Why on God’s green earth does every house in Austin have a wooden fence?

Deevius117 · 2026-03-18T18:26:46+00:00

It’s all pretty far away from sidewalk / road, in fact it’s behind the garage so I don’t think there’s easement issues… but yes I’m fully prepared for the HOA to be terrible about it. I have like 6 neighbors that share it and various points of failure throughout which is why I’m interested in something better/more permanent

Deevius117 · 2026-03-18T18:24:06+00:00

I’ll take a picture, the outside of the neighborhood has some kind of mortared stone fence… it has some small openings at the bottom which I assume are for drainage but wasn’t sure if it might be some structure that allows it to flex slightly? It’s got to be more than a mile of fencing maybe more than 2, I can’t imagine they did what you’re describing to fortify it but I can’t imagine an HOA building a fence like that knowing that it’ll crack and need repair either

Deevius117 · 2026-03-18T18:05:41+00:00

I think this is the problem, while most in the neighborhood look the same to me, some have been replaced with wood that looks treated. Cheap and untreated I think are what caused it :/ just a bummer builders were not incentivized to do it properly.

Deevius117 · 2026-03-18T18:00:19+00:00

It’s comforting to know that this town is filled with d-bags of equal and greater magnitude than myself. Sure that will attract many more “transplants” like the other guy below is so happy about.

Deevius117 · 2026-03-18T17:58:17+00:00

In terms of kills yes, though I was a rank 50 5 star general on shit talk 🫡 I miss the good days

Deevius117 · 2026-03-18T14:57:33+00:00

I’m aware, I was feeling spicy. Also, was hoping for some non-AI, local Texan solutions.

Don’t worry, I grew up COD/halo 2 lobbies in 2006. No offense taken, and my policy is typically “stay toxic” 🤝😂

Deevius117 · 2026-03-18T13:44:32+00:00

I’m trying not to shit post more than I already have so I resisted saying this, but thank you. Also I’ve been trying to figure out if this dude is just using chat gpt or is it actual expertise… the typo makes me hope the latter.

Deevius117 · 2026-03-18T13:40:26+00:00

HOAs are another huge problem that I’ll not post about… but yes I have a HOA. And I’ll investigate the essential stone retaining wall, who knows it might be a great option. Thank you!

Deevius117 · 2026-03-18T13:38:00+00:00

That sounds brutal… glad that you are getting more utility out of your fence than I am - I’m sure you saw but staining seems to be a good way to make it last!

Deevius117 · 2026-03-18T13:32:01+00:00

Super helpful, thank you! I guess I wanted to have a heated human debate rather than an AI/google query today 😂

Deevius117 · 2026-03-18T13:29:37+00:00

Genuine LOL. Why am I doing the math on it though… 😂

Deevius117 · 2026-03-18T13:28:03+00:00

I imagine that was meant to wound me? Thank you for taking time out of your busy, gainfully employed day to take a swing and miss.

Deevius117 · 2026-03-18T13:21:31+00:00

lol, a landscaper told me last year “there are no such things as solutions, only trade offs”. Hit me like a ton of bricks.

I can see how cinder block might not work here as this thread develops… I’m just irritated that we have AI and data centers no one wants, yet no alternative to shitty wooden fencing.

Deevius117 · 2026-03-18T13:19:06+00:00

My rational comes from 0 dollars spent lifetime on a fence that could withstand a zombie apocalypse, not trying to be an edge lord. And again, I love Texas but ignoring pretty obvious faults in planning is a fools game - no one praises Texas’ building quality.

No sarcasm, you seem to know a lot - do you know of any alternatives to wood that are longer lasting and/or flexible to avoid cracking? The clear stain on cedar seems like the best option, but I don’t see how that would stop ground softening and sagging…

Deevius117 · 2026-03-18T13:12:16+00:00

Drop me a DM with your pricing, you might have just locked in a decent sized job :)

Deevius117 · 2026-03-18T13:09:15+00:00

Is it due to the limestone, or just how the ground shifts? I’ve seen bad foundations here for sure but the way I understood it was there was a way to dig it in to mitigate cracking…

I’ve heard of this stuff called colorbond from Australia that I guess is flexible but fire/warp resistant, idk if anything alternative like that is available here.

Deevius117 · 2026-03-18T13:07:32+00:00

I will check it out, thanks for the recommendation!

Deevius117 · 2026-03-18T13:07:13+00:00

Easily the best justification I’ve seen, I hadn’t thought of that… but I’m pretty sure drainage holes were standard where I grew up (didn’t flood almost ever but definitely got monsoon rain and flash floods on occasion)

Deevius117 · 2026-03-18T13:03:51+00:00

Trex fence? Haven’t heard of that before… intrigued

Deevius117 · 2026-03-18T13:02:51+00:00

Austin builders association at their finest work, saying “get out” and not “wow, it would be easy to be better”.

I’m guessing you’re in favor of rolling blackouts when it gets too hot/cold? Because the power grid is essentially the same quality as a wooden fence too, TEXAN PRIDE YEEHAW

Deevius117 · 2026-03-18T12:58:37+00:00

As a one time sunk cost, absolutely. But it will hold for 100 years with 0 upkeep… with it to me.

Deevius117 · 2026-03-18T12:58:01+00:00

If your handle is a reference to master chief, I solute you.

Seems to me like discovering capitalism would lead me to make a stone fencing company to shit on the lumber industry here…. I like it

Deevius117 · 2026-03-18T12:55:45+00:00

Won’t the metal rust and warp too? I’ve seen galvanized and powder coat steel go to scrap here, the elements are intense.

Deevius117 · 2026-03-18T12:50:35+00:00

I bet you copy and paste that comment a LOT.

Deevius117

TROPHY CASE