Fencing Corpus Christi

A lot of the fencing supplies on the market today do not belong in Corpus Christi, according to the two Joe Hilliards who own and operate Fencing Inc. of Texas. 
Joe Mack Hilliard, who bought A-1 Fencing in 1976 before incorporating as Fencing Inc. of Texas in 1978, warns anyone living on the black gumbo dirt of the Coastal Bend to water their fence posts. His son, Joe Keane Hilliard, adds that the quality of fencing materials sold nationwide just doesn’t work in a coastal climate.
“You are going to need a thicker tubing that will withstand the most corrosive elements in the country, which is where we live,” Joe Keane Hilliard said. “If you use what they sell in the box stores, your fence is going to rust and sag within six months. You are not going to be happy.”
As for watering your fence, Coastal Bend homeowners also have to water their foundations to keep the soil at a consistency to prevent swelling, contracting and, ultimately, cracking. Living near the sand and surf takes some education, something the Hilliards accept as part of their responsibility working in the industry. As the oldest fencing company in town, much of their efforts focus on establishing industry standards and educating their customers. 
“One of the first things I did when I came down here was knock on doors and hand out literature, getting everyone on the same standards,” Joe Mack Hilliard said of his move to Corpus Christi from Houston in 1976. “I was very instrumental in getting the ASTM specifications started.” 
The American Society for Testing and Materials is an organization that helps establish standards for a variety of otherwise unregulated industries. While plumbers, electricians and other service providers have federal and state standards they must follow, fencing companies are on their own. From the beginning of his work in the industry, which began in 1965, Joe Mack Hilliard has made a point of following both ethical and quality standards he established himself. 
“You want people to know you have integrity, that you are a complete and competent fence company,” he said. “A lot of people think a fence is a fence is a fence, that they can buy from any backyard operator with a post-hole digger and a wheelbarrow. Then, something goes wrong, and you can’t find them.”
Owners of rusting, sagging fences often call Fencing Inc. of Texas to prop up and maintain their broken fences. Sometimes, the Hilliards have to say no because the materials used just won’t hold up. 
The proof of their good craftsmanship can be seen across the Coastal Bend. As Joe Mack Hilliard lists his first customers in the business, including the miles of fencing around several of the big refineries, he proudly notes those fences are still standing. Fencing Inc. of Texas also built the fences at Whataburger Field, the Corpus Christi International Airport and the new Veterans Memorial High School. Repeat customers include AEP, Fulton Construction and the Corpus Christi Independent School District. 
The Hilliards also build residential and small commercial fences and can work in a variety of materials, not just chain link. Fencing Inc. of Texas installs wood fencing, PVC and even brick and metal, though the brick is contracted out. 
The company and its founder are well known and respected in the industry. Joe Mack Hilliard has served as president of the American Fencing Association and was inducted into the Fencing Hall of Fame. As a family enterprise, his son is not the only family member in the fencing business. Sharon Hilliard, his wife of 52 years, has been working by his side since he first left a nascent teaching career in Falfurrias for a job building fences in Houston in the 1960s. 
The three work together daily in an office at 5005 Chancellor Row, running fencing crews and bidding jobs. 
“We’ve been here forever, and we’re not going anywhere,” Joe Keane Hilliard said. “We love what we do. We love the challenges.”
Find out more about Fencing Inc. of Texas at (361) 854-1991, joemack@fencinginc.com or www.fencinginc.com.