Varo Fence & Deck LLC helps Roscoe homeowners rebuild after tornado damage

One of the tornadoes confirmed after the April 17 severe weather outbreak was an EF1 that moved through Roscoe and directly through our backyard.

The tornado left little of the approximately 355 feet of fencing around our Roscoe home.

Much of the fence had been pulled from the fence line and scattered across our yard and neighboring yards. A piece believed to have come from the fence pierced an exterior wall and entered a second-story bedroom.

The few sections that remained standing were not enough to contain our two senior dogs, enclose the pool, or give our children and young grandchildren a secure place to use the yard.

In the days after the storm, family, friends, and neighbors helped one another clear debris, recover lost items, trim and remove trees that were broken or uprooted, and even shared meals while the clean-up took place. Many were helping others while dealing with damage at their own homes.

We expected replacing that much fencing to be expensive. We did not expect depreciation to reduce the insurance payment as much as it did.

Although the fence was covered under our homeowners insurance policy, the insurance company estimated it was about 20 years old and applied 80% depreciation. Actual cash value is the replacement cost after depreciation is deducted, and sharply reduces the payment on an older fence.

The payment covered only a very small fraction of what it would cost to replace.

Alvaro Nochebuena, co-founder of Roscoe-based Varo Fence & Deck LLC, said older fences typically leave homeowners with large out-of-pocket costs even when the damage is part of a covered claim.

The tornado brought calls from homeowners across Roscoe and nearby communities. Some had damaged decks, gates, or leaning fence posts. Others, like us, had entire fence lines ripped from the ground.

In the days following the severe weather, several homeowners had not yet selected a contractor but still needed debris cleared or a temporary way to keep their dogs inside the yard.

“We were just trying to help,” Alvaro said.

Varo Fence & Deck LLC completed some of that temporary work even when the homeowner had not hired the company for the final repair or replacement.

Some of the damage can be easy to miss if the fence is still standing.

Alvaro said tornadoes and strong straight-line winds can shift posts or loosen the concrete below ground without immediately knocking the fence over. From a distance, the panels may still appear intact. Up close, the posts may move when pushed.

“Even if the fence looks good, there can still be movement,” he said.

Once a footing shifts, ordinary wind continues pushing against the weakened fence. The posts may eventually give way during another storm or even on an otherwise windy day.

If the fence falls later, Alvaro said, the insurance company may question whether the earlier storm caused the damage.

He recommends checking each post after severe weather and documenting any movement before debris or damaged sections are removed. Homeowners can take photographs of the panels and footings and record video showing posts moving when pushed.

Older wooden fences may have another problem below the surface. A post can appear solid above ground while the buried portion has weakened or rotted.

Varo Fence & Deck LLC provides free written estimates for fence repairs, full replacements, and insurance claims. Alvaro will also meet with an adjuster when needed to point out movement in posts, damaged footings, or other problems that may not be clear in photographs.

“I can meet with the adjuster, show the damage, and explain why the fence needs to be replaced,” he said. “I break everything down.”

An adjuster may see fence panels that remain upright. A contractor may find movement below ground that makes repairing the fence impractical.

The amount an insurer pays depends on the policy, the age and condition of the fence, and how depreciation is calculated. In our case, the fence was covered, but its age sharply reduced the payment.

The condition of the old fence can also raise the cost of replacement.

Alvaro said pulling existing concrete footings is often one of the most labor-intensive parts of the job. Crews must remove or break up the old concrete before digging fresh holes and setting the new posts.

Some fence contractors charge separately to tear down the old fence, haul away debris, and clean up dirt and concrete. Depending on the size of the project, Alvaro said teardown charges alone can reach $1,000 to $1,500.

Varo Fence & Deck LLC includes the teardown and removal of the existing fence at no additional charge when the company installs the replacement. The company also does not add a separate charge for cleaning up displaced dirt.

Varo files the required fence permit and pays the permit fee for its customers.

“Some people don’t know how to file the permit, so we take care of it for them,” Alvaro said.

Fence estimates do not always include the same work. One contractor may include removal, concrete footings, debris disposal, permits, gates, installation, and cleanup, while another may charge separately for some of those items.

Varo Fence & Deck LLC installs cedar privacy fencing, chain-link, vinyl, and aluminum fencing throughout Roscoe and the Rockford area. The company also completes fence and gate repairs and builds wood and composite decks.

The company takes on everything from a damaged gate or short repair section to a complete teardown and replacement.

“We don’t judge by the area you live in,” Alvaro said. “Any job is a good job, big or small.”

Homeowners do not need to choose a material before requesting an estimate.

Tiffany Nochebuena, who founded Varo Fence & Deck LLC with her husband, said the company prefers to meet homeowners at the property rather than prepare an estimate without seeing the yard.

The visit allows them to measure the proposed fence line, look at the condition of the property, and explain the differences between cedar, vinyl, chain-link, and aluminum. The company can also bring samples for homeowners who want to compare materials.

“We really just need to know where you want the fence, and we can help with the rest,” Tiffany said.

While we were still considering our options, my husband, Chris, proudly pointed out that the few panels still standing were the sections he had repaired after we moved into the house in 2022. A project covering approximately 355 feet, however, was more than we wanted to attempt ourselves.

We had not realized how much we depended on the fence until it was gone.

The enclosed yard gave our two senior dogs a safe place to go outside. One of them, Bella, is a miniature pinscher with three legs, but that does not stop her from exploring when given the opportunity. The fence also enclosed the pool and gave our children and young grandchildren a more private place to use the yard.

We briefly considered living without a fence, planting a tree line, or choosing a different material. In the end, we selected a 6-foot cedar privacy fence with cap-and-trim construction.

Cedar offered the best combination of price, sturdiness, and curb appeal for our property. We also liked the cap-and-trim design because it gave the fence a clean, finished appearance.

Varo shares photos and videos of its fence and deck projects on social media, including material comparisons and explanations of the installation process. They also do custom projects.

Varo Fence & Deck LLC crews became a familiar sight in our area as homeowners in several connecting Roscoe subdivisions began repairing and replacing storm-damaged fences.

The homeowners behind us also selected Varo Fence & Deck LLC, which allowed the company to coordinate work along the shared property line while completing other tornado-related fence replacements nearby.

Roscoe family business built from the ground up

Long before Varo Fence & Deck LLC had a Roscoe shop or a crew of employees, Alvaro and Tiffany were building fences together with Alvaro’s brother, Jose Nochebuena.

Tiffany worked alongside the brothers in the field, before the company hired employees.

“In the beginning, it was just the three of us building fences,” she said.

Jose now serves as foreman, while Tiffany handles permits, estimates, office work, and whatever else the day requires.

“We really don’t have strict roles,” she said. “I’m everywhere.”

Tiffany said the arrangement has allowed them to build the business together.

“We started together, and I love being able to work together and have that freedom that many other careers don't offer,” Tiffany said.

Alvaro entered the fencing trade about 15 years ago. He enjoyed the work enough to begin taking on projects of his own and eventually build a company around it.

“I really like what I do,” he said. “It’s not just about the money. I like helping people, delivering good quality, and keeping the price reasonable.”

Alvaro came to the United States from Mexico with his parents when he was 6 and has lived in the Rockford area for approximately 25 years.

Varo Fence & Deck LLC will celebrate 10 years in business next year. The company has operated from its current Roscoe location for two years after previously sharing a shop with Premier Seal Coating.

“I love it here,” Alvaro said. “There are a lot of nice people and a lot of work.”

After a major storm, fence replacement often competes with repairs to roofs, siding, windows, and other parts of the home.

Alvaro said price matters, but it should not be the only consideration when choosing a fence contractor. Homeowners should look at previous work, verify that the business is properly insured, and pay attention to how the contractor responds to questions.

Varo Fence & Deck LLC is licensed, insured, and bonded.

The company offers a three-year workmanship warranty on fence installations. Some vinyl and aluminum products carry longer manufacturer warranties, including lifetime coverage on certain materials.

When a covered material problem occurs, Alvaro said his company works with the supplier and handles the replacement process rather than directing the homeowner to resolve the claim alone.

He also cautioned homeowners against contractors who pressure them to sign immediately.

“Choose the person you feel comfortable with,” Alvaro said. “If that’s us, great. If it isn’t, that’s OK too.”

Our siding, gutters, windows, and back door were replaced the month after the tornado. The roof required repairs rather than a full replacement. The fence became the final major project and one of the largest expenses left behind.

Even with coverage, depreciation left us responsible for most of the replacement cost.

Before a storm, homeowners may want to ask whether their policy covers fencing at actual cash value or replacement cost and whether age limits apply. They should also ask whether any depreciation withheld from the initial payment can be recovered after the work is complete.

Photographs of the fence before and after a storm, along with records of previous repairs, may also help document a claim.

For three months, we had to put the dogs on leashes every time they went outside. We watched the kids more closely in the yard, and the pool was left exposed to neighboring houses and the street.

Now that Varo Fence & Deck LLC has finished the project, we can use the yard as we did before the tornado, and it looks even better than we imagined.

I hope we never have to replace another fence. But if we do, we will know what questions to ask, what to look for below the surface, what to expect from our insurance company, and who we trust to do the work.

More information: Varo Fence & Deck LLC shares completed fence and deck projects, material comparisons, and installation videos on its website and Facebook page.

Website: varofence.com

Facebook: Varo Fence & Deck LLC

Sponsored content: Varo Fence & Deck LLC provided the writer with a discount on a fence installation in exchange for this article. Rockton-Roscoe News did not receive payment from the company.