Commercial Fencing Bristol CT | Call B & B Fencing Company

The main culprit is frost heave. In our area, the ground freezes and thaws repeatedly during winter and spring. Water in the soil expands when frozen, pushing posts upward and sideways. Over time, this can lean your fence or break concrete footings. B & B Fencing combats this by setting posts below the frost line (about 4 feet deep) and using gravel for drainage so water doesn't pool around the base.

Look for visible signs like leaning sections, gaps between pickets, or posts that feel loose when you push them. You might also notice that gates no longer latch properly or that the bottom of the fence is uneven with the ground. In Bristol, these issues often appear after a harsh winter. If you spot any of these, it's best to have a professional assess the damage before it worsens.

We take a proactive approach. First, we dig post holes deep enough to reach stable soil below the frost line. Then we add a layer of gravel at the bottom for drainage, set the post, and pour concrete around it—making sure the concrete slopes away from the post to shed water. For added stability in especially wet areas, we may recommend helical anchors or steel posts. This keeps your fence standing straight through Bristol's freeze-thaw cycles.