Natural Environmental Reclamation Concepts - Hanover's Reliable Residential Fencing

The main cause is the combination of prevailing winds from the northwest and solid, solid-panel fences that act as a wind barrier. When wind hits a solid fence, it drops the snow it's carrying right at the fence line and on the leeward side. In our area, this often creates deep drifts against garages, driveways, and along property lines, especially near open fields or wide lawns common around Hanover.

A clear sign is if you consistently have deep, hard-packed snow banks forming on one side of your fence (typically the downwind side) while the other side is nearly bare. You might also notice that snow piles up right against your gate, making it difficult to open after a storm. If your fence uses solid boards, lattice, or overlapping pickets with no gaps, it is likely trapping and depositing snow, creating those troublesome drifts.

We recommend installing a wind-permeable fence design. This involves using split rails, spaced pickets (with gaps of 1-2 inches), or a combination of a lower solid portion with an open upper section. By allowing a percentage of the wind to pass through, the fence reduces the wind speed and filters the snow, preventing heavy deposits in one spot and spreading the snow more evenly across your property. We also design custom gates that are built with the same wind-permeable principle to keep your driveway access clear.