336-431-5852
aceavant@aceavant.com
5358 Poole Rd, Archdale, NC 27263
336-431-5852
aceavant@aceavant.com
5358 Poole Rd, Archdale, NC 27263
Erosion control silt fence installation for developers, GCs, and site contractors who need it done right and maintained through the job
Silt fence that is not keyed in correctly or posted at the right spacing fails under load. We install it to hold.
We select from different types of fence posts based on soil conditions, slope, and the load the fence will carry.
Silt fence wire backing is added on steep slopes and high-flow areas where standard fabric alone is not enough.
Installation meets NCDEQ and project-specific erosion control plan requirements at every location on the site.
We repair, re-stake, and replace damaged silt fencing after storm events so it is functional at every inspection.
We clean accumulated sediment from silt fence lines before buildup undermines the fabric or causes blowouts.
Silt fence installation is phased with grading, seeding, and other controls so coverage keeps pace with disturbance.
Silt fence, sediment basins, diversion ditches, and stabilization handled by the same team.
Silt fence is a temporary sediment control barrier installed on construction sites to intercept runoff and filter out soil particles before they leave the site boundary. It consists of a permeable geotextile fabric stretched between fence posts driven into the ground, with the bottom edge of the fabric buried in a trench to prevent runoff from undercutting it. Runoff carrying sediment backs up against the fence, slows down, and deposits soil particles before the water filters through the fabric and continues downslope. The result is cleaner water leaving the site and sediment staying where it belongs.
Silt fence is required on most construction sites in North Carolina as a condition of the erosion and sediment control permit issued by NCDEQ. Any land disturbance over one acre that discharges to surface waters requires a permit under the NPDES Construction General Permit, and silt fence is one of the standard controls specified in the erosion control plan to meet that permit. Beyond the permit requirement, silt fence is required at any site boundary, waterway buffer, or sensitive area where sediment-laden runoff could leave the site and cause downstream damage or regulatory liability.
At Ace Avant, proper silt fence installation starts before we drive the first post. We walk the fence line, assess slope and drainage conditions, and confirm alignment before any trenching begins. Every installation detail that determines whether a fence holds or fails under runoff is addressed at the start, not corrected after the first storm event.
We lay out silt fence along the contour of the slope so runoff backs up behind it rather than running along the fence line and concentrating at the ends. Before we mark the line, we confirm the alignment works with the site drainage pattern and flag any locations where the contour needs to be adjusted to prevent flow from routing around the fence.
We cut a trench along the fence line to a depth of six to eight inches and bury the bottom of the fabric in compacted backfill, creating the toe-in that prevents runoff from undercutting the fence. Stapling fabric to the ground surface instead of burying it is one of the most common shortcuts in silt fence installation and one of the first things that fails when water hits it.
We drive posts at the spacing required by the application and select post type based on slope, drainage area, and soil conditions at each location. On standard installations we use wood or steel posts at six to eight foot spacing. On slopes and high-flow areas we reduce spacing and move to heavier posts to handle the additional load the fence will carry.
We turn the ends of every silt fence run uphill to prevent runoff from going around the fence rather than through it. End treatment is one of the most frequently missed details on sites where silt fence is installed in a hurry, and one of the most predictable causes of fence failure during storm events.
Post selection for silt fence depends on the application, soil conditions, and the load the fence will carry. The most common options are wood stakes, standard steel T-posts, and heavy duty metal fence posts.
Wood stakes are the standard option for typical silt fence applications on flat to gently sloping sites with manageable drainage areas. They are cost-effective and easy to drive in most soil conditions.
Steel T-posts are used where additional strength is needed, including steeper slopes, longer fence runs, and locations where the fence is expected to carry significant sediment load. T-posts resist bending under load better than wood stakes and last longer in wet conditions.
Heavy duty metal fence posts are used in reinforced silt fence applications where the fence will be backed with wire and expected to handle concentrated flow or steep slope conditions. Post weight, flange configuration, and drive depth all affect how the fence performs under load, and the wrong selection for the site conditions is as much of a failure risk as skipping the toe-in trench. We assess each reinforced fence location and select the post that matches the slope, soil, and flow conditions at that specific installation, so the system is built to handle what the site will actually throw at it.
Standard silt fence fabric relies on the fence posts to maintain its shape under sediment load. On steep slopes and in areas with concentrated runoff, standard fabric and post spacing is not enough to keep the fence from bowing out or failing under the pressure of accumulated sediment and water. Silt fence wire backing adds a welded wire or chain link panel between the posts and the fabric, giving the fence the structural support to hold its shape under significantly higher loads.
Wire-backed silt fence is specified on steep slopes, at the toe of long slope runs, and in any location where runoff velocity and volume will be higher than a standard installation can handle. We assess each fence location before installation and specify wire backing where site conditions warrant it, rather than installing standard fence everywhere and repairing failures after the first storm.
Reinforced silt fence combines heavy duty metal fence posts, wire backing, and heavy-weight geotextile fabric in a system designed for high-flow, high-sediment-load applications. It is used at construction site perimeters with large drainage areas, at the base of steep long slopes, and at any location where standard silt fence has a history of failure under the site’s specific runoff conditions. Reinforced installation costs more than standard silt fence, but it costs significantly less than repairing failures and addressing the downstream sediment damage that follows a blowout at a high-flow location.
Installing silt fence correctly is the first half of the scope. Keeping it functional through the construction period is the second half, and it is where most erosion control programs fall short. Silt fence that has been undercut by runoff, buried by sediment, damaged by equipment, or knocked over by wind provides no protection during the next rain event. We provide maintenance and repair as part of our silt fence installation scope, inspecting fence lines after storm events, re-staking displaced sections, repairing tears and blowouts, and removing accumulated sediment before it builds up to the point where the fence loses storage capacity and starts passing sediment over the top.
Most silt fence failures we see on construction sites are not random. They are the predictable result of installation shortcuts that show up the first time runoff hits the fence. Fence without a proper toe-in trench gets undercut in the first significant rain. Fence posted at the wrong spacing bows and fails under sediment load. Fence running downslope instead of on contour concentrates flow at the low end and blows out at the corner. End runs that are not turned uphill let runoff go around the fence entirely. We address every one of these details at installation because fixing a failed fence after a storm costs more than installing it correctly the first time.
Silt fence installation needs to be in the ground before grading and clearing operations begin disturbing soil, not after. We coordinate installation timing with the grading schedule so fence is in place at the perimeter and around sensitive areas before earthwork starts, and we add fence as the disturbed area expands throughout the project. Fence lines in areas that have been stabilized and no longer need protection are removed as part of project closeout.
We walk the site after installation to confirm fence alignment, toe-in, post spacing, and end treatment before grading operations begin. Maintenance inspection records and repair logs are documented through the construction period and available for SWPPP recordkeeping and regulatory inspections.
Silt fence is a temporary sediment control barrier that intercepts runoff and filters out soil particles before they leave the site, protecting downstream waterways and keeping the site in compliance with erosion control permit requirements.
Silt fence is required on most permitted construction sites as a condition of the erosion and sediment control plan. In North Carolina, any land disturbance over one acre discharging to surface waters requires an NPDES permit, and silt fence is a standard control measure under that permit.
Standard silt fence uses fabric stretched between posts and relies on post spacing to maintain its shape. Wire-backed silt fence adds a wire panel between the posts and fabric for additional structural support on steep slopes and high-flow locations where standard fence cannot handle the load.
Post selection depends on the application. Wood stakes are standard for typical installations. Steel T-posts and heavy duty metal fence posts are used for reinforced applications on steep slopes and high-flow areas where additional strength is required.
Silt fence is a temporary measure intended to last through the construction period until permanent stabilization is established. UV exposure, storm damage, and sediment accumulation degrade the fence over time, which is why regular maintenance and repair are part of the erosion control scope rather than an optional add-on.
Once the drainage area served by the fence has been permanently stabilized, we remove the fence, pull posts, and restore the trench area. Sediment that has accumulated behind the fence is redistributed or removed depending on location and the condition of the stabilized surface.