After all, this is the county in which a man built an entire castle - with a moat, working drawbridge, towers, and courtyard - with the help of just one other person. Mic drop.
That’s right. The late Mike Newman, founder and DIY creator of Newman’s Bakery in Bellville and Newman’s Castle, once explained that there are few places in the country where a landowner would be allowed to build their own royal residence. But Austin County gave him the freedom; with the appropriate safety-related inspections of course.
DIY Spirit
Austin County Judge Tim Lapham said, “Our county is full of the DIY spirit. People are always willing to help, and excited to take on new projects and enjoy the fruits of their labor.” “Twenty-five years ago, my family helped me build my house. For a home builder, that might not be such an accomplishment, but it was a big undertaking for us. I did hire out a few of the trades like concrete work, sheetrock and cabinetry,” Lapham shared.
Lapham added, “I try to buy materials locally if possible. This both supports the local economy and also allows me to see what I’m getting before it arrives in the Amazon truck and looks nothing like the picture.”
Self Satisfaction
If an award existed for “Most DIY Spirit” embodied in a single human being in Austin County, the winner might be Randy Petter, owner of Irene’s Mobile Home Park in Wallis.
Petter explained, “The reason I do things myself is for self-satisfaction. I like stepping back after a project is complete to get a feeling of accomplishment. I've never been able to hire anybody who could do it the way I want it done. Every time I hire somebody, I'm just so highly disappointed. I end up having to go behind them and redo it. So why hire somebody?”
Petter remodels his rental units himself. Flooring, painting, woodwork, plumbing and electrical work are just the beginning of his skills. His wife, Adrienne, works with him on many of his DIY endeavors and has several of her own.
“I'm finishing the house I lived in for 25 years,” Petter said of his current DIY project. “I've been working on this since November. When it dries up and gets sunny, I'm going to paint all the sidewalks and patio, to make it really look cool.”
Team Spirit
For the Austin County organization with the “Most DIY Team Spirit,” the award might go to the Austin County Rotary Club, which, in 2022, DIYed a disc golf course in Sealy’s Jacqueline A. Cryan Memorial Park.
Pat Dennen, current president of the Rotary Club says, “I built most of the disc golf course from raw lumber and built the frames at my house before everything was trailered to the park. The disc golf course inception, funding, equipment acquisition, installation, and grand opening was entirely a self-help project, in a partnership with the City of Sealy and the contractors that were hired to provide tractor work and concrete.”
“The DYI spirit to me is the essence of hard work and dedication to a project and not always with formal direction and guidance,” Dennen added, “The DYI spirit means sometimes making decisions on your own after getting the original direction on a project, and then just getting it done. Every DIY project starts with an idea. A dream. From there, you need a plan.”
When taking on a DIY Team project for the community, Dennen says, “Identify your stakeholders, bring them on board and appreciate their input and requirements. You must secure a funding source and be accountable for the proper use of the funds. Grants have funding requirements and as volunteers, we all have a responsibility to act with the highest level of trust and authority to use the money wisely and appropriately.”
Funding for their project was provided by a grant from the Lower Colorado River Authority, as well as local sponsors. Once you have a plan and proper funding, the next step is acquiring supplies, and maybe getting some advice from an “expert.”
Sourcing supplies
Mark Korell, owner of AL&M Building Supplies, says: "The DIY spirit is the backbone of small-town communities like ours. It’s not just about saving money — it’s about problem-solving, learning, and making something your own. Some of the best projects I’ve seen started with just an idea and a trip to the hardware store.”
The disc golf course required specific supplies, but Dennen explained that the majority of the supplies were locally sourced, saying, “The baskets and poles were purchased by a vendor that specialized in disc golf course baskets and hardware but all other materials were specifically purchased using local vendors. The cement, wood, signage, tractor work and excavation were all from local vendors. The labor was donated by our Rotary Club volunteers.”
Petter says he mainly buys supplies at Home Depot or Lowe's but also shops at the local hardware stores, and orders supplies online. “I love Amazon. It's like Christmas every day for me, somebody's always driving up to bring me a present,” he laughed. “They save me a lot of trips because it'll be here the next day. But supplies I need to look at, like plumbing or electrical, take me to the hardware store.”
Advice for first-timers
What type of advice would these experienced Do-It-Yourselfers give to those thinking about taking on their first DIY project?
“Do it,” Dennen says. “DIY projects are achievable and rewarding. In our case, the outcome was an 18-hole disk golf course that didn't cost the city any money. It didn't involve any taxpayer dollars, and it doesn't cost anything to use. A win-win without a doubt.”
To gain experience, he suggested volunteering with a DIY project with a team like the Rotary Club who are always looking for new members to help with local service projects.
Judge Lapham said, “My advice would be to visit with someone who has done it before. Spend time researching what you intend to do. And use screws. They are easier to get out than framing nails when the board is in the wrong place. Don’t ask me how I know!!”
Korrell encouraged, “Don’t be afraid to try. Mistakes happen, but that’s part of the process. Plan, ask questions, and take pride in the work you do. That’s why we are grateful to be part of our customers’ journey — helping them bring their ideas to life, one project at a time.”
Petter’s advice is, “YouTube is always there if you’ve got questions. I Google a lot of things that I'm not sure, and I always get my answers. I have a 2004 F-250, and I have saved thousands of dollars by googling it and going to YouTube and finding out what the problem is and how to fix it myself.”
“I've just about done it all,” Petter added. “I recently bought a welding table, I'm currently learning more about plasma cutting and welding. That's something that's always interested me. I bought a little plasma cutter on Amazon, to cut real thin metal and I’ve got a torch and grinders - there's nothing that can stop me now from doing a great job.”
Safety & following the law
It is important to note that when attempting a DIY project, everyone should follow local ordinances and take the proper steps to ensure safety.
One example of this would be a driveway installation. If you need to cut the curb, you probably need a permit. If it requires installing a culvert in a drainage ditch to drive over it, you probably need a permit. A very good “rule of thumb” is always: Before you dig, contact public works. Also, remember that within the city and county limits, there are different requirements.
Lapham says, “DIY projects that homeowners shouldn’t do themselves, or at least without a permit: septic work. I’m reminded of the old story (that I won’t disclose who told it.) But it goes, the county agent came by to check on a farm family that had been down on their luck. He noticed their septic system was running all out on the ground, even close to their water well. The family said they didn’t have money to fix it, so the county agent found some assistance money to help. A month or so later, he saw the family in town and asked how they were getting along. The old farmer said, ‘Our bad luck has continued, not long after you helped us get our septic system fixed our well went dry!!’”
On that note, from one DIYer to another, Good Luck! I plan to build my first privacy fence this spring. Pray for my neighbors. They have condoned it, but the process might not be pretty.
Sidebar:
More DIY fun in Austin County:
- Sealy DIY Studio is a magical makers place for kids to gather and create doing hands-on arts and crafts projects.
- Phenix Knives in Bellville demonstrates how to make a knife and offers knife-making classes.
- Tiptop Wood Shop in Bellville is owned by a husband and wife team who hand-crafts unique woodwork.
- The Wooden Spool quilting shop in Sealy has all the supplies and support necessary to sew and learn quilting. A block-of-the-month gathering is offered for beginners to experienced quilters.
- The Austin County Fair allows local DIYers to showcase their skills such as youth raising livestock, quilting, woodwork, art, sewing, gardening and more.
ABOUT THE WRITER
Rae Drady is a freelance journalist, editor, photographer, and business/event consultant with 30 years of professional experience.
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