Warning Signs of Frost Heave on Your Fence
A fence post that was once perfectly straight is now leaning? Or perhaps your gates have taken to dragging on the ground and will not latch. After a protracted Colorado winter you may be left to wonder what has made parts of your fence look so uneven.
For over 35 years R O Fence Services has put right these kinds of issues for homeowners in the Denver metro area; frost heave is among the most frequent causes we come across. Should you suspect it has done its work on your fence, (720) 734-8203 is our number.
What is happening is that moisture in the earth has frozen and expanded with an upward force. The freeze-thaw cycles are hard on fence posts out on the Front Range. Water makes its way into the soil at the base of a post, freezes up overnight and then thaws by day. Do that enough times in a winter and a post that was well put in will begin to move.
There are plain warning signs of frost heave damage and the earlier you put them to right, as a rule, the less trouble and cost the repair will be.
Posts That Lean or Tilt
You will see it right away when a post is no longer upright. The frozen soil has forced it out of position and the section it is holding up follows suit. One post tilting is not much to worry about in itself but it puts undue stress on any hardware, rails or panels attached to it. In time that will be transmitted down the line and throw the adjacent sections out of kilter.
Sticking or Uncooperative Gates
Gates require their posts to remain where they were put. A shift from frost heave and the gate is no longer square. Some things to be on the lookout for:
- Opening the gate and having it drag
- Latch that does not line up
- Hinges under strain or coming loose
- A gate of its own accord swinging open or shut
- One side with a wider gap than the rest
With the amount of use the hardware sees every day, such matters will only deteriorate if left alone.
Posts Coming Up Out of the Ground
In some cases you can see the damage at the base. A concrete footing being lifted from the soil or a post appearing taller than before means frost heave has pushed it up. It is telling you either the drainage at the base is wanting or the post was not set below the frost line.
Panels Showing Cracks or Separation
The rails and panels between moving posts are displaced. You may spot gaps between boards, rails pulling from the post, or cracks in the vinyl or wood. With chain link the mesh will sag or tension bars bend as the posts give way.
An Uneven Line to the Fence
Take a step back and survey the run of your fence. Where there should be uniformity of height and line, frost heave can produce a wave of sorts with some parts sitting higher. More than just an eyesore, it is an indication that a number of posts have been moved and the whole thing warrants a closer look.
Wobbly Posts
Put some pressure on a post you have in mind. A wobble or a feeling of looseness suggests the freeze-thaw has opened up the hole around it. Once a post has lost its hold on the soil it is prone to more shifting come next winter.
The Prevalence of Frost Heave on the Front Range
The climate here in Colorado is conducive to it. We have clay soils that retain water and temperatures that are wont to cross the freezing mark one way or another during the cold part of the year. Any post without good drainage or sufficient depth is at risk. For those in Thornton, Westminster, Aurora and the rest of the communities we cover in Denver, the manner and depth of installation is of consequence.
We of R O Fence Services know how to install a wood, vinyl, ornamental iron or chain link fence that can withstand a Colorado winter. As members of the American Fence Association we provide free estimates and financing via Hearth is an option.
Do not put it off till the next freeze compounds the problem of a leaning fence or a gate that drags. Get in touch with us at (720) 734-8203 for a no cost estimate and we will have your fence standing straight and strong once more.
