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Here is an article that appeared in the
Georgetown Newspaper.
Building good neighborhoods
one fence at a time
By: D. ANN SHIFFLER
It’s up to you to believe or
not believe the old adage “good fences make good neighbors.”
But the key word in this adage
is “good.” If you are going to put up a fence, make sure it’s a good one.
David Kemkaran, owner of
Dave’s Fences in Georgetown, has been building all sorts of fences for
residences and businesses for about five years.
He builds wood privacy fences
and ornamental steel fences and chain length fences. He builds elaborate gates
that homeowners open and close by remote control, and he designs fences to
encircle pools, yards and even entire ranches.
“The most popular fences are
wood privacy fences and the ornamental steel fences,” said Mr. Kemkaran. “The
black coated chain length fence has also become popular. These fences have hit a
price point between iron fencing and the cheaper galvanized chain length.”
Most of the fences that Mr.
Kemkaran and his crews build meet set criteria set by neighborhood associations
‘and deed restrictions. Some subdivisions require that the ornamental steel and
wood fences be built in between rock columns.
“It’s really popular to have
the iron fences lead up to a stone column,” he said. “Most of the golf course
communities require the ornamental steel fences and the rock columns.
In the past, most fence
contractors used steel to construct fences, but now they are mainly using
ornamental steel that is coated so that it won’t rust.
‘The steel we use is
galvanized and coated,” said Mr. Kemkaran.
Most ornamental steel fences
are truly ornamental, because they don’t provide privacy and small dogs and
animals can get through them.
“We have an ornamental steel
fence that has puppy bars, said Mr. Kemkaran. “It has a two-foot tall bar in
between the pickets to keep tiny puppies in. This style really does look good.”
For the most part, deed
restrictions or neighborhood associations determine the style of fences. When
they are able to get creative, Mr. Kemkaran helps his customers design fences
and gates that will add value to their property often he will install a
combination of
fencing,
including ornamental steel and wood privacy fences.
“Some customers have a fixed
idea of what they want, or they will show you a picture of what they want,” he
said. “Others say, ‘You’re the professional. Tell me what you would suggest.’
For these people I have created a picture book of fences we’ve done over the
years.”
Most customers like to get
creative with their gates, Mr. Kemkaran said.
“The Texas star is always
popular” he said. “For one client, we had steel stamped leaves built right into
the gate. Each leaf symbolized one of the children in the family”
Mr. Kemkaran said that
whatever a client can draw, he and his team can usually build it.
Much of the fence building in
Georgetown involves replacing rotted wooden privacy fences.
“If it is installed poorly, a
wood privacy fence will last about 10 years,” he said. “We’re replacing some
fences that were built when you put the picket in the dirt. When this is done,
ants and termites get into the wood. In a lot of cases we’re using metal posts
for a wooden fence. The fences are straighter, and you don’t have to worry about
rotting.”
The most popular privacy fence
is the shadow box fence, which allows every one who shares the fence to get the
“good side.”
The problem with these fences
where the picket goes on one side and then the other side with a gap in between
is that they are more expensive because they require a third more pickets
Another type of fence that is
gaining in popularity is the PVC fence. Mr. Kemkaran said they are light and
they never need painting.
“We did a big job on a ranch
where they keep Longhorn cattle,” he said. “It basically looks like a three rail
wood fence, but it’s actually plastic.”
Some people like the
sustainability of concrete fences.
“When you get into concrete,
you are talking about more of a heavy construction job,” said Mr. Kemkaran. “You
need different equipment. The beams can weigh 300 to 400 pounds. It’s very
pricey. You are getting into wall building at that point.”
Often, subdivisions that are
close to freeways will use concrete fences or walls as sound barriers.
Every residential swimming
pool in Georgetown is required to have a fence around it, and the fence must
have a spring gate that will automatically slam shut.
Even out in the country,
swimming pool owners are supposed to have fences around their pools. If they do
not have a fence around their pool, their insurance company can cancel their
policy
For homeowners looking to
replace or install a fence, Mr. Kemkaran suggests that they can’t get a true
estimate of the cost without having the contractor come out and look at the job
and measure.
“Per foot pricing is a myth,”
he said. “People get stuck on the per foot price. But be sure to look at the
fine print. If it’s a rocky area and you’ve got to get the rocks out, it will
cost more.
“If they hit a pipe, you have
to play for the plumber. With us, if we hit pipes we fix it.”
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