Ranch and Property Fencing in the Rio Grande Valley, TX
Hogs, not cattle, test the bottom of a fence here. You get wire matched to what pushes on it, and an H brace at every corner.
We fence ranch and property lines in Starr County and across the Valley, in pipe, net wire and barbed wire. A square 10 acre tract measures 660 feet a side, so the perimeter runs 2,640 feet. Ranch fence is priced by the linear foot, with corners and gates counted on their own.
What the job includes02
What a fencing job with us includes
Ranch fence in Starr County goes through brush, not across a lawn. Mesquite roots and caliche decide how fast a post goes in, so the line gets cleared before anything is measured. Wire stretched tight at noon in July slackens on the first cool morning. Tension is set with the season in mind. Hogs, not cattle, are what test the bottom of a fence here.
- —Fence line cleared of mesquite and brush before anything gets measured
- —Corner and end assemblies braced as an H brace with an 8 foot horizontal
- —Pipe corners and gate posts set in concrete, line posts driven
- —Line posts at 10 to 12 foot spacing, tightened up on rises and washes
- —Wire stretched with a tractor or a come along, never pulled by hand
- —Tubular gates in 12, 14 and 16 foot widths, hung on pipe and braced
- —Water gaps and low spots closed so stock cannot walk under the wire
- —Wire sagging low enough between posts that stock steps over it
- —Corner braces leaning toward the run instead of standing plumb
- —T posts bent at the same angle along a whole stretch after a wind event
- —A washed out water gap where the fence crosses a draw
- —Hog sign at the bottom wire, with the strands pushed up and spread
- —Gates dragging in caliche and no longer reaching the latch
Price range03
How much does fencing cost in the Rio Grande Valley?
3 to 5 days for a quarter mile of five strand barbed wire
One day for a gate and its braces. Three weeks for a full perimeter with clearing.
Which material holds up best in Valley weather?
| Material | Holds up because | Watch out for | Best for | Lasts |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Five strand barbed wire | Lowest cost per linear foot over long runs, and easy to repair yourself | Stops cattle and horses, does nothing against hogs or goats | Pasture perimeter and cross fencing on working ground | 20 to 25 years with the braces kept tight |
| Net wire with a barbed top | Holds hogs, goats and calves, which barbed wire alone will not | Costs more per foot and needs a cleaner, straighter line | Property where hogs come through, and anywhere small stock is kept | 20 to 30 years |
| Pipe and cable | Nothing pushes through it, and it takes a hit from livestock without moving | The highest cost per linear foot of anything we build | Entrances, road frontage and pens where the fence is also the look | 40 years or more |
| Pipe and sucker rod | Common in South Texas, cheaper than cable and just as stout | Rod has to be welded, so the build is slower than stretching wire | Corrals, traps and the first run either side of the entrance | 40 years or more |
How we work this job04
How does the job actually run?
A written estimate before anything starts, a start date we commit to, and one person responsible from the first walkthrough to the last inspection.
- 01We drive the line with youDavid rides the perimeter, notes the corners, the draws and where the gates have to go, and wheels the footage.Day 1
- 02Clearing and layoutMesquite and brush come off the line first. A straight cleared line is what makes the wire stretch true later.Week 1
- 03Corners and braces before anything elseEvery corner, end and gate opening gets a pipe post in concrete and an H brace. The whole fence pulls against these.Week 1
- 04Line posts and wirePosts are driven at 10 to 12 feet. Then the wire is stretched with a tractor and clipped, strand by strand.Week 2
- 05Gates, water gaps and a drive aroundGates are hung and swung. Draws get a water gap that can wash out without taking the fence. Then we drive the line with you.Handover
From the build site05
Which homes has David Aceves helped build?
Homes built by Cuates Construction, with David Aceves on the build. Look at the property edges, the ironwork and the concrete at the lot line: David plans a fencing job with that same eye.
Questions we get06
Questions homeowners ask us about this work
How do I figure out how much fence my land needs?
Start with the shape. A square 10 acre tract is 660 feet a side, so the perimeter is 2,640 feet, half a mile. Five acres square is about 1,867 feet. Long narrow tracts need far more fence for the same acreage. Older deeds around here list rods, and one rod is 16.5 feet.
Barbed wire, net wire or pipe?
Match the fence to what is pushing on it. Cattle and horses respect five strand barbed wire. Hogs and goats go straight through it, so those places need net wire. Pipe with cable or sucker rod goes where a fence has to stop everything and be looked at. That is the entrance and the road frontage.
How far apart do posts go on a ranch fence?
Ten to 12 feet between line posts on level ground. Tighter over rises and washes, where the wire wants to lift. What actually holds the fence is the corners. Every corner, end and gate gets an H brace with an 8 foot horizontal. The wire pulls against that, not against the line posts.
Do you clear the fence line before you build?
Yes, and it is a separate line on the estimate so you can see what it costs. Mesquite, huisache and prickly pear on the line make a straight stretch impossible and eat hours. On a heavy brush line, clearing can take as long as the fence.
How wide should a ranch gate be?
Twelve feet passes a pickup and a small trailer. Fourteen is the common working width for a gooseneck. Sixteen is what you want where a tractor or a hay trailer turns in off a county road. Wider gates need heavier pipe posts, so the width gets decided before we set concrete.
Do you build cross fencing and pens inside the property?
Yes. Cross fencing to split pastures uses the same barbed or net wire as the perimeter, priced by the linear foot. Pens, traps and alleys are pipe, because that is where animals get crowded and lean. Those get quoted by the pen, not by the foot.
A remodeling contractor based in Rio Grande City, working across the four Valley counties. The team is led by David Aceves, whose background is building custom homes, from the slab and the framing to the finish work.
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