[Tiger Beer]

Just a good discussion for the 'walled-in' yards that are everywhere throughout Las Vegas.

I actually LIKE it...although I can see arguments for and against them. On the plus side, they give you both privacy and security. You can put pretty much anything in your back yard, and it somewhat seems to be an extension of your house. Plus if you have kids or pets, than your worries about traffic or wandering far diminishes as well. I can see tons of positivies. What other positives do you see?

What are the negatives? One I was thinking of...is that it seems many people have the larger sliding doors...so if someone was to climb over that fence...no one would see them going for your large windows to break-in. I don't know if that is an issue or not, never heard of it...but just curious.

Just in general...wanted to open up a good discussion on the walled-in yards of Las Vegas.

[MovingtoLV]

Having just moved here from Minneapolis, where you have huge yards with chain linked fences, I like them. I think they offer much more privacy and you don't need to see everything your neighbor is doing.

Only negative is they are not that pretty to look at!

[gvc8]

Originally Posted by MovingtoLV

Having just moved here from Minneapolis, where you have huge yards with chain linked fences, I like them. I think they offer much more privacy and you don't need to see everything your neighbor is doing.

Only negative is they are not that pretty to look at!

you can get them stucco painted if you prefer but then they will require regular maintenance every so often as the harsh weather will eventually take its toll.

[Kalbo]

I prefer the brick wall back yard. Just wish my yard was bigger.

[stevereject]

I prefer them over short chain link fences in the same sized yards. A little extra privacy and security in the yard is good. Although with how close together some of the newer houses are, privacy is nearly gone! My house is only on a 3000sq ft lot. I prefer something just a little bigger but I'm happy with it.

[KonaKat]

When we moved to LV I thought, boy if I was a kid, I'd be walking the tops of those fences! LOL My daughter was doing just that on ours that bordered our neighbor's yard, stepped in an open block and got her leg really stuck. The other dad came out (I was not home) and it took them quite awhile to get her out! She was 13 at the time, not a little kid! We still kind of laugh about that.

Anyhow I did get used to seeing them and liked them in my own yard, too. We had a pool at both houses we owned there, and the extra privacy was nice.

[jjameson922]

To me, many negatives; cut down on light keeping house dark, cut into good views, isolate one from neighbors and provide a concrete cover for thieves to slowly work on breaking in slidings doors and windows.

[Buzz123]

This has been discussed in several other threads many times. Basically they provide privacy, and a certain amount of security. But the real reason is a psychological connection to the forts on the frontier, which Las Vegas is ...sort of. At least it was when the walls first started going up. People that give up the safety of a long time neighborhood where they are surrounded by family and friends that they've always relied on, come here all alone, knowing no one. They are rugged individualists ...pioneers in a way. It isn't that easy to make friends in Las Vegas, let alone build the kind of alliances and relationships that they had "back east". So they build a fort and disappear into it until the "Indians" attack, which is another obvious thing about Las Vegas. People you didn't even know were there will show up in an emergency to help out. It first became obvious during the MGM fire, and then the Las Vegas Hilton fire. The town or neighborhood is attacked, and they rush out and help fight off the attack, then disappear again until the next attack. It's a Las Vegas thing, and we won't give up our walls. I've noticed people that live where they don't have walls, or they have wooden walls, seem to like our block walls. Gives a better feeling of security, and that's what's important. Add a couple of dogs and a .45 ACP in the bedroom, and you'll sleep better at night.

[tijlover]

They can be death traps as well.

Working in a rehab center, I had a 80+ YO woman break her hip in her walled graveled backyard. She was too weak to yell loud enough. After many hours, little by little, she was able to drag her body, lying on her back, out front to the driveway, where a neighbor spotted her, then called 911.

That's not to say a chain link fence would have helped much, if all her neighbors were at work during the day.

But it could be someone having had a heart attack, slumped over in their patio chair. What neighbor would be able to spot them?

I just wish they'd add some concrete to the tops of the walls, and shape them with undulating waves, to make them appear more adobe like.

I was recently up in Snow Canyon in St. George where they have made the walls appear adobe-like, uneven undulating waves, and colored like adobe.
The squareness of the walls is very cold, unattrative. They could be made to be much more attractive, pleasing to the eye. In my backyard, one wall is painted cobalt blue and another forest green.

[Tiger Beer]

I actually love the feel and look of the walled-in yards. Is there a better name for them, by the way?

The privacy as well...love Buzz's post on it as well - great writing there!

I just like the fact that your space is so well-defined...and a trespasser will really have to be very intention to trespass. The seemingly extension from the sliding back door as well...you can just open it up during the weekend days and slip in and out without worrying as if you're front door is open to the world.

Originally Posted by jjameson922

provide a concrete cover for thieves to slowly work on breaking in slidings doors and windows.

This is pretty much the ONLY concern/dislke I'd have...I was imagining myself buying a little yapping chiquaqua dog...just on the look out JUST IN CASE