Walls Between the Homes (Phoenix, Tucson: best suburbs, find a job, luxury)

[Nearborn]

I hate those walls too. Maybe if they were some kind of brick other than cinderblock with some type of pattern to them, but I think the cinderblock, along with a lot of the cheap suburban architecture around the Phoenix area really looks like crap.

Reminds me of the exercise area of a prison. Just add some razor wire on top and each house is a jail or penitentiary.

[MotleyCrew]

Originally Posted by Nearborn

I hate those walls too. Maybe if they were some kind of brick other than cinderblock with some type of pattern to them, but I think the cinderblock, along with a lot of the cheap suburban architecture around the Phoenix area really looks like crap.

Reminds me of the exercise area of a prison. Just add some razor wire on top and each house is a jail or penitentiary.

Whoa there! We paid a whopping $150 more for our "River runs through it" front yard. If I could put a wall around that, I would. Keep the bikes out of it. Cheap suburban architecture my foot.

[sierraAZ]

Originally Posted by twixcookie

What's up with this???
I haven't seen this before, and anywhere I've ever lived, you looked out and saw some land and homes.

That's the West - the land of the lonely wolves!

Originally Posted by LordBalfor

Well, it seems to me that it's either a solid material like cinderblock - which is relatively cheap, and provides privacy and security - or open chain link style fences - which provides neither privacy nor much security as they are easily climbed - since wood is not abundant in the area and would probably badly warp, dry out, and crack in the heat and dry air.

Seems a logical choice to me.
If you travel around the country you'll see that building materials are different based on what is abundant in the area and what makes the most sense based on the weather conditions there. Here in the PNW we use a lot of wood, the East Coast has more brick - as does the South, where cinderblock is also more common. In Hawaii, the South Pacific islands, and (I would think) the Caribbean also tend to use a lot of cinderblock because is stands up fairly well to the high winds and water of hurricanes/typhoons.

Ken

Chain link fences are sooooo darn ugly! Just thought of another type of fence you can have here - ocotillo fence!



http://farm1.static.flickr.com/230/4...919f79.jpg?v=0

[LordBalfor]

Ocotillo fence!!!!!!!!!!!

That would sure keep ME from sneaking in.

OUCH!!!!!

Nice photo!

Ken

[twixcookie]

Originally Posted by Nearborn

I hate those walls too. Maybe if they were some kind of brick other than cinderblock with some type of pattern to them, but I think the cinderblock, along with a lot of the cheap suburban architecture around the Phoenix area really looks like crap.

Reminds me of the exercise area of a prison. Just add some razor wire on top and each house is a jail or penitentiary.

Ha! That was funny...one could do that Shawshank look...
Put bars on the windows too.
I understand that wood framed homes don't do well here, but the stucco still looks like Flinstone homes. In the midwest and east, stucco is used, but more as an architectural diversion, like stone, wood, brick. Ah yes...I miss seeing brick...real brick. But then a brick home in AZ would be a brick oven.

[sierraAZ]

Originally Posted by LordBalfor

Ocotillo fence!!!!!!!!!!!

That would sure keep ME from sneaking in.

OUCH!!!!!

Nice photo!

Ken

I know there are some around town, but I haven't seen them. I have seen a real one down in Mexico, though. Of course, you can only do that if you live in a no-HOA neighborhood... Just yesterday we were talking at work about straw bale fences covered with stucco. It's entirely possible... people build straw bale houses.

[crazyme4878]

Originally Posted by sierraAZ

Just yesterday we were talking at work about straw bale fences covered with stucco. It's entirely possible... people build straw bale houses.

I have thought the same thing. It would be good practice for anyone wanting to build a strawbale house or shed.

[and the]

Whoa there! We paid a whopping $150 more for our "River runs through it" front yard. If I could put a wall around that, I would. Keep the bikes out of it. Cheap suburban architecture my foot.

Sure, that's the landscaping, but what's the siding on your house.....Stucco?? Yucko!!

Is there a reason they don't use brick? I was in a brick building with high ceilings, big windows, no A/C and just a couple fans when it was about 120 degrees and the inside was surprisingly cool....I think the place was built about 120 years ago.

[dookieboy]

Nothing says "curb appeal" like that ocotillo fence.

And a 3 foot wide stuccoed hay bail?! Better check with your HOA first. (Insert sarcasm here) Think they might shoot you down on that one.

[twixcookie]

Originally Posted by and the

Sure, that's the landscaping, but what's the siding on your house.....Stucco?? Yucko!!

Is there a reason they don't use brick? I was in a brick building with high ceilings, big windows, no A/C and just a couple fans when it was about 120 degrees and the inside was surprisingly cool....I think the place was built about 120 years ago.

Like everything, it is probably cost. Stucco must be cheaper than brick, and probably cheaper to put up.

I like brick too. I don't know everything in the southwest has to be the same. They built colonials in the midwest...