Securing the house

[Kindrox]

I personally believe we tend to put a little too much emphasis on using guns to protect our families while at home. At least compared to a little preventative medicine. If you look at other countries, much more thought is put into physical barriers. My wife and I are looking to start a family soon and she will be a stay at home mom, home schooling the kids.

With that in mind I have been working on a concrete fence project for about a year now. 70% of the house will be protected by the eight foot tall fence, with a sliding gate opening in the back to the alley. In the last week it has started to come together. All told, the fence will be a little over 200 feet long.

Why a concrete fence? It’s a lifetime solution. Along with that I can let blackberry vines grow up it in the alley way, improving my security, and let vines grow up it on the neighbor sides so it looks attractive.

It is private. No peeking through cracks or knot holes.

It is secure. The only way in is over. The back gate will be installed such that it won’t open for intruders. So no jumping over the fence and opening the sliding gate, at least not without tools, noise, and time.

Was it a lot of work? Yes, and I did most of it myself. Was it expensive? Yes, more so than hiring a company to install a wood fence. But it should pay for itself in 10-15 years

There is a small ledge about 4 inches wide, two feet off the ground. I am going to cast some wedges and mortar them into place so a person cannot stand there.

As a nation we are a friendly bunch and we make it way to easy for intruders to get close to us. Before you ask, getting past the fence does not mean getting in the house is easy either. We have put work into hardening the house as well.

 

[acousticmood]

dude!

 

[Sir Aardvark]

It looks kind of "Berlinesque" circa the cold war.

Just curious, but why concrete and not Cinder Block, Slumpstone, or Split-face brick?

Are you planning on getting a dog for the yard for added protection?

 

[tepin]

love it!

 

[coyotehitman]

Impressive...but beware of trojan horses.

How much do you think you have invested in materials if you don't mind me asking?

 

[Kindrox]

In my area of Texas we have expansive clay soil. It generally tears up any type of brick fencing. Block fencing has the same problems as far as I know, and looks ugly to me. I never did compare the cost with cinder blocks but my gut feeling is that they would have cost about the same, maybe more.

This fence sits on piers sunk 12 feet to bedrock. Part of what made this project work out well was the easy access to bedrock.

My thoughts are mixed on the dog. Certainly they can be an asset. However if someone really wanted in, they could deal with the dog. So I don't know how much deturance Fence+Dog is over Fence. But it is on my mind, should the right dog come along.

Complete material cost is about $45 per linear foot. I have hired some labor along the way.

 

[Slvr Surfr]

Damn dude, what ghetto are you livin in ????? J/K nice wall. Seriously though, did you have to get a permit from the city to have a concrete wall instead of the fence. I would assume that you don't have a neighborhood association.

 

[Kindrox]

Impressive...but beware of trojan horses.

This is true, and true no matter what the circumstances. We live in a quiet neightboorhood and we don't generally open the door unless we know who you are.

Even better, if you know us, you'll soon know our treasure is in heaven. Our only tv is a 20 inch tube model if that gives you an idea of our lifestyle. So we don't have a long list of people thinking about getting in.

 

[Kindrox]

Seriously though, did you have to get a permit from the city to have a concrete wall instead of the fence. I would assume that you don't have a neighborhood association.

We live in a very average middle class neighborhood. It certainly feels safe, but about a year back a woman was abducted from her driveway and raped. So we don't live with a "it can't happen here" mentality. And we don't live fearful either. When opportunies arise, like the necissary replacement of the termite eaten wood fence, we improve security.

The fence, as a concrete structre more than 24" tall, had to meet building codes. I had to hire a structurall engineer and the work was all inspected and approved by the city.

We specifically chose not to live in a home owners association neightborhood as I knew some aspects of improving security are lost on folks like that.

Most internal improvements have simply happened naturally as we have remodeled our home extensivly.

 

[BullfrogKen]

Nice, but . . .


Can it keep Jack Russell Terriers in?


When we constructed a fence, our biggest concern was not keeping intruders out, but our beloved pets in.


Impressive fence. It ought to keep all but the most determined folks off your lawn.


What do you do when you leave your castle?

 

[glockman19]

Broken glass mortered in along the top will prevent anyone from getting over

 

[RoostRider]

I'm with glockman19.... I have seen it all over in Jamaica and it really works... it won't "prevent anyone from getting over", but it will put the hurt on anyone who tries without knowing what is up there (read- most anyone who would try to break in)..... not sure on the legalities of such "non discriminating" protections.... but I know it works...

 

[CWL]

That ain't no fence meester! That is a wall!

How do your neighbors feel about it?

 

[owlhoot]

Good fences make good neighbors - and you have a dandy.

If I were in your place, I would certainly get a dog, a Rottweiler. They are natural guard dogs and they take their job seriously. They don't bark. They don't dig. They are not ramblers. They won't even be interested in leaving the compound. And they require very little exercise. They will naturally patrol the area and require no training beyond the basic commands. Best dogs I've ever lived with.

 

[btg3]

Reminds me of upscale homes south of the border. Each is it's own fortress. Burglar bars as well. Nice looking properties that clearly state: "Don't even think about it!"

(Homeschooling was great for our family thru middle school. Decided on a private highschool. Kids excelled in every way, and embraced peers and values that kept them out of trouble. Now both in college with merit scholarships. Best wishes!)

 

[308win]

In New Orleans some security/privacy fences have glass embedded in the top - I have heard some locals call them "I B U" fences as in "if I be you I wouldn't try to climb over".

 

[JWarren]

Oh man... All I can think of is "Papers please."

And I thought *I* was hardcore about that stuff. I bow to your greatness. And I mean that sincerely.


A couple comments:


BullfrogKen wrote:

Nice, but . . .


Can it keep Jack Russell Terriers in?

I defer to the original Dog Whisperer-- my Dad. There is only one real way to keep a determined dog in a fence. JRT's are more determined that most, as you and I well know.

The answer? Get a roll of "chicken wire"-- that sexogon shaped wire. Lay it ON THE GROUND around the fence in sheets of about 1 foot. Now attach the side to the fence by twisting the wire together. You can stake the outer side to the ground. Soon, the wire will be at ground level and grass wil grow through it. It will not be visible, and you can mow over it.

But it WILL prevent a dog from digging out.

Now, if you have one of those rare "climbing" dogs, you still have problems. Dad had a couple of those that could scale a 5 foot chain link fence.




Kindrox wrote:

I personally believe we tend to put a little too much emphasis on using guns to protect our families while at home.

I agree, but with some variance.

Guns are our LAST line of defense without a doubt. However, I also worry about break-ins while you are NOT at home. Any thief worth his salt has done enough homework to know when you are not at home. At least the ones that robbed me a couple years ago did. And they are Crack addicts. A sober one HAS to be better.

There are things that you can do that will help while you are home or away, but those things are just obstacles.

A determined thief can get over your wall. But don't feel bad. A determined thief can get through/over a LOT of things. All you can do is make it harder for them, and hope that it draws attention or makes it not worth the effort.


While I don't have concrete walls, I have a similar mentality as you. I wont' highjack your thread with my setup, but I feel pretty good about it.

However, I will say this:


All the preparations we do are of limited effectiveness without a monitored alarm system with cell backup.

If they do get in, the alarm starts a clock ticking as to how long they can be there before someone comes. However, the phone lines can EASILY be cut. I found two places were my lines can be cut with little effort. If they are cut, you still get the loud alarm, but no one will be notified. The cell backup is a must.

A while back, I was SHOCKED to see how many THR members do not have an alarm system. Around here, I literally cannot think of a single person who DOESN'T have one.




-- John

 

[Kindrox]

All the preparations we do are of limited effectiveness without a monitored alarm system with cell backup.

A badass alarm system went in last year as part of the home remodel. I agree it is a big must. Also with the alarm system you can electronically control what opens and what does not when the alarm system trips.

I don't doubt that people can get over the fence. My plan is that if they do get in and take anything substantial, they gotta get out through the front and they gotta be fast.

Nothing says glass won't go on top but it will have to wait until the last city inspector goes away and I have one project left that will bring one on the property.

John,

I certainly don't mind if you share what worked for you. I started this thread as an example of what average folks can do with some planning and saving.

 

[JWarren]

Kindrox,


Thanks. I'll add a bit for sake of discussion. Again, I am nowhere near as elaborate as you.

Let me preface with a description of my unique setting.

I live fairly deep in our private wooded land.

We have an electronic gate with cylinder key or remote access to even enter our private roads. This gate is an 8 foot chain link fence with barbed wire topping. Beyond that, I have an additional electronic gate with different keys and remote codes at the beginning of my driveway. I have a straight line of sight to the gate at my drive.


Now, a gate is useless unless the parameter is secure. Mine is "so-so" but it will get better.

I have one fence on the roadway, but I am planning an additional chain-link fence around my interior "yard." I haven't gotten to it yet due to the size of the area-- about 5 acres. I'm mainly doing this fence-- as BullfrogKen brought up-- to keep in a couple Jack Russell Terriers when I let them out.

You guys will like this...

Presently my yard parameter utilizes a "natural" boundry. From all of the clean-up from Katrina, I still have mounds of trees almost a story high jumbled together around the actual yard. They are approximately 20 feet or so thick and most likely FILLED with poisonous snakes. I'll put it this way: *I* wouldn't THINK about trying to climb it.

Somewhere in there is the remanents of a barbed wire fence.

On the actual yard's paremeter, I have a thick grove of Chinese Yellow-tip Bamboo all around the yard. I planted this as an additional privacy screen since it grows very thick and 35' tall.

Beyond that, I have the actual alarms and security of the home which includes monitored alarm with cell backup, dead bolts, storm windows, and solid-core doors throughout the house. Valuables are even more secure.

As I figure it, I have a lot of obsticles getting in, but I do not believe that they would stop anyone. However, getting my things out will be difficult. The gates are on battery backup and will not be defeated with loss of power.

The alarm system means that a thief has approximatly 30 minutes before a LEO response. I know... but that's the way it is in the country.

Fortunately, my father is retired and can hear an alarm from my home at his home. He's in great shape and well armed. We both make a point of keeping a check on each other's homes.

At any rate, I simply home that I look like I am more trouble than I am worth. If not, I hope that I have enough obsticles that they can't do too much damage before someone shows up.


As you can see, I am doing OK... I can be a lot better-- and I will. But at the moment, I feel OK.


-- John

 

[Markbo]

Man.... my HOA would absolutely mess themselves if I showed up with a plan for one of those! :banghead:

 

[Fred Fuller]

I personally believe we tend to put a little too much emphasis on using guns to protect our families while at home.

I'll give you this. You sure put your money where your mouth is.

Still, your setup cries out for a dog. Or two. And I don't mean Jack Russells either. Our fences (basically livestock fences) are in place to keep our dogs in as well, and they work for that. The 7-8000 volts DC from the fence charger that guarantee canine respect for the fences help a lot with human attitudes too. They've even discouraged our across-the-road neighbor's escaped American bison a couple of times, and bison are known to have little respect for fences.

lpl/nc

 

[JWarren]

And I don't mean Jack Russells either.

Lee,

I didn't take you for a Canine Supremicist.


-- John

 

[Blackbeard]

Now you need a moat.

 

[JWarren]

EVERYONE needs a moat.


I have repeatedly stated this to my wife over the last year or so. She ain't buying it....


-- John

 

[buck00]

I had to check to see if you lived in a West Bank settlement... or South Africa?

What was the reaction of the neighbors??

I'm sure it will be secure, but some walls eventually fail....