Wet soil and winter freeze are a bad combination - Silent without warning
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- Опубліковано 3 чер 2024
- Wet Soil and Winter Freeze Are a Bad Combination - Silent Without Warning
The Wet Soil Problem Nobody Talks About
In the northern regions, water problems often go unnoticed until they manifest as major issues. One such problem that homeowners rarely discuss is the effect of wet soil and frost heave on structures like fences. If you’ve been ignoring your yard's water problems, it's time to understand how these silent but destructive forces work together to wreak havoc on your property.
When soil becomes saturated with water, it holds onto that moisture, making it more susceptible to freezing during the winter months. Frost travels much deeper in wet soil compared to dry soil. This deep penetration can lead to significant problems, especially for structures like fence posts. If you had a French drain or an open French drain installed, not only would the posts be protected from rot, but the frost wouldn't penetrate as deeply, safeguarding the cement footings of your fence posts.
In areas where proper drainage is not managed, frost heave can lift fence posts several inches out of the ground. This phenomenon occurs because the frost gets under the foundation of the fence post, lifting it and causing it to pop out of place. In this example, some fence posts have been lifted about five inches. The frost penetrated so deeply into the wet soil that it heaved these posts, resulting in a noticeable and often damaging shift.
What makes this issue more concerning is its lack of visibility in common discussions. It’s rare to hear about this problem on any drainage-focused channels, podcasts, or even among DIY enthusiasts and professional contractors. Yet, it’s a significant issue that affects many homeowners.
Wet soil allows frost to travel twice as deep, getting under the footer and foundation of structures like fences. For instance, even with 42 inches of concrete anchoring these posts, the frost traveled deep enough to lift and pop the posts out of place, ruining the fence over the winter. All of this damage could have been avoided with proper water management.
When soil is properly drained, frost does not penetrate as deeply, reducing the risk of frost heave. Installing drainage solutions like French drains can keep the soil dry and prevent these issues. By managing water effectively, you can protect your property from the silent but severe damage caused by frost heave.
The installation of a French drain is a practical solution. These systems divert water away from critical areas, ensuring that the soil remains dry and less susceptible to frost penetration. French drains are not only effective but also relatively easy to install for those handy with tools. For those looking for a simpler solution, there are pre-fabricated kits available that make the installation process straightforward and efficient.
In conclusion, wet soil and winter freeze create a dangerous combination that can silently cause significant damage to your property. Frost heave, resulting from deep frost penetration in wet soil, can lift and displace fence posts, leading to structural damage. This problem, often overlooked, emphasizes the importance of proper water management and drainage solutions. By installing a French drain or similar drainage system, you can protect your fence and other structures from the hidden dangers of wet soil and frost heave.
If you found this information helpful, consider implementing these solutions to safeguard your property. Share your experiences and questions in the comments below, and don’t forget to give this video a thumbs up to support the channel. I’m Robert Sherwood, and until the next video, take care and stay proactive about your property’s drainage needs.
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French Drain Man - Michigan’s Yard Water Drainage Experts. Masters in the art of constructing contained French drain systems & curtain drain systems that and fix your yard drainage problems for years to come. Over 30 years’ experience in solving yard water drainage problems in Oakland, Macomb, Lapeer, and St. Clair Counties.
French Drain Man / Sherwood Landscape Construction, LLC
P.O. Box 777
Almont, MI 48003
248-505-3065
www.frenchdrainman.com
www.macombcountylandscaping.com
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This is why concrete should never be used in setting a fence post. Bad enough having to pull it out of the ground when it will be repaired. Don't even think about using round cement forming tubes either.
All one needs is a volume filler, the best thing for back filling a fence or deck post is 1/2in road crush. There is a reason why that is used for a road base, to help drain the water from under the road surface
The same goes for a post, cement will retain water between it and the post, let alone penetrate the concrete. With 1/2in crush it will better leach the water away from the post into the soil.
Punch a 50in hole, put 2in+/- of washed 3/4in at the bottom, set the post on top of that, adjust height, tap down and fill as needed.
One might think that one won't need to go 48in in depth and want to go less than that, but I will bet that one will need to go that depth during one of those once in 100 year -50 cold snaps. It is cheap insurance, in the total cost of the fence and much better than cutting a few inches off the 10ft post (on a 6ft fence) and throwing it in the garbage, basically throwing money away. Best to use it
Use a wheelbarrow, or dumping cart, with the amount of 1/2in crush needed to back fill what ever sized hole one has to fit the size post one is setting. Water down and mix, until the point when one grabs a hand full and when squeezed it stays firm.
Proceed to back fill hole one shovel per side, then firmly tap it down with a cut off 2x4 until it is firm, check post level as back filling hole, repeat until crush is at the final height for grade, do not put grass or dirt on top of the crushed gravel.
In all the years I have never had to go back a replace a post for rotting or heaving. I have replaced to many concreted posts to count because of water retention causing rot or heaving. Never did a repair on a fence built using gravel crush.
My own fence I put in 15 years ago is still straight, every other fence in our area is heaving or leaning is some way shape or form, all of them around the same age.
Thank you for sharing.
@FRENCHDRAINMAN can you do a short or video on tyingthe French drain into a storm sewer. At my house my sump exits the house and ties directly into a storm sewer drain line that runs underground up to the road and exits I to the sewer about 5 foot below road level. I would love to tie my french drain in the same way and avoid having to use pop-ups. I've tried to find a video showing this type of setup but haven't been able to find one
The first 30 seconds on your video Looks exactly like in my house. For a moment, I thought that you came over to my property and Recorded this video Without my permission.
😂
@@FRENCHDRAINMAN 😊
That's really bad! I've never seen post lifted that high. But like you've said water can do some nasty damage. 💯
That’s crazy ☠️
Frost moves through wet soil like electricity moves through copper.
Looking to do some French drains at home in the next few weeks. I plan to line the trenches with non-woven fabric, my stone is semi washed (still has quite a few fines). I’m using corrugated 4” pipe, do I still need to use a pipe sock?
It depends on how big your perforations are. We have so many perforations and inlets in our pipe that half of them could get plugged, and the pipe would still perform flawlessly. You have to worry about stone chips plugging them; otherwise, the dirt will just wash through.
@@FRENCHDRAINMAN are there any cons to using a sock as well just to ensure the perforations don’t get plugged?
Can you pour concrete over the pipe coming out of the ground, no issues?
I would reset the fence posts before I pour concrete around them.
👍
Maybe a silly question and haven’t found a video about it on your channel… Why not use ABS instead of PVC since it’s rated -40C? I understand you’re comparing PVC vs. HDPE Corrugated (no brainer), but ABS is more resistant than PVC, so why not use it underground for, for example, downspout drainage?
Go for it, bro. Then, make sure to report back to me once you're done with the installation. Good luck, you're going to need it. Start out with a full tank of gas because by the time you're done running back and forth to the store for parts, you're going to burn a whole tank of fuel.
@@FRENCHDRAINMAN I was just asking a question. Trying to understand the differences in materials in the industry. I’m not in the industry at all, so trying to learn…