The Land & Livestock Post
News
February 15, 2011
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Do fence me in
12
Paying more up front worth the money By HOLLI L. ESTRIDGE Special to The Post
W
hen it comes to protecting your property by keeping livestock in or pests out, local fencing experts agree quality of materials matter most. “The best rule you can follow is to build the best fence that you can with the money you have,” said Buddy Micklitz, owner of Bryan-based Buddy Micklitz Construction and Welding Services. “If you go cheap, you’re going to be replacing your fence a lot sooner.” Sometimes, though, the up front costs of higher grade materials can be discouraging. Compared to barbed wire — which can run $45 to $65 per roll — a sturdier product such as fixed-knot can cost between $185 and $350. But if the fence is installed properly, a fixed-knot fence can last as long as 50 years, said Matt Stokes, ag equipment and fencing manager at Producers Co-op in Bryan. A fixed-knot fence adds a third wire twisted around the vertical and horizontal wires where they join, giving greater strength. “The wire is more expensive per foot, but using half the number of posts can result in savings,” Stokes said. Micklitz said a net wire fence with a solid lock knot is the best product currently available. “It can be 48 to 49 inches tall — or taller. It can even be a game fence,” he said. “The way we build is to use steel or pipe for all the major posts and then use heavy weight t-posts for
ON THE COVER Buddy Micklitz and his employee Zach Rodriguez pound in posts while building a fence in rural Bryan last month. Post photo by Stuart Villanueva
our intermediary posts.” Micklitz said net wire is a high-carbon wire, which also makes it feasible to use fewer posts — keeping costs in line. Less costly options such as welded wire and cattle panels also are available, but Stokes said these options will not provide the longevity of a heavier wire. The type of materials used and the height of the fence should be driven by the types of animals a rancher or landowner hopes to keep in — or out, Micklitz said. A net wire fence with a strand of barbed wire three inches from the ground can help keep hogs off a property, for instance.
Posts A sturdy fence is as good as its posts, according to Micklitz. Installation of quality posts can increase the life of your fence greatly . Micklitz said he often steers customers more toward using pipe, because it lasts longer. If using cedar posts, Stokes said posts from the Texas Hill Country offer harder and better material. Wolmanized-treated and galvanized posts are among the other available options. Wolmanized wood is pressure treated with a preservative containing a fungicide, offering longer protection than untreated wood.
Photo by Stuar Stuart Vi Villanueva llanueva
Fence builder Nick Rodriguez walks past rolls of barbed wire while working on a fence in rural Bryan. Experts say spending more money up front for better matierals will build a stronger fence that will last longer. longer Proper bracing and corner systems also are key, said Micklitz. “Make sure you have a good corner post and brace post so that when you stretch the wire, it doesn’t pull it,” Micklitz said. “If not done properly, the wire can begin to droop and lose tension.” When Micklitz works on a fence, he said the property owner generally dictates how the posts are installed. But he prefers using a post-hole driller to install posts.
Hire a professional? Stokes said installation of a fence is straightforward, as long as ranchers and landowners have the proper tools and equipment at their disposal. A manual post-hole digger or a three-point auger — which can be fitted atop a trailer — can get the job done, he said. Fencing pliers and stretching
bars also are available. “People who do it for a living can sometimes have better ways to do it that they know,” he said. “But it’ s also straightforward.”
Maintenance A properly installed and maintained fence can last many years, said Micklitz. “It’s important to keep your fence lines clean,” he said. “Don’t let trees and brush grow up in your fence. It just makes it harder if you have to go in and repair them.” If you spray annually, spray your fence line with a chemical to keep the trees and brush down. A tree growing through the fence may not necessarily tear up a fence, but if the tree falls down, it can break your fence, Micklitz said. • Holli L. Estridge is a freelance fr writer in Bryan-College Br Station.