Shopping and Building on a budget - Chapter 17

Welcome back Y’all! Y’all remember back in Chapter 3.? The bricks in the ground and more stacked to the side? I had an idea for some of those bricks.🤔 Perfect for a short walk way.

Here is a better picture of my brick laying. 🤠 Back in Chapter 6, I showed y’all a dirt covered picture that wasn't very visible. I laid the bricks from the existing cement walkway to the shop door. There is a 2” PVC pipe under the bricks, against the slab for proper drainage. 

Up, down and being on my knees for this project, those knee padded pants that I purchased at Walmart   came in real handy. Again, probably the best item I have purchased at any Walmart. Another job I have for the bricks is lining them up under my new section of fence.

Back when I asked my Fence team, “I need the fence level six feet or more in height. Don’t worry about the gap at the bottom, that meets the ground”. I said. 🤠I want the fence level with the house, not the ground. Also, I never want the wood to touch the ground. Termites may or may not be an issue now, but really, they are an issue everywhere. Don’t be fooled by termite exterminators that put out spikes with wood shavings then sell you on a spray and an expensive insurance. 🤔I’m not saying all exterminators are bad. I’m just saying stop, ask questions and study the situation. If y’all need a professional exterminator, always call a professional. “Y’all got to know your limitations!” Safety first. Termites are everywhere that I know of. Y’all just can’t give them a home and food. I bought this Termite Spray at Home Depot a while back. Make sure to follow all the instructions. Remember, safety first. Read carefully and use wisely. If it's a weaker mix it may say “indoor” or outdoor, I began using this “BioAdvanced” product a while back and I am very satisfied with it. I now purchase this product in a 40 oz. container. (Concentrated) I have my own sprayer and spray every three months, around the house and the fence line. My purchases now say outdoor only 🤔so make sure to read carefully. Sometimes I find this product for less at Lowes , Walmart  , Tractor Supply  and or  Amazon . Again, I just want to give y’all a choice of Retailers. I know how prices change. My goal is to give y’all my best advice, save you time and save you MONEY. 🤠 Back to the Termites, never stack wood or boards against your home, outside walls or in and around areas y’all never move. That's their favorite home and best feeding territory. 😮

I want to let y’all know if you hire a good Fence company, the team that comes out, works for YOU. You are the customer. If you ask or just let them know your thoughts, they should work with you. If they don’t, no worries, hire a better company. 🤠There are plenty of great fence companies out there, just like my team. 

As I was mowing the lawn one day, I came around the Southwest side of the house . Yes! “I’m thinking y’all…a dangerous pastime…I know.”🤣 What if I take down this last part of the old fence? On that side of the house, is the last of the old. A ten foot section up against my shed and a gate attached to the wall of the house. There is a column on that corner of the house. I can go from that column, six feet out and then to the rear of the shed. That column in the corner is approximately six foot four inches high. That will be my starting point. The top of the fence will be over six foot high. These are six foot long pickets and six inches wide. No worries about the gap at the bottom, right? Laying bricks all down the line will take care of that gap and my new fence never touches the ground. 

Let me make a phone call to All-State Fence & Supply. I spoke with Courtney. Courtney hooked me up with Mark again and Mark sent Nathan out to measure. Great communication. Nathan and Mark know exactly what I’m looking for in a fence build. Nathan asked about the old fence from the fence line to the house. I said “No worries, I’ll take down the six foot section, up to the gate, before your team gets here.” 🤠 I will leave the gate between the shed and the house intact for security. I can remove it AFTER the new fence is installed. The new fence will not have a gate. I chose to close off that side of the house and lawn. No entry or exit needed. 

Why? Well, this West Texas wind, these giant Oak trees and giant White Oaks, the leaves just gather up in that corner, beginning from the old fence, gate and down the wall of the house. It’s a mess. This fence line will allow the leaves to blow up against the fence and fly across the front of the house and down the road they go. 🤠

The fence team came out and placed the metal post in cement. They will let the cement dry and cure. The team will come back the next day and put up the rest of the fence. They are now done with the job. See my pictures below. Look closely at the first picture. To the far left, y’all can see the column, at the corner, in front of the house. Pretty level with the house too. Don’t y’all think?

After the completion of the fence, I was able to take down the old gate. Yes 😞 oh my. I forgot to take a photo of the old fence section and the gate before the removal. 

I was looking back at some old pictures and found this one below.

I had two bicycles and an old wooden ladder up against that old gate. Remember, I said I never used that gate. 🤠

Y’all can look closely at this picture and see where I removed the old 4x4 of the gate against the wall of the foot of the house and the bottom of the corner of the shed. I will fill those holes up with some cement mix that I can purchase at any of my retailers Amazon search Quickrete where necessary , Home Depot , Lowes , Walmart  and or Tractor Supply. Also, y’all can see I have more bricks. LOL! 🤣🤠

Hey! What’s that leaning against the wall of the shed? That’s my pipe that I used to break through the dirt under the sidewalk, when I was digging my trench. That pipe and my handy, dandy, hand held, sledge hammer did the trick. 🤠 I still need to lay all the bricks across the bottom of the new fence. I’ll share that with y’all on the rest of the story. 

So, join me next time! Don’t forget to click on my Links to save some time and money. Tap the Like button👍, send feedback, ask questions and definitely Subscribe by placing your email on the home page, to receive notification of a NEW Chapter at the Duron Ranch. Until next time, stay safe and make good choices. We’ll see y’all soon!!!

FAQ

Q: What is the easiest way to build a short brick walkway to a shop door
A: Lay a tight brick path from the existing sidewalk, then add a small drainage gap at the slab edge.

Q: Why put bricks under the fence line
A; It helps keep pickets from touching soil, reduces rot risk, and makes it harder for termites to hide.

Q: Should a fence follow the ground or stay level
A: If you want a clean look, set it level with the house and use a bottom gap strategy like bricks.

Q: How do I reduce leaf pileups in a windy corner
A: Close off the problem opening and run the fence so wind carries leaves past the corner instead of trapping them.