A corrugated metal fence uses ribbed panels (galvanized steel, weathering Corten, or aluminum) in a wood or welded steel frame. Fence Pros San Diego is a referral service. We do not publish a per-foot installed rate, a per-post footing card, or a 20-year life. Metal choice and fasteners matter more near the water than they do inland.
What it is
The sheet is the same wave profile used on roofing, turned into a privacy infill. The frame is usually horizontal wood or welded steel.
- Galvanized steel: zinc-coated, usually the lowest material line.
- Corten: meant to form a stable rust-colored patina. That runoff can stain stucco and concrete if the detail is sloppy.
- Aluminum: does not rust. Dents easier. Often the coastal-safe face.
The panel is solid, so you get privacy that pickets do not. Other metal types: metal fence guide.
Cost without a fake card
Frame, metal, post condition, linear footage, and access drive the bid. Galvanized-in-wood is usually the first configuration people ask for. Corten sheet and handling cost more. Aluminum sits in between on many quotes, without the rust question. A welded steel frame costs more labor than wood. New posts are a separate line when the old structure cannot take the sail load.
We will not print $30 to $75 per foot or $200 to $500 per post. Ask for metal, frame, posts, and fasteners as separate lines.
Rust near the coast
Galvanized faces hold up better than cut edges and screw heads. Salt air finds those first within a couple of miles of the ocean.
Corten is supposed to stabilize inland. In standing salt spray it can keep wasting and streak. Save it for lots that are not in constant spray, or detail so runoff cannot hit stucco.
Aluminum does not rust. Use stainless or hot-dip fasteners, not zinc-plated screws. Coastal hardware.
Styles
Horizontal wood with corrugated infill is the current residential look. Full welded frames read more industrial and skip wood rot. Mixing wood slats and metal panels along one line breaks up a long run. Modern fence designs and horizontal fence design.
Height, wind, HOA, permits
Solid fences catch wind. Size posts and footings for Santa Ana load, not panel weight alone. Treating corrugated like a light wood fence is a common failure. Santa Ana wind.
Zoning height (what you may build) is not building permit (when the city wants a permit).
City of San Diego: solid fences on the front or street-side property line are generally limited to 3 feet; backyard privacy is commonly 6 feet by zoning pattern. Open designs and coastal openness rules (including 75% openness in some overlay conditions under 142.0310) can change the street-facing answer. Building permit: Table 142-03A at 7 feet and up.
Unincorporated County: PDS 070 permit except qualifying fences not over 6 feet that meet zoning; front/exterior side often 42 inches.
A solid corrugated panel does not become “open” because it is metal. Taller than the solid cap usually means an open topper above a legal solid base, plus a variance path if you want more solid height. Fence height and permits.
HOAs often treat corrugated as non-traditional. Get samples approved before you order sheets.
Frequently asked questions
Does a corrugated metal fence rust in San Diego?
Galvanized can rust at cuts and fasteners, especially on the coast. Corten rusts on purpose and may not stabilize in salt spray. Aluminum does not rust.
How much does it cost per foot?
See the written bid. We do not publish ranges.
How long does it last near the coast?
Until fasteners, frame, or the wrong metal fail. Stainless or hot-dip fasteners and a metal matched to spray distance matter more than a year count.
Can it be taller than 6 feet?
Solid height is a zoning question. A solid corrugated face does not qualify as an open fence. Building permit in the City starts at 7 feet (Table 142-03A). Do not mix those rules.
Steel or aluminum on the coast?
Aluminum is the lower corrosion risk on the water. Galvanized with good fasteners is a common inland-of-the-spray pick. Corten is a look, not a waterfront default.
Do I need a permit?
Maybe. Height, location, coastal overlay, and whether footings are new all matter. “Any new footing always needs a permit” is not a rule we can source here. Check the city. Permit guide.
When to call us
Coastal distance and wood-versus-steel frame are worth a site walk before you order panels. Call (858) 400-4906 and we will connect you with a licensed fence contractor across the county, including Encinitas and Chula Vista. You contract with that contractor directly.