JoeinTX-
Yeah...that new fence attracted quite a lot of attention from my neighbors...so much so, that if I ever forget my combination I just have to go down to the Café and ask ANYONE…
But the upside of all that attention is finding out how deee-lightful my new neighbors ARE...supportive and full of advice, most good, some not, but all given in the spirit of friendship...Good People...
I appreciate your concern about my fence...but be of light heart...the "tune" comment was just hyperbole...I have shed a lot of blood building fence...
After moving to Texas “backintheday” I needed a good job while I was “breaking out” in my main meal-ticket ,which was, at the time, Diving and Salvage.
I found just the thing working for a barn-builder...went the length and breadth of the State building wood-frame pole buildings and the fencing to go with em as needed.
My current peculiar situation working by-the-contract means if I am working I have the money to do stuff, but do not have the time...when I have plenty of time, I don’t have the money...
So...Precious Bride and I work a while and save up for some projects, find a good craftsman and then contract it out.
I spec’d the fence out and my Mother-In-Law found a local contractor who wanted a job he could work on a bit at a time...between larger jobs to keep his crew busy and as a way to train his young nephew in the trade. His price was fair and the completed jobs of his I visited were EXCELLENT.
I spec’d the corners for 8” treated poles set 4 feet deep in minimum 12” holes backfilled with concrete to increase the diameter. The soil bearing strength of our local sandy clay needs a bit of help. The main runs are t-posts with a 2.5” treated wooden stringer every tenth post, an H “line-post” every 600 feet or at least one in every side, a heavy gage strand of barb ground wire under 1047-12-11 variable mesh with another strand of barb topper.
The entry setback at the highway is rough-cut treated 2x6 corral boards faced with welded stock panels on 8” posts with two 10 foot tube and stock panel gates swinging on 8” posts as well.
Our contractor out-did himself on this job...every post is plumb and true, every wire join wrap looks like he was wrapping ferrules on a fishing rod, the wire is pulled just SO....(50% deflection on the “spring kinks”)
I watched him working/ teaching his nephew one afternoon...patient and good natured...but hard at it....if I had as good a teacher I would still be building barns...
The work is a real showpiece. I would not have done as good a job...
The proof of the pudding is the reduction in pig sign I see around my water tank...you can still find a few spots where “Hogzilla” has tried the fence, but no breaches...the rains have made digging in the soft sand easier in the wet spots so a few small ones still get thru, but condsidering how many USED to be in the bushes and considering the amount of acorns and steady water available, I must be on the local wild hogs “B-List”...
The little ones efforts keeps “fill holes” at the top of my “Honey-doo” list…
When a storm blew down a few rotten trees onto the wire, it supported an immense amount of weight without parting, tho it got bent to blazes, it was no problem patching it back up.
The increase in cost over my original estimate was based on my decision to have this fellow install new fence across portions of the existing runs that I had originally intended to rehab...when I looked at that old rusty stuff in comparison to the new lines, I knew I couldn’t turn out as good a job for not but a little less money...(the old fences were 3 strand barb for cattle and in pretty poor shape) I can handle all the cross-fencing for paddocks within this perimeter and will save a few $$$ there...
So all in all, I have value for the money...I don’t see this current fence needing replacement till after I’m long dead...then it’s my Kids Problem...
Back in the days of the Republic, the property was a plum orchard, now long overgrown....we are intending to run meat goats and put up a couple of small greenhouses for exotic lillies...we have not introduced any goats yet as we are not living full-time on the land right now, but now that it is fenced we lease it to a neighbor to run his cattle on...just have to kick open the back gate...
What sort of operation do you have?
Be Safe!
T
"We quickly earned the approval of the crowd at the local Cafe by putting up a fence that will hold anything from a Chihuahua to a Brahma bull. It is known locally as the "Prada Perimeter" and naturally we sure had to pay a premium to get it done right. You can play a tune on that wire..."
Funny you should say that. The quickest and surest way to tell a piece of property has changed hands is the presence of new fence activity. Vice versa is true.......fence falling down in absolute disrepair means the owner is still trying to sell, has found no buyers, and isn't spending a dime on the place.
Also, FYI, a lot of fences with bow-string tight wire today will be sagging messes with leaning corners and problems to fix in 5 years. Learn to do your own fencing.
If I understand, this being an old goat run..........what kind of shape is it in and what do you want to do with it?
