Thinking about putting up snow fencing this winter? Read on for helpful tips and tricks to get the most out of your snow fencing and reduce the need for plowing and shoveling.
Firstly, the goal of installing a snow fence is not to stop snow. It’s to control where the snow piles up. A properly installed snow fence can significantly reduce the need for plowing by minimizing blowing and drifting onto the road or walkway. A properly installed snow fence will slow down the wind, causing a drift to pile up on the downwind side of the fence instead of on your driveway. It’s basically a 40% screen throughout its 4 foot height. As the wind is slowed down, the blowing snow drops to the ground sooner as it loses momentum. This is why it’s important to place the snow fence far enough back from your driveway that a large drift can form without touching your roadway.
How Far Back From Your Driveway Should You Put Snow Fence?
In my opinion, I would say that an ideal distance to start with should be around 60 feet. This depends greatly on the wind exposure and size of your property.
Another cool tip that I’ve learned is to install the snow fence 5 inches from the ground. The gap won’t allow much snow through it, but more importantly; it will protect your snow fence from getting buried and sagging or tearing. The added height will also slow more snow accumulation.
Remember, this fence is meant to be load bearing, so use enough posts, set the posts well in the ground and make sure the fence is well-secured to the posts. Use t-posts, not metal u-posts, because they are stronger. For areas with very heavy wind and snow loads, you can secure the ends of the fencing with additional support wires.
Pro Tip:
Invest in a post hammer to bang your t-bars into the ground. If you plan on installing your snow fence year after year or just have a lot of t-bars to hammer in, consider purchasing a post hammer like the one in the picture. They are far safer than having someone hold the t-bar while you lift the sledge hammer and praying that you’re not going to hit your assistant. I paid around $80 for mine and it continues to be a worthwhile investment (I’m sure you can find one cheaper online). It also allows me to install t-bars on my own.
Invest in a post hammer to bang your t-bars into the ground. If you plan on installing your snow fence year after year or just have a lot of t-bars to hammer in, consider purchasing a post hammer like the one in the picture. They are far safer than having someone hold the t-bar while you lift the sledge hammer and praying that you’re not going to hit your assistant. I paid around $80 for mine and it continues to be a worthwhile investment (I’m sure you can find one cheaper online). It also allows me to install t-bars on my own.For a 4 foot tall fence with 6 foot t-posts:
- Place fence posts no more than 8 feet apart (closer for stronger winds).
- Drive posts in approximately 1.5 feet deep.
- Line up fence on posts, leaving a 5″ gap below the fence.
- Tighten fence and secure with 8″ or 10″ cable ties. In high wind areas, it is highly recommended to use extra cable ties.
There you have it! It’s a simple task that can be performed by a couple of people and way less time-consuming than shoveling and plowing all of that snow.
We Can Help!
If you would like Window Ninja to take care of your snow fence installation for you, then give us a call at 705-888-4568 for an estimate.
