Underground Fence Risks: Rot and Burrowing Creatures

In part one of this two-part blog series, we went over some of the basics on underground risks to your fence posts. While most of the damage and other risks to fences and their components take place above the ground, there are also a few below it that you should be aware of, particularly as we head into the winter season.

At Utah Fence Warehouse, we’re happy to provide not only a wide range of quality fence options, from vinyl fences to wrought iron, chain link, wood and many other materials, but also expertise on the care of any of our fencing products. This includes fence posts that are secured into the ground and sit partially underground – here are a couple other issues that may impact these fence post areas, plus how you can ensure they do not become a problem on your property.

Rot Concerns

Rot is a concern in several areas of a home or property, and your fence is no exception. Some fence buyers think they’ll be saving money by purchasing lower-quality, cheaper fence post alternatives – that is, until they realize part of the reason these products are so much cheaper is they’re highly susceptible to rot.

Specifically, if a fence post is not pressure-treated at the factory before being placed into the ground and connected to your fence, it will not resist rot. This is because the pressure-treating method involves injecting chemicals into the post that keep it safe from underground damage, including moisture infiltration and potential rot that comes with it.

On top of this, it’s important to maintain proper drainage around your fence area – something we already went over in part one in relation to frost heave issues. Lining the fence hole with pebbles is also a good method to ensure moisture doesn’t seep in.

Burrowing Creatures

Finally, various rodents and other creatures who naturally burrow underground may come into contact with your underground fence posts in some cases. Most of these rodents aren’t actually interested in the fence, though termite issues and a few related concerns are technically possible – rather, it’s the damage they create in the surrounding area that’s the biggest problem.

Specifically, burrowing animals may dig under or around your fence posts. This will weaken the soil around the base of the post, which in turn weakens the fence itself. This may cause posts to tilt to one side or the other, or even eventually fall over. To avoid this, ensure posts have been buried in concrete and are deep enough to avoid the most common burrowing animals.

For more on how to keep your underground fence posts safe from damage risks, or to learn about any of our fencing materials or other services, speak to the staff at Utah Fence Warehouse today.