Manchaca (officially Menchaca, locally still called Manchaca and pronounced "man-shack") is one of the most distinctive corners of Austin. Old oak trees, mature lots, a real neighborhood feel, and homes that span every era from 1970s ranch-style to brand-new Hill Country builds. We build for all of it.
Manchaca services we build
- Custom decks & covered patios in Manchaca: pressure-treated, cedar, composite, and concrete slab decks. Multi-level designs work well around the older oak trees most Manchaca lots have. Learn more about decks
- Manchaca roof replacement & storm-damage repair: south Austin gets hit hard during spring hail. We do free roof inspections, document everything for your insurance adjuster, and replace shingle and metal roofs in 1 to 3 days. Learn more about roofing
- Cedar privacy fences in Manchaca: 6-foot cedar privacy fences in horizontal slat, board-on-board, and shadowbox styles. We work around mature root systems carefully. Learn more about fences
- Manchaca pergolas & patio covers: beat the Texas summer heat with cedar pergolas, polycarbonate sun covers, and full attached patio covers wired for ceiling fans, lights, and outdoor speakers. Learn more about pergolas
- Hardie siding replacement in Manchaca: the highest-ROI exterior remodel for older south Austin homes. Full replacements, gable refreshes, and color upgrades. Learn more about siding
- Concrete patios & hardscape in Manchaca: stamped and stained concrete patios, paver walkways, retaining walls, fire features, and outdoor living. Learn more about hardscape
What projects cost in Manchaca
| Project | Typical range, installed |
|---|---|
| Pressure-treated deck with railing and stairs | $10,500 to $26,000 |
| Cedar deck | $14,000 to $30,000 |
| Cedar privacy fence | $32 to $52 per linear foot |
| Freestanding cedar pergola | $8,500 to $18,000 |
| Solid-roof patio cover | $14,500 to $30,000 |
| Fiber cement siding, installed | $10 to $16 per square foot |
| Roof replacement, architectural shingle | $11,000 to $18,000 |
| Deck repair and board replacement | $1,800 to $7,000 |
2026 installed pricing. Mature tree cover and older construction make repair work a larger share of what we do out here than in the newer subdivisions.
Older houses, bigger lots, real trees
Manchaca is not a new subdivision and that changes the work. Lots are larger, the oaks are mature, and a lot of the housing stock predates the current round of South Austin building by decades.
Practically, three things follow. Repair is a bigger share of what we do here than anywhere else we work, because there is something already standing to repair. Tree work matters, because the best spot for a deck usually has an oak in it and the answer is building around the root plate rather than through it. And matching matters, because an addition on a 1970s house that reads as an addition costs you at resale.
Shade changes what is worth building
In most of the Austin area we are solving for too much sun. In Manchaca, under a mature canopy, that is frequently not the problem.
Which means an open cedar pergola is often enough here, where on a bare Kyle or Buda lot it would not be. The trees are already doing half the work. That is a cheaper build and we will tell you so rather than selling you a solid roof you do not need.
What mature shade does cause is moisture. Decks under heavy canopy stay damp longer, collect leaf litter in the gaps, and grow algae on the north side. Airflow underneath matters more here than anywhere, board spacing matters, and a deck that cannot dry rots from below. We build for that.
Permits out here
Most of Manchaca is unincorporated Travis County rather than inside the City of Austin, so permitting goes through the county and the rules are not identical. Some properties sit in Austin's extraterritorial jurisdiction, which is a third set of rules again. We establish which applies to your address before quoting, because it changes both the timeline and what is required.
Plenty of properties out here are on septic. If yours is, we locate the drain field before setting any footing. A pier through a lateral line is an expensive mistake and not a repairable one.
South Austin neighborhoods we serve
We build for homeowners across Manchaca / Menchaca, Bauerle Ranch, Shady Hollow, Circle C Ranch, Tanglewood Forest, Onion Creek, Slaughter Creek, and the rest of south Austin and northern Hays County.
Got mature oaks on your Manchaca lot? Most south Austin homes do. We build around them carefully, proper footings, root protection, and design that uses the trees as part of the space, not against them.
Start my Manchaca projectWhy Manchaca homeowners pick JB Contracting ATX
- Call or text anytime. John calls back every Manchaca lead the day they reach out.
- Free, on-site, line-itemed estimates. Materials, labor, dump fees, permits, all spelled out before you sign anything.
- Daily progress photos by text. You always know where your south Austin project stands.
- Written warranty on every project. If something isn't right, we make it right.
- 5.0 stars on Google. Read the reviews from your south Austin neighbors.
Ready for a free quote in Manchaca? Call (512) 587-3914 or design your project online. Call or text anytime.
Get my free Manchaca quoteManchaca questions, answered
Who builds decks and fences in Manchaca, TX?
JB Contracting ATX builds custom decks, cedar privacy fences, pergolas and patio covers across Manchaca and south Austin, including Bauerle Ranch, Shady Hollow, Circle C Ranch, Tanglewood Forest and Onion Creek. We are family owned, licensed and insured, and rated 5.0 on Google. Owner John Bernard walks every estimate himself and plans each build around the mature oaks on these lots.
Do you serve Manchaca and far south Austin?
Yes, regularly. Manchaca, Bear Creek, Shady Hollow, Circle C and the rest of far south Austin and northern Hays County. We are family owned, licensed and insured, and rated 5.0 on Google. John walks every estimate himself.
Do I need a City of Austin permit in Manchaca?
Often not, because most of Manchaca is unincorporated Travis County rather than inside the city. Permitting goes through the county instead, and some properties sit in Austin's extraterritorial jurisdiction, which is a third set of rules. We establish which applies to your address before quoting, since it changes both the timeline and what is required.
Is a pergola enough under mature trees?
Frequently, yes, and Manchaca is one of the few places we say that. Under a mature oak canopy the trees are already doing half the shading work, so an open cedar pergola often gets you where you want to be for considerably less than a solid roof. If you want rain cover, that is a different question and you do need a roof.
What should I know about building a deck under heavy tree cover?
Moisture. A deck under mature canopy stays damp longer, collects leaf litter in the board gaps and grows algae on the north side. Airflow underneath matters more here than anywhere else we build, and so does board spacing. A deck that cannot dry out rots from below, where you will not see it coming. We frame for drainage and leave the gaps that let it breathe.
Can you build around a mature oak?
Yes, and it usually makes the project better. We shift the footing layout or cantilever the framing so the structure reaches past the tree without putting a pier through its root zone. Cutting a generous opening and letting the trunk come up through a deck is often the best-looking version of the whole thing. What we will not do is cut a major root to place a post.
Do you serve Manchaca and the surrounding south Austin area?
Yes. We work across Manchaca (the road and surrounding neighborhoods are now officially named Menchaca, but most locals still say Manchaca), Bauerle Ranch, Shady Hollow, Circle C Ranch, and the rest of south Austin and northern Hays County.
Manchaca or Menchaca, which is correct?
Both refer to the same area in south Austin. The historical and most-used spelling is Manchaca, pronounced 'man-shack.' The City of Austin officially renamed the road to Menchaca in 2018, but the area, businesses, and locals still widely use Manchaca. We answer to either.
Do you handle Manchaca area HOA submissions?
Yes. South Austin neighborhoods like Bauerle Ranch, Shady Hollow, and Circle C have active HOAs with their own architectural review processes. We prepare and submit the full ARC packet for fences, decks, pergolas, and exterior changes as part of every project.