Our family moved from Kansas City to Houston in 2010. After moving here, my dad began working for a roofing contractor. Most days, he cleaned up debris, carried materials, and helped wherever he was needed. He was not the person installing the roof. He was the person doing the hard work behind the scenes and doing whatever it took to provide for our family.
After several years, he realized he could build something of his own.
Around 2015, he started L&K Fence Repair. The name L&K comes from my parents, Lorenzo and Kika. He began with only a few places to advertise and took on small fence repair jobs throughout the Houston area. Sometimes he worked alone, and when a project was larger, he brought someone he trusted to help him.
I was around 12 years old when my dad started bringing me along. I would go with him on Saturdays, summer breaks, and winter breaks to help with jobs. At that age, I would complain because I wanted to stay home, play, or spend time with my friends. I did not understand why he wanted me there or what those long, hot days were teaching me.
Looking back now, I am grateful he brought me with him. Those days taught me how to use tools, operate equipment, install fences, look people in the eye, stay disciplined, stay consistent, and take pride in honest work. More than anything, my father showed me that the way you treat people matters just as much as the work you leave behind.
After graduating high school, I was not sure what I wanted to do with my life. I worked in fast food and retail while my father continued running the business mostly by himself. For a while, I stayed away from fencing because I remembered the heat, the long days, and how physically demanding the work could be.
Eventually, I realized my father had already created something meaningful. I also saw that I could help him take it further. Since English was not his first language, I began helping with customer communication, estimates, scheduling, and planning projects.
What started as simply helping my father became something I truly loved.
As we began taking on full fence and gate installations instead of only repairs, we became L&K Wood Fence Services & More. The name changed. The way we work did not.