What To Consider Before Conducting Silt Fence Installation

By Joshua Smith


Construction activities have a significant impact on soil and water quality. To be precise, soil erosion and water pollution are evident around most construction sites. In order to mitigate such issues, silt fence installation processes should be adopted. This involves laying a boundary marker that mitigates the erosion of soil on areas that lie inside construction areas. The device is relatively cheap to purchase and has a simple design.

Silt fences are used in combination with sediment traps and sediment basins. In this context, their main role is to control erosion and retain sediment in areas where soil is affected by construction activities. These devices are usually installed around construction sites to act as perimeter control.

Common siltation fences have filters that prevent soil particles from being eroded from a landscape. For filters to function properly, they are precisely manufactured using synthetic fabric as the main raw material. Attaching them to metallic or wood stakes increases their efficiency. In this case, their lower parts are usually installed several inches into the ground for stability reasons.

After a rainy event, the filters are usually disturbed to dislodge tiny soil particles hence allowing clean water to freely flow. In order to protect watersheds and mitigate erosion, larger sediments are trapped within a construction site. However, it reaches time when these sediments completely cover the fencing gadget. In such occasions, you will need to install a new boundary marker.

In some nations, people are sensitized on the advantages of using reinforced boundary markers. The markers are also supposed to have strong filters designed with synthetic fabric and embedded with long wire meshes. When filters are combined with wire meshes, they become stronger and more resistant to the pressure of moving water and sediments.

Studies on sludge boundary markers have shown that these devices are more effective in terms of mitigating soil erosion when compared to other devices. Other studies have indicated that proper maintenance practices increase the durability of fencing items. Along these lines, after purchasing and installing these devices, it is advisable to carry out routine checks to ensure that filters are not clogged. In case of any clogging, hire an expert to assist with unclogging the device.

You can adopt several techniques when fencing your property using these devices. The simplest and efficient of them all is known as slicing technique. This method focuses on fencing a site for sediments to remain within the site without causing erosion or water pollution when it rains. The method also fosters soil compaction hence reducing the susceptibility of soil to erosion agents such as water.

The cost of installing siltation fences is based on factors such as length and width. For example, if you want to enclosure a large site with an ongoing construction, choose a longer fencing item. The length of the device should be proportional to the total perimeter of the site that is supposed to be fenced.




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