civic forum

 
Avoid the "after the storm, contractor scramble" by planning ahead and not waiting until your fence is blown down before you consider replacing it.  
 
Fence companies that are reliable, trustworthy and do a good job, generally stay booked out for 2-4 weeks. When you need a fence and you need it now, this waiting period can seem like an eternity, especially for dog owners.  
 
Replace your fence on your terms, not the weather’s. Waiting to replace until after a storm usually means you will have to wait longer for an honest, dependable fence contractor. If you have a particular, well known, contractor in mind, you may have to wait even longer because many other people also in your situation have their eye on them too.  
 
Visit with your insurance adjuster before the next storm. Ask very specific questions about different fence scenarios and how they will affect you in your time of need. Then, you can be the judge as to what risks you are willing to take with your old fence and our nasty Texas storms. One important thing to keep in mind—your local fence companies are not set up for immediate disaster relief. There are no 24-hour emergency fence hotlines to call. You will have to rush for position, get in line, wait, and be serviced in the normal, orderly fashion.  
 
You are at risk if your fence has wooden posts and is more than 5 years old. Typical "builder grade" fences are intended to last about 4 to 7 years and that’s it. They use materials and construction techniques that are intended to cut costs. Landscape timber posts are very common with these fences. You can identify them by their somewhat oval shape vs. a square shaped treated or cedar post. No matter how well you maintain your fence, its lifespan is limited by these posts. They eventually begin to rot at ground level and soon after, failure will occur. A post snapping off at the ground makes for a very difficult repair.  
 
The first time you experience a broken post, or a blown down panel, this is your first warning sign that the time to replace your fence is approaching and the clock is now ticking. People who live on corner lots, next to open parks and at the ends of alleys will see their fence fail sooner than their interior-lot neighbors. These open locations take a beating from full force winds, whereas interior lots are somewhat protected from direct hits by other fences and homes.  
 
Open locations will require a sturdier design and stronger components to withstand nature’s surprises. You should consider only steel posts set a minimum of 36" deep in concrete with a maximum 6 foot panel span in between each post. This is necessary to insure you will have a nice, straight, strong fence which will stand up to anything each season brings. The foundation and the framework of a fence are the most important components.  
 
When fence shopping, don’t let price be your main consideration. The actual value of a fence is determined by how well it’s built and how long it will last, not necessarily how much it costs. "Price your fence by the years, not by the foot" we like to say. For example, a $4,500 fence that begins to lean and fall apart in two years is much more expensive in the long run than a $5,000 fence that performs well for 15-20 years. With so many poorly built fences littering our neighborhoods, it’s easy to get the impression that wood fences just don’t last. That’s not true. With the right combination of specific materials and fasteners, plus a builder who actually cares, a fence can, and will, go the distance.  
 
A fence is a visually important outdoor structure that is on public display. It is subject to everything Mother Nature can dish out...365 days a year. It is an extension of your home. It can add value to your property, and it can take value away. It keeps your pets in, and provides your children a safe and secure area to play and grow. Fences provide privacy from unsightly surroundings so you can create a beautiful backyard environment for relaxing and personal enjoyment. Fences can be plain-Jane or dressed up to reflect an artistic flair or personal style to call your own.  
 
With our neighborhoods placing us all closer and closer together, I believe we all have a basic responsibility to our neighbors and neighborhoods. Keeping the exteriors of our properties well maintained promotes friendship and respect between neighbors. Attractive homes, landscapes and well built fences help keep neighborhoods looking nice and property values high. After all, everyone wants to live in a "nice neighborhood" right? This doesn’t just happen automatically folks; it requires a never-ending effort from all of us, to make sure that our neighborhoods continue to be a nice place to live.