For more than six decades, Peerless Fence Group has built its reputation one post, panel and promise at a time. What began in 1961 as a modest commercial chain link operation in Villa Park, Illinois has evolved into one of Chicagoland’s largest and most respected fence installation companies.
Through every stage of growth, the company has stayed grounded in the same values that founders Art and Robert White laid out from day one—quality, service and integrity.
Today, that family tradition continues under President Roger Greenhagel, who is guiding Peerless into its next chapter of innovation and customer care. With an ever-expanding portfolio of residential, commercial and industrial solutions, Peerless remains focused on helping customers find the right fence for their needs—and ensuring it’s built to last.
Grenhagel shares how the company balances legacy and progress, what it means to maintain trust across generations of customers and why, after all these years, Peerless still measures success by the strength of its relationships as much as its fences.
Tell us a little about yourself. What is your industry story?
I have been in the construction industry for 34 years, and it is truly in my blood. My father was a carpenter who also owned his own fence company, so from a young age I was surrounded by the trades and learned the value of building things that last.
I began my career in home building and spent many years on that side of the business before transitioning into contracting. After the 2008 downturn, I moved toward the manufacturing side of construction, focusing on building materials and working with several major manufacturers.
Most recently, I was with Barrette Outdoor Living, the largest extruder of vinyl fencing in the United States, where I was deeply involved in the outdoor living space. In mid-2023, I joined Peerless Fence Group, one of Barrette’s largest fencing contractors, bringing my combined experience in construction, manufacturing and sales to help drive growth and strengthen partnerships across the industry.
What inspired you to establish your company? How has your founding mission evolved over time?
Peerless Fence Group is a 64-year-old family business that has grown through hard work, craftsmanship, and a commitment to quality. The company was founded as a single-location commercial fencing business and has since expanded to nine locations, serving commercial, residential and light construction markets.
Under the leadership of second-generation owner Dean White, Peerless has continued to build on its strong foundation while embracing new opportunities for growth. Recently, Dean brought in a strategic partner to help advance his vision of expanding the business nationally alongside Elevate Fence Partners.
This partnership reflects the company’s evolution from a respected regional contractor to a growing national brand, while maintaining the same values of integrity, service and excellence that have defined Peerless for more than six decades.
Describe the signature style or characteristics that define your residential fence projects.
At Peerless Fence Group, we take a consultative approach to every residential project. Our goal is to truly understand each customer’s needs, preferences, and vision for their space before making any recommendations. We work closely with homeowners to identify the fencing solution that best fits their functional requirements, aesthetic goals and budget.
This customer-focused process allows us to deliver fences that not only enhance property value and curb appeal but also provide lasting quality, durability and peace of mind.
What types of residential projects do you specialize in? What market segment do you primarily serve?
Peerless Fence Group provides a full range of residential fencing solutions, including wood, vinyl, steel and aluminum. Rather than focusing on one specific material or style, we tailor each project to meet the unique needs and preferences of our customers.
Most of our residential work centers around enhancing backyard spaces, creating secure, beautiful and functional environments for homeowners and their families. We also collaborate with a wide range of industry partners, including landscapers, architects, pool companies, homebuilders, landscape architects and engineers, to ensure each project integrates seamlessly with the overall design and purpose of the property.
What has been your most challenging project to date? How did overcoming those challenges shape your approach to construction?
We love serving families from the backyard to the ballfield, so our most challenging project so far was actually a commercial one, the New Lenox Crossroads Sports Complex. This large-scale project included outfield fencing, netting, dugouts and bleachers, all with strict deadlines to ensure the facilities would be ready for community use.
Meeting those expectations required exceptional coordination among our team, the general contractors, and our suppliers. Through strong communication, careful planning and a shared commitment to quality, we were able to complete the project on deadline and in time for opening day.
The experience reinforced our belief that success comes from collaboration and accountability. It strengthened our approach to every project, whether a family backyard or a major community complex, by reminding us that teamwork and trust are essential to delivering results that exceed expectations.
Tell us about a project that holds special meaning for you.
One project that stands out is our work with The Buddy Foundation, a dog rescue organization based in Arlington Heights, Illinois. This was a residential-style project with a special purpose. We replaced all of the existing fencing at their facility with new vinyl fencing, creating a safer, more secure environment for the dogs in their care.
We take pride in supporting organizations that make a difference in their communities. Since we specialize in dog fencing, this project was especially meaningful to us. It allowed us to use our expertise to give rescue dogs a place where they can safely run, play and simply be dogs.
How do you integrate sustainable building practices into your process? What specific eco-friendly innovations have you implemented?
At Peerless Fence Group, we are committed to promoting sustainability through the materials and methods we use. While we continue to offer traditional wood fencing, we encourage customers to consider products with longer life cycles, such as vinyl or aluminum. These materials require fewer natural resources over time and provide lasting durability with minimal maintenance.
We also make it a priority to recycle our leftover vinyl and aluminum materials, ensuring that waste is minimized and resources are reused whenever possible. By focusing on long-lasting products and responsible recycling, we are helping to reduce environmental impact while delivering high-quality fencing solutions that stand the test of time.
What sets your company apart from other residential fence contractors in your market?
What sets Peerless Fence Group apart is our size, versatility, and commitment to delivering exactly what our customers envision. With nine locations across the Midwest, we have the reach and resources to serve a wide territory while maintaining the personalized service of a local company.
We do not limit ourselves to narrow product offering. Instead, we provide a broad range of materials and styles to meet every need and design preference. If a customer has a vision, we will find a way to make it a reality, combining our experience, creativity and dedication to craftsmanship to deliver results that exceed expectations.
How do you balance client design preferences with structural integrity and building code requirements?
At Peerless Fence Group, we take pride in balancing creativity with compliance. Our consultants are thoroughly trained on every product we use, ensuring they understand the limits and capabilities of each material. This allows us to design fences that not only meet our clients’ aesthetic goals but also perform reliably over time.
Each consultant also works within a specific territory, giving them in-depth knowledge of local building codes and regulations. This expertise ensures that every project we complete meets all structural and safety standards. By combining design flexibility with technical precision, we provide our customers with fencing solutions that are both beautiful and built to last.
What emerging trends in residential construction are you most excited about, and how are you incorporating them?
One of the most exciting trends we are seeing in residential construction is the use of mixed materials. Homeowners are increasingly interested in combining different textures and finishes to create a more customized and elevated look. For example, pairing black aluminum framing with wood or vinyl inserts adds contrast, style and visual interest to a fence while maintaining strength and durability.
This trend allows us to think more creatively and design beyond traditional fencing concepts. By blending materials, we can offer customers unique options that complement their homes and outdoor spaces while showcasing the balance between modern aesthetics and long-lasting performance.
How do you approach collaboration with architects, designers, and other professionals during your projects?
We believe that successful projects are built on strong collaboration. Our team works closely with architects, designers and other professionals from start to finish to ensure that every detail aligns with both the client’s vision and practical construction standards.
We take a very hands-on approach throughout the process, offering our expertise to help confirm that each design is feasible, structurally sound, and compliant with all codes and requirements. By maintaining open communication and a team-oriented mindset, we are able to deliver results that satisfy creative intent while upholding the highest standards of quality and safety.
What values drive your day-to-day operations, and how do these translate into the final fences you deliver?
At Peerless Fence Group, our success is built on teamwork and shared commitment. As a large organization, every person plays a vital role, from our sales consultants to our installation crews. We believe that everyone represents the Peerless brand, both internally and externally, and that collaboration is the key to delivering excellence.
Our guiding values of quality, service and integrity drive everything we do. From the first customer interaction to the completion of the fence installation, we focus on doing the job right, maintaining open communication and ensuring that every customer experiences the Peerless promise in the finished product.
What trends are you seeing in the residential construction market today? How are they shaping the industry?
One of the most significant trends we are seeing is the growth of single-family rental home communities. These developments are becoming more common across many regions and each home typically includes a fenced yard as part of the design.
We are currently working on several large-scale projects in this market, including four major communities in the Columbus, Ohio area where every home has a fence. This trend is shaping the industry by increasing demand for durable, attractive, and low-maintenance fencing solutions that can be installed efficiently and consistently across multiple properties. It also highlights the growing importance of outdoor spaces in residential living, even within rental communities.
What are your goals for your company’s growth and impact on the residential fencing industry?
Looking ahead, our goal is to continue growing in both the residential and commercial markets through sustainable, organic expansion. We are focused on strengthening our presence in existing territories while pursuing new opportunities that align with our values and long-term vision.
Every step of our growth is guided by the Peerless promise of quality, service and integrity. By staying true to these principles, we aim to enhance the customer experience, build lasting relationships and set a higher standard for excellence in the fencing industry.
Describe a typical day
A typical day involves overseeing a seventy-million-dollar business and staying closely connected to every aspect of operations. My day includes meetings focused on employee relations, customer service, and performance tracking. I review our pipeline, sales and installation trends to assess how we are performing and where adjustments may be needed.
I also spend time managing sourcing and vendor relationships to ensure we maintain the quality and consistency our customers expect.
What’s the biggest item on your to-do list?
This time of year, it is budgets. Staying on top of financial planning and forecasting is essential to our continued growth and success.
What’s the most rewarding part of your job?
Seeing the finished product and the positive impact it has on our customers. There is real satisfaction in knowing that our work helps people enjoy their homes and outdoor spaces more fully.
What was the best advice you ever received?
Take it one day and one project at a time. It is simple but powerful advice that helps keep me focused and grounded, no matter how busy things get.
What’s the best thing a client ever said to you?
A notable example of that is feedback from our work on the Wintrust Crossroads Sports Complex in New Lenox, Illinois. “Your team went above and beyond.” Hearing that reinforces everything we strive for at Peerless Fence Group, delivering exceptional service and exceeding expectations.
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