We are looking at a property that needs some fencing work and looking to get a rough idea of what it would cost. We would initially need about 1800 feet for a small pasture that would eventually hold a few cows. Don't need the nicest fence but also don't want the cheapest thing going. I've not built a fence like this, but not opposed to learning or at least helping with it if someone were to bring their knowledge and skills.

Also would need to repair and replace some fence like the below, which if it is simply replacing boards, I can do myself obviously. Any idea what either of these would cost per foot installed? Really we are just in the gathering info stage right now. I appreciate any info.

Type of fence and location would be helpful.

What area?

There is going to be a lot of variables obviously. 5 barb will probably be the least expensive, but you may run into trouble getting somebody out for a smaller project depending on where you are located.

Sorry, this would be east of beaumont.

And just realized the current fence pic wasn't posted. For the pasture, i am not married to anything specifically, just something durable and hopefully slightly decent looking.

Current fence:

Sea Speed said:

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Sorry, this would be east of beaumont.

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Vidor?!?

TexDill15 said:

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Sea Speed said:

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Sorry, this would be east of beaumont.

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Vidor?!?

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Charleston

But no, not Vidor.

B-1 83 said:

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Rule number one for fences: Never poor boy a fence

This should help you on solid design:

https://efotg.sc.egov.usda.gov/api/CPSFile/29884/382_TX_PS_Fence_2021

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Yea I'm not intending to go cheap, I just don't need fancy or ornate. Was thinking of something like this.

Yea that sounds ideal and will look good enough that I'm not annoyed looking at it.

So how much do you reckon something like that would cost to have installed and/or how big is the learning curve on that.

Sea Speed said:

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Yea that sounds ideal and will look good enough that I'm not annoyed looking at it.

So how much do you reckon something like that would cost to have installed and/or how big is the learning curve on that.

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Semi-educated guess.... $3-5 per foot.

Was your offer accepted on the property you were looking at?

If so, Congrats!

AgEng06 said:

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Sea Speed said:

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Yea that sounds ideal and will look good enough that I'm not annoyed looking at it.

So how much do you reckon something like that would cost to have installed and/or how big is the learning curve on that.

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Semi-educated guess.... $3-5 per foot.

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Thats not too terrible, especially at $3.

The wood fence is a simple 3 rail horse fence, nothing special or hard about it.

For the pasture, a 4 or 5 rail barbed would be the cheapest. Good corner posts with a few braces and stretch the wire tight. Odds are you can find a local fencing contractor that will be fairly reasonable, would expect $4-$6 a foot for the barbed wire, depending on things like trees, access, etc.

The horse fence is something you can replace boards on easy enough.

Yea I'm not concerned about the horse fence, ill replace boards as necessary or a post here or there, that would just be if I needed to replace a long run in a short amount of time. That fence doesn't take much additional know how anyways, but I've never stretched barb wire.

On that note any issues skipping the barbed wire and going for smooth wire?

Also i can use fence costs to negotiate

I grew up in Orangefield. You looking north or south of 10?

North so far but not opposed to South if something came up.

Call A1 Maida Fencing in Beaumont. Chris Maida is a good guy and can point you in the right direction,

Sea Speed said:

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Yea I'm not concerned about the horse fence, ill replace boards as necessary or a post here or there, that would just be if I needed to replace a long run in a short amount of time. That fence doesn't take much additional know how anyways, but I've never stretched barb wire.

On that note any issues skipping the barbed wire and going for smooth wire?

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As noted above, that's not an option if you're trying to keep cows in or out. Also, go with 5 strands and not 4 unless you want to do a lot more fence repair the rest of your life - especially if you don't own both sides of the fence. Even with 5 cattle will tear through from time to time (6 is best and even it's not impenetrable). But don't be a cheapskate- if you're paying someone to do the fence go with 5 wires minimum. You'll remember me saying this if you elect to go 4 wires.

The two fences are 2 separate areas, not relying on the horse fence for cows. Appreciate the insight. I dont want to spend my life doing fence repair, and when I'm away from home my wife definitely won't be doing it, so 5 strand sounds like the route I would need to take.

Sea Speed said:

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B-1 83 said:

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Rule number one for fences: Never poor boy a fence

This should help you on solid design:

https://efotg.sc.egov.usda.gov/api/CPSFile/29884/382_TX_PS_Fence_2021

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Yea I'm not intending to go cheap, I just don't need fancy or ornate. Was thinking of something like this.

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What are you trying to contain? I've built all of my own fences and have consulted all manner of documents and experts. The one referenced by B1 is good. Every single one is still standing. There is absolutely nothing wrong with that corner. If they did the corner well and the deadman well, that fence will pull 7 strands of high tensile horse fence for three decades and keep going. I know that because I've built them exactly like that and had horses and cows test it. In fact, for horse fence, that's the preferred design. It will absolutely hold a little old 12 ga barbed no problem, depending on run length of course. That said if you're doing barbed wire then I prefer H braces on my corners.

There is not anything wrong with a board fence either. But again, if you are containing cattle that's one thing, horses are another. Your soil and animals will dictate your options. I have horses and cattle and will under no circumstances use barbed. I go barbless cable due to cost but I prefer a vinyl coated high tensile horse fence, it's strong, easy to maintain, etc, but it's pricey. None of this matters for cows if that's your primary animal.

If you want cost effective and good, go with 6 strand barbed with h braces on your corners and double braces as needed. If it's a perimeter fence, then I'd incorporate wood or heavy line posts occasionally, check the document for specs. I just use t posts but those are only for pens and cross fence.

Fence building is all about physics. You can build a braced corner out of 4" posts that will pull half a mile of fence better than a poorly built brace out of 12" corners and 6" brace posts. Size matters but not as much as bracing it properly. If you can couple size and technique, it'll last forever.

Every thing else is right in the thread. Spend time and money now and the rest of your life will be minor maintenance and upkeep and not catastrophic rebuilds.

Sea Speed said:

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Hwy30East said:

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Was your offer accepted on the property you were looking at?

If so, Congrats!

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No that fell through because....reasons

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Good for y'all for walking on it after investing emotionally to some degree. Make the right buy.

normaleagle05 said:

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Sea Speed said:

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Hwy30East said:

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Was your offer accepted on the property you were looking at?

If so, Congrats!

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No that fell through because....reasons

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Good for y'all for walking on it after investing emotionally to some degree. Make the right buy.

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Thanks. Was hard for the wife but obviously I thought it was the best decision for us. Doing some due diligence on another place now that requires some work, but hoping it doesn't have any major issues.

Sea Speed said:

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The two fences are 2 separate areas, not relying on the horse fence for cows. Appreciate the insight. I dont want to spend my life doing fence repair, and when I'm away from home my wife definitely won't be doing it, so 5 strand sounds like the route I would need to take.

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Stay tuff net wire is what you need. With a strand of barbed wire on the top and bottom.

Recent data point from our place:
Leon County
Roughly 550 ft road frontage, replacing 30 yr old fence that is swallowed by yaupon.
Standard H-brace at one end (2 3/8 tubing)
H-brace in middle of run due to where a hill breaks
10 foot wide dog-legged h-brace on other end to tie into existing fence owned by pipeline company
5 strand barbed wire
Cedar posts every 4 or 5 t-posts.
One day of mulching to clean up brush line.
~$5900 ($1800 of that is the mulcher)

Without mulcher, cost works out to about $7.45/ft, but this is a smaller run, and the terrain requires a lot more particular bracing, so the expected cost is higher.