth metroplex.

Preston Hollow Fence Company traces its operating history to 1960, when it was established as Preston Hollow Fence & Supply by Thomas Rathheim. In 2003, ownership transitioned to Tommy W. Gilbert, Jr., a fencing professional active in the North Texas market since 1994. Operating from its headquarters at 2000 E. Arapaho Road in Richardson, Texas, the company builds boundary structures for single-family residences, custom homebuilders, commercial developments, churches, and educational institutions.

The enterprise focuses on structural engineering methods designed to withstand North Texas wind loads and expansive clay soil movement. Key practices include setting fence posts a minimum of three feet deep at six-foot spacing intervals, pouring dedicated four-foot foundation footings for automated gate hinge posts, and using high-grade cedar and powder-coated steel hardware to prevent sash sagging and structural failure.

Detailed Business Description

Executive Overview

Preston Hollow Fence Company operates as a design, fabrication, and installation contractor for perimeter security and outdoor living enclosures. The organization focuses on structural durability rather than using pre-assembled or thin-gauge builder panels.

The company's primary market spans established North Texas residential communities—including Richardson, Preston Hollow, Highland Park, University Park, Plano, and North Dallas. Its service scope ranges from standard cedar privacy fencing to bespoke wrought iron estate entrances paired with electric swing or slide gate operators. The company operates under direct owner oversight, emphasizing fixed structural standards, site-built assembly, and transparent project communication.

Business at a Glance

Detailed Business Description

North Texas properties face harsh weather conditions, including severe summer heat, high-velocity thunderstorms, and shifting clay soil that can compromise post alignments. Preston Hollow Fence Company addresses these regional challenges by building custom fences on-site with reinforced framing and deep-set steel posts rather than using prefabricated panel sections.

The company's core woodworking division specializes in custom cedar installations, utilizing #1 grade Western red cedar pickets in board-on-board and side-by-side configurations. Board-on-board styling provides total privacy by overlapping pickets to eliminate sightlines even as wood naturally expands and contracts. All wood fences are framed using heavy-gauge galvanized steel posts, concealed steel brackets, and treated cedar or pressure-treated kickboards that lift fence pickets off damp soil to deter insect damage and rot.

In security and architectural metalwork, the firm manufactures and installs custom ornamental iron fences, perimeter security barriers, and automated driveway gate systems. The team designs both arched double swing gates and heavy-duty sliding gates built on welded steel frames, powder-coated to prevent rust. These gate assemblies are paired with professional-grade automatic gate operators, keypad access pedestals, safety loop detectors, and smartphone-connected receiver units.

To address sloped Dallas-area properties and uneven grades, Preston Hollow Fence Company builds integrated wood retaining walls. Engineered using 2x6 timbers anchored to posts set three feet deep on four-foot centers, these retaining structures stabilize grade changes at the property line, creating level foundations for privacy fencing and proper yard drainage.

Operational Capabilities & Installation Standards

• Deep Post Foundation Setting: All standard fence posts are set three feet into the ground at centers of six feet or less; gate hinge posts are anchored four feet deep and allowed to cure for several days prior to hanging gate leaves.

• Rot-Prevention Architecture: Inclusion of sacrificial 2x6 bottom kickboards to isolate cedar fence pickets from ground moisture and runoff.

• Custom On-Site Carpentry: Complete on-site fabrication to follow terrain contours smoothly without leaving pet escape gaps underneath.

• Access Control & Automation: Integration of solar or AC-powered commercial-grade gate operator motors with wireless remote transmitters, safety photocells, and keyless entry pads.

• Protective Staining & Restoration: Application of penetrating oil-based sealants and stains to protect wood fibers against ultraviolet bleaching, mildew, and weather-induced warping.

Customers, Target Segments & Typical Applications

Preston Hollow Fence Company works across multiple residential and light commercial segments:

• Single-Family Homeowners: Residents investing in backyard privacy, secure dog runs, swimming pool safety code enclosures, and estate entrance gates.

• Custom Homebuilders & Remodelers: Construction contractors requiring custom architectural fencing and automated gates coordinated with new home builds.

• Multifamily & HOA Communities: Property managers replacing perimeter fencing, dumpster enclosures, and gated access controls.

• Churches & Private Schools: Institutional campuses requiring perimeter boundary fences, pedestrian security gates, and decorative handrails.

• Sloped Property Owners: Sites requiring integrated low retaining walls to prevent soil erosion along property boundaries.

Products / Services

Products & Installation Services

Custom Wood Fencing

• Board-on-Board Cedar Fencing: Overlapping cedar pickets providing complete privacy with top cap rails and bottom baseboards.

• Side-by-Side Picket Fencing: Traditional vertical picket fencing attached to heavy-duty horizontal runners and steel round posts.

• Horizontal Wood Fencing: Modern linear wood styling offering contemporary curb appeal and visual privacy.

• Fence Staining & Sealing: Deep-penetrating oil-based stain applications to seal and preserve natural cedar tones.

Wrought Iron & Metal Work

• Ornamental Iron Fences: Welded tubular steel and wrought iron fencing finished with black powder coatings for corrosion resistance.

• Iron Handrails & Balusters: Custom welded interior and exterior architectural handrails for steps and porches.

Automated Driveway Gates & Access Controls

• Automatic Swing & Slide Gates: Custom ornamental iron or steel-framed cedar driveway gates designed for single or dual-leaf operation.

• Gate Operator Systems: Installation and configuration of linear arm and slide motor units with battery backups.

• Access Control Hardware: Wireless transponders, intercoms, ground vehicle loop sensors, and secure digital keypads.

Site Structures & Retaining Walls

• Wood Retaining Walls: 2x6 timber retaining bulkheads designed to hold grade differences and support fence installations.

• Pedestrian Garden Gates: Matching walk gates equipped with self-closing spring hinges, barrel bolts, and keyed deadbolts.