Mulholland Brand designs, fabricates and installs modern horizontal-slat fences for homes across Orange County, along with privacy fences and matching front-yard gates. For an Irvine home, that can be a full privacy run with a walk gate that locks with a keypad or smart lock. Everything is powder-coated aluminum built in Mulholland's own factory in Canoga Park, so the slats will not rust or rot. Installation is by Mulholland's own crew. The company has served Southern California since 1994 and is licensed under CSLB #1061373.
Why are horizontal-slat fences so popular in Orange County?
They suit the houses. A lot of newer Orange County homes, and many remodels in Newport Beach and Laguna, have clean lines and flat planes. Horizontal slats carry those lines out to the property edge.
They also do two jobs well. With tight spacing, a slat fence gives real privacy. With wider gaps, it lets light and breeze through while still marking the boundary.
The catch is the material. Horizontal wood slats cup and sag over a span, and every gap is a place for water to sit. That is where aluminum earns its place.
Pool yards are the other big use. Many Orange County homes have a pool, and a slat design can sit next to pool fencing built with code spacing and self-closing gates, so the back yard and the front yard share one look.
Aluminum, wood, vinyl or composite: which works best for slats?
Each has a case. Here is an honest read.
Wood looks warm and is easy to cut on site. It also needs staining or sealing, and horizontal boards can warp, split and rot. Termites are a real concern.
Vinyl needs little upkeep and suits some traditional picket styles. It can look plain up close, and long horizontal spans are not its strength.
Composite looks like wood and does not rot. It is heavy, so posts and gates have more to carry.
Powder-coated aluminum does not rust or rot, and it does not need repainting. Mulholland states its powder-coat finish lasts 30+ years in the Southern California sun. It is also non-combustible and CAL FIRE tested. If you want the look of timber, woodgrain finishes look like wood with none of the sanding or staining, and customers regularly say they cannot tell it is not wood.
If you are near the beach, salt air is the other reason to choose aluminum. Mulholland wrote about this for one coastal city in aluminum fence in Huntington Beach.
What goes into a full front-yard fence and gate?
A front yard is usually more than a fence. It is a fence, a walk gate and often a driveway gate, and they should look like one design.
Mulholland builds all three in matching series:
- The fence. Horizontal-slat, privacy, frameless modern or spear-top picket profiles. See the options on the fencing page.
- The walk gate. Pedestrian gates are matched to the driveway gate series, so the set reads as one.
- The driveway gate. Sliding or swing, manual or automatic. The driveway gates page shows the range.
Slopes matter in parts of Orange County. On a graded front yard, the fence can be stepped or raked to follow the ground, so there is no awkward gap under a level panel. The crew measures this on site before anything is built.
If you live in a planned community, the powder coat can be matched to an approved association colour, and the slat profile can be chosen to sit within the existing scheme. That tends to make HOA review simpler. You can also ask for a garage door replacement built to match the gate and fence, if you want the whole front of the house to read as one.
How do privacy fences with self-locking gates work in Irvine?
Privacy is a common ask in Irvine: tight slats or a solid profile, often with a walk gate that shuts and locks behind you.
There are a few ways to get there.
Self-closing gates. Mulholland builds pool fencing with self-closing gates to code spacing, and the same idea applies to a side-yard or front walk gate you want kept shut.
Electronic locks. Access options include keypads, smart locks and fingerprint locks. A keypad lets family and trusted visitors in with a code.
Automatic driveway gates. If the privacy fence meets a driveway, Mulholland can motorize the gate with an opener, safety sensors and exit loops. Gates can also be prepared for an intercom.
Tell Mulholland at the consultation who needs to get through the gate and how. The hardware follows from that.
How does a fence project with Mulholland run?
Every job follows the same steps.
- In-home consultation. Mulholland comes to your property in Orange County. You do not need to visit a showroom.
- Site measurement. The crew measures the run, the grade and each gate opening.
- Design and quote. You get a clear, itemized price in writing.
- Fabrication. Panels and gates are built to spec in Canoga Park. No stock sizes and no outsourcing.
- Installation. Mulholland's own W-2 crew installs the fence and gates and walks you through them.
Financing is available. Ask during the consultation. The Orange County service area page has more on how Mulholland works across the county.
What should you ask when getting fence and gate quotes?
If you are collecting quotes for a front-yard fence and gate, these questions make them easier to compare.
Is the fence and gate one design, from one maker? Mixing a fence from one supplier with a gate from another often shows in the colour and the lines.
Is it built in-house? A company that fabricates its own panels controls the fit, the welds and the finish.
Who installs it? Ask whether the crew are employees or subcontractors.
How are slopes handled? Ask if the fence will be stepped or raked, and where.
Is the quote itemized and in writing? You should see fence, gates, hardware and installation separately.
What is the license number? Check it with the Contractors State License Board. Mulholland's is CSLB #1061373.
FAQ
Does Mulholland install horizontal-slat fences in Irvine?
Yes. Mulholland serves all of Orange County, including Irvine, with fences built in its Canoga Park factory and installed by its own crew.
Can the fence match my driveway gate and walk gate?
Yes. Walk gates are matched to the driveway gate series, and the fence is designed alongside them.
Can I get a slat fence that looks like wood?
Yes. Woodgrain powder-coat finishes give the look of timber on aluminum slats, with no staining or sealing.
Will aluminum slats rot like wood?
No. Aluminum does not rot or rust, and termites have nothing to eat. The panels are built to your measured run in the factory.
Can the colour match my HOA's approved palette?
Yes. The powder coat can be matched to an approved association colour.
If you are planning a horizontal-slat fence, a privacy fence or a full front-yard fence and gate in Orange County, Mulholland Brand can measure the site and quote it in writing. Book a consultation or call (800) 562-5770.
