August 10th, 2026

Every year around this time, we get the same question from homeowners in Sherman, Van Alstyne, Bonham, and across Grayson and Collin County: "When is the best time to put up a new fence?"

The honest answer is that you can build a fence in North Texas almost any month of the year. However, if you want the smoothest installation, optimal working conditions, and a finished fence before the holidays, late summer is the time to make the call — not when you're ready to break ground.
Here's why.

Fall Weather Is the Sweet Spot for Fence Work
North Texas summers are hard on outdoor projects. Triple-digit afternoons slow crews down, and the ground gets so dry and compacted that digging post holes turns into a fight.
By early fall, that changes. Temperatures drop into a comfortable working range, the soil softens up enough to dig clean, consistent post holes, and concrete cures at a steadier rate instead of flash-drying in the heat. That means straighter posts, tighter spacing, and a fence that sits right from day one.
It's also better for the wood. Cedar and treated pine installed in more moderate conditions go through less immediate expansion and contraction, which helps the boards settle evenly instead of cupping or gapping in the first few weeks.


​Our Fall Calendar Fills Up in Late Summer
This is the part most homeowners don't think about until it's too late.
Fall is one of the busiest stretches of the year for fence contractors in North Texas. Once the weather turns, everybody who spent the summer thinking about their fence picks up the phone at the same time. By late September, quality installers are often booking weeks out.
Homeowners who reach out in August get first pick of install dates. Homeowners who wait until October are choosing from whatever's left — and sometimes that means waiting until after Thanksgiving.
If you have a specific timeline in mind, calling early is the difference between getting your date and getting a spot on a waitlist.

You'll Have Your Fence Before the Holidays
There's a practical reason a lot of our customers target fall: they want the yard finished before family starts showing up.
A new fence changes the whole look of a property. Whether it's a privacy fence for the backyard, a wrought iron section along the front, or a gate that finally opens the way it should, it's the kind of upgrade people notice the second they pull into the driveway.
Booking in late summer puts your install comfortably ahead of Thanksgiving and Christmas, with time to spare for staining or any finishing touches.

Fall Installs Are Better for Pets, Kids, and Pools
If you're fencing for a reason beyond looks, timing matters even more.
Families with dogs or young kids usually want that fence up before the weather turns nice again and everyone's outside more. Pool owners often need fencing in place to meet local safety requirements. And if you've been dealing with a leaning, rotting, or storm-damaged fence all summer, fall is the natural point to replace it instead of patching it through another winter.
Waiting until spring means living with the problem for another six months — and paying spring prices in the busiest season of the year.
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What to Do Now If You're Planning a Fall Fence
You don't have to have everything figured out to get started. Here's what helps:

• Walk your property line. Know roughly where the fence needs to go and note any slopes, trees, or old fencing that needs to come out.
• Think about material. Western Red Cedar, treated pine, wrought iron, and chain-link all serve different purposes and price points. We'll walk you through the trade-offs.
• Consider steel posts. In North Texas soil, steel posts dramatically outlast wood posts and are the single biggest factor in how long your fence stays straight.
• Check your HOA rules. Some neighborhoods have height, style, or material requirements worth knowing before you plan.
• Get on the calendar. Even a rough timeline is enough to reserve a spot.

Let's Get Your Fall Install Scheduled
At Mike Downs Fencing, we've been building custom fences for North Texas homeowners for over twenty years — wood, cedar, wrought iron, chain-link, gates, and staining. We serve Sherman, Van Alstyne, Bonham, Trenton, Leonard, and the surrounding Grayson and Collin County communities.
If a new fence is on your list this year, now is the time to reach out. Get a free estimate, lock in your install date, and head into fall knowing it's handled.

We never subcontract our labor.  
We don't cut corners!
 Veteran- owned and operated since 2002.

Call Mike Downs Fencing today for your free estimate. 903-814-8118 

📍 Serving North Texas & Texoma:
Sherman • Denison • Gainesville • Whitesboro • Pottsboro • Howe • Van Alstyne • Bells • Savoy • Bonham • Anna • Melissa • Gunter • Collinsville • Tioga • Durant • Colbert and surrounding communities throughout Grayson, Cooke, Fannin, Northern Collin & Southern Bryan Counties.