Something there is About a Wall

 

I called my friend Matt the contractor

Me: How much would it cost to build a wall?

Matt: That depends on many factors.

Me: Like what?

Matt: How big is the wall?

Me: Say ten feet tall, ten feet long and two feet wide.

Matt: What is it made of?

Me: What are my choices?

Matt: You’ve many, wood, bricks, cinder blocks, concrete…

Me: How about concrete?

Matt: Poured in place concrete or pre-formed concrete panels like those noise barriers on the Interstate?

Me: Poured in place.

Matt: On what kind of surface?

Me: Does that matter?

Matt: Sure, you don’t want your wall to fall over so it has to be anchored somehow. That depends on the surface. You’d use different systems for say, a wall built on sand as opposed to a wall built on rock.

Me: What if I’m not sure?

Matt: I can probably figure some sort of average.

Me: Ok, is that it?

Matt: Nope. Where is this wall?

Me: Does that make a difference?

Matt: Well, sure. The building materials have to be brought to the site so the cost of the materials will depend on the distance to the site. If you want to pour concrete you’ll need roads for the concrete delivery trucks. If there aren’t adequate roads, you’re going to have to build them. Do you want lighting anywhere long this wall? Do you want security cameras? Once you’ve made those decisions, you’ll have to engage a design professional to draw up the plans. You can’t build anything anywhere without a permit and to get that you’ll need and environmental impact study. It all adds up.

Me: Enough! Just give me quick estimate.

Matt: Fifty thousand dollars.

Me: So if a ten foot wall costs fifty thousand, how much for a mile long one.

Matt: About twenty-six point four million

Me: What would a one thousand nine hundred and thirty-three mile wall cost?

Matt: Why one thousand nine hundred and thirty-three miles?

Me: That’s the length of the US – Mexico border.

Matt: OK, lemme see, a little over fifty-one billion.

Me: Wow, it not that simple.

 

Matt: It never is.