Fence Footings 101: Questions From Curious Property Owners
Posted on: 1 May 2023
Fence installation is one of the best enhancements you can make to your residential property. However, installing a fence requires more than simply setting up the fence pieces. A fence footing foundation may be necessary to offer the best level of ground support for the fence materials. This is especially important in areas where the soil is sandy or not so densely composed. Take a look at a few questions most property owners tend to have about installing fence footings.
Do all fences need fence footings?
All fences need some kind of underground support system, but not all fences need footings. If the fence posts being installed are long enough, the fence itself may be able to act as a footing. For example, if you are erecting a wooden fence, the support posts can be anchored about a third of the way in a post hole and surrounded by gravel and concrete. In this instance, the footing will be the combination of the portion of the post buried and the concrete and gravel.
How deep are fence footings?
The depth of the fence footing foundation varies depending on several factors, such as:
- The type of fence you are having installed
- The height of the fence being installed
- The ground composition in the area where the fence will be installed
- What type of fence footing materials are used
Will fence footing installation damage the landscape?
Fence footing installation should not cause extensive damage to the landscape. The contractor will dig a hole in the area where the footer will be installed, taking care not to disrupt the ground surrounding the holes any more than necessary. Once the footing is placed, the surrounding dirt is replaced and the area can be reseeded with grass if needed.
What are fence footings made of?
Fence footings come in different types. Prefabricated footings are commonly constructed of dense synthetic stone such as pressure-treated concrete or bricks. Other footings may be poured in place with ready-mix cement, gravel, sand, and other materials.
How long will fence footings last after installation?
A well-installed fence footing should easily last for the lifetime of the fence itself. These components are buried underground. Therefore, they are not exposed to the elements like the fence itself. In fact, it is not unheard of for a fence to be reinstalled in the same area and for an old fence footing foundation to be used.
Contact a fence footing foundation contractor to learn more.
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