Midland Fence Company | Experienced Commercial Fencing in Midland, MI

The primary cause is our heavy clay soil combined with repeated freeze-thaw cycles. When the ground freezes, moisture in the clay expands and pushes posts upward. As it thaws, the soil settles unevenly, leaving posts leaning. Poor drainage around the post base worsens the problem. Our team addresses this by digging deeper post holes and using gravel backfill to improve drainage and reduce frost heave.

Look for signs like a noticeable lean in the fence line, gaps between the fence and the ground, or posts that feel loose when pushed. You may also see cracks in the wood near the ground line or rust on metal posts. If you spot these signs early, we can often reinforce or replace individual posts rather than the whole fence, saving you time and money.

We recommend using pressure-treated wood or galvanized steel posts set in concrete below the frost line (at least 42 inches deep in Midland). For added stability, we install a gravel base at the bottom of the hole to promote drainage. Vinyl and aluminum fences are also excellent choices because they resist rot and corrosion, especially when paired with our deep-set installation method.