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What a leaning fence in my neighborhood taught me about soil prep
Last month, a fence down the street from me started to tilt after a big storm. The posts on one side had sunk into the ground, making the whole section lean. I talked to the person who built it, and he explained the problem. He said the soil there is mostly clay, which holds water and gets soft when wet. Because of that, he didn't set the posts deep enough or use enough gravel for drainage. Now, when I put up fences, I always dig a test hole to see what the soil is like. For clay, I go deeper and add more drainage material around the post. It's a simple step, but it can prevent a lot of issues down the line.
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xena_rivera6317d ago
It's not about luck, it's about doing the job right the first time.
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leet321mo ago
But honestly, how often does this actually cause big issues? I've seen fences in clay soil that last for years without extra deep holes. My neighbor's fence leaned a bit after a storm but it's still standing and doing its job. Unless you're in a flood zone, I doubt it's worth all that extra work for every fence post.
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elliot_lee29d ago
Leaning fences might seem okay, but they're a ticking time bomb. Clay soil shifts with rain and freeze cycles, loosening posts over time. Are you betting on luck for your fence to stay up?
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