Fence Questions, Answered
These are the fence questions people ask most around Boerne. Short answers here, with real prices. Where there's more to say, each answer links to a full fence guide or the matching service page.
Prices · Permits and Process · Choosing a Fence or Gate · General · Service Areas
Prices
What most jobs around Boerne cost, installed.
What does a fence cost in Texas?
Installed prices run about $12 to $30 per foot for chain link, $25 to $45 for 6 ft wood privacy, $35 to $60 for board-on-board or 8 ft cedar, $20 to $45 for pipe, $8 to $20 for deer fence and $40 to $75 for wrought iron. Rock, slope, height, gates and tear-out decide where you land in those ranges.
What does 100 ft or 200 ft of fence cost?
For a 6 ft wood privacy fence, 100 ft runs about $2,500 to $4,500, 150 ft runs $3,750 to $6,750 and 200 ft runs $5,000 to $9,000. Tearing out an old fence adds $3 to $6 per foot.
How much does fence repair cost?
Most repair jobs run $300 to $900. Replacing one post runs $250 to $500, and rebuilding a fallen section runs $300 to $1,500.
What does it cost to replace a wood fence?
A 6 ft wood privacy fence runs $25 to $45 per foot installed, plus $3 to $6 per foot to tear out and haul off the old one.
What does a wrought iron fence cost?
Wrought iron or ornamental steel runs $40 to $75 per foot installed. Height, style, gates and rock decide where you land in that range.
What's a cheaper alternative to wrought iron?
Black vinyl-coated chain link ($12 to $30 per foot) or a pipe fence ($20 to $45 per foot) keep an open look for less than iron at $40 to $75 per foot.
What does a pipe fence cost in Texas?
Pipe fence runs $20 to $45 per foot installed, for top rail with wire or pipe and cable. Height, number of rails, wire type, rock and slope set where a job lands in that range.
What does it cost to fence 10 acres?
A square 10-acre tract has about 2,640 feet of perimeter. At $20 to $45 per foot for pipe that's roughly $52,800 to $118,800; at $8 to $20 per foot for deer or wire fence it's about $21,120 to $52,800, before gates.
Is chain link cheaper than wood, and what are the downsides?
Yes. Chain link runs $12 to $30 per foot vs $25 to $45 for 6 ft wood privacy. The downsides are no privacy, a utility look, and HOA rules in some neighborhoods that limit it.
What does fence staining cost, and is it worth it?
Cleaning and staining a 6 ft fence runs $3 to $8 per foot for one side. It slows graying, cracking and rot, which pushes back the day you pay to replace the fence.
What does an automatic gate cost?
An automatic driveway gate runs $3,000 to $12,000 installed complete. Adding an opener to a gate you already have runs $1,000 to $5,000.
Permits and Process
Permits, post depth, timing and what happens on the job.
What is the best time of year to install a fence?
Fall through spring is the most comfortable stretch to build in the Hill Country, and summer works too with an early start. Inside Boerne or Fair Oaks Ranch city limits, leave time for the permit before the start date.
Do I need a permit for a fence in Boerne?
Yes, inside Boerne city limits. The City of Boerne requires a permit application with a site plan showing where the fence will go, and contractors must be registered with the city to work inside city limits. Fair Oaks Ranch runs its own permits for new fences and additions.
How deep should fence posts go?
Most 6 ft fence posts go about 2 to 3 feet deep, with gate posts and 8 ft fences going deeper. On the stony uplands the hole often hits limestone, so we drill into the rock and set the post in concrete.
Can you build a fence near my live oaks?
Yes, with care. Boerne's permitting office oversees oak wilt regulations, so we plan post holes to limit root damage near live oaks and check the rules before we dig.
When is the best time to stain a fence?
Once new wood has dried out enough to take stain, and on a dry, mild stretch of weather. Older fences are due when the wood grays and water soaks in instead of beading.
Should fence stain be rolled or sprayed?
Spraying is faster; brushing or rolling works stain into the wood. The best result is usually spraying followed by back-brushing, with cars, siding and plants covered against overspray.
Do I need a permit for a driveway gate?
Inside Boerne city limits, fence work needs a permit application and site plan, so plan on it for a gate in a new fence line. Fair Oaks Ranch runs its own permits. Outside city limits, check your county and any HOA rules. In Comal County, driveway work in the county right-of-way needs a PIPROW permit.
Choosing a Fence or Gate
Materials, heights, styles and trade-offs.
Should I repair or replace my old fence?
Repair it if a few posts or sections have failed and the rest is sound. When rot has spread to many posts, replacing usually costs less over time than patching it again and again.
What wood is best for a fence in Texas?
Cedar holds up better to Texas sun and moisture and moves less than pine; pine costs less up front. For the price of each, see "What does a fence cost in Texas?" above.
How does wrought iron compare with wood?
Iron costs more ($40 to $75 per foot vs $25 to $45 for 6 ft wood privacy) and keeps the view open instead of blocking it. It needs repainting when the finish wears; wood needs staining and eventually replacing.
How long does a wrought iron fence last?
A long time, if rust spots are caught early and the finish is kept up. Repainting when the finish starts to fail is what keeps it going.
What is the cheapest fence for cattle?
Barbed wire is usually the cheapest to put up. Welded wire and pipe and cable cost more but need less upkeep, and every type depends on solid corners and bracing.
How tall does a deer fence need to be?
8 ft is the common standard for keeping deer out. A small garden can sometimes get by lower, but on a slope deer jumping from the uphill side need the full height.
What fence keeps deer out?
A tall wire fence, usually 8 ft, with gates that shut tight and no gaps at the bottom. Deer fence runs $8 to $20 per foot, from yard and garden runs up to 8 ft acreage fence.
What are the downsides of an automatic gate?
Operators and sensors need occasional service, you need a plan for power outages and deliveries, and safety sensors must be kept working. A manual release and battery backup handle most of it.
Should a driveway gate open in or out?
Most driveway gates swing in, toward the property, so they don't block the road. If the drive slopes up or there's no room for the swing, a slide gate is often the fix.
General
Fence law, licensing and the basics.
Who owns the fence between two houses in Texas? Is there a good-neighbor fence law?
Texas has no statewide good-neighbor fence law that makes neighbors split the cost of a fence between homes. A fence generally belongs to the owner whose land it sits on, unless a written agreement, deed restriction or HOA rule says otherwise. This is general information, not legal advice.
Are you licensed and insured?
Yes. Boerne Fence is licensed and insured, with over 15 years of experience, and every estimate is free.
Service Areas
Work outside Boerne, from Fair Oaks Ranch to Sisterdale.
Do you repair ranch and game fence out toward Sisterdale and Comfort?
Yes. We repair pipe, wire and game fence on acreage north and west of Boerne, including Sisterdale along FM 1376 and Comfort along I-10, where long runs cross stony uplands.
Can you replace a wood fence in Fair Oaks Ranch?
Yes. Fair Oaks Ranch issues its own fence permits, separate from Boerne. If you're replacing a fence in the same spot, without adding to it or moving it, the city doesn't require a permit. A new fence or an addition needs a permit from the City of Fair Oaks Ranch before work starts.
Do you install driveway gates in Bulverde and Spring Branch?
Yes. East of Boerne along Hwy 46 and US 281, many properties have long, sloped drives and rocky ground, which affects whether a swing or slide gate fits and how the posts are set.
Still Have a Question?
Call 830-388-7330 or send the form. We'll give you a straight answer and a free estimate.