Fence Builders Bethlehem PA | Call Touch Of Perfection Lawn Care & Landscape

That's a common issue here due to our freeze-thaw cycles. The ground moisture expands when it freezes, shifting fence posts, and then contracts as it thaws, often leaving posts loose or rotted at the base. This movement pulls the gate frame out of square. We can fix this by resetting the posts below the frost line (typically 36-48 inches here), replacing rotted sections, and reinforcing the gate frame with diagonal bracing. If the gate is metal, we'll check for bent hinges from the shifting.

Almost certainly. Excess moisture can affect the underground wiring connections and the photo-eye sensors. Our local clay-heavy soil holds water, which can corrode wiring contacts. Also, the gate itself might be swollen if it's wood, or the tracks may have debris washed in from the storm. We'll first check the sensor alignment and clean the tracks. Then we'll inspect the wiring for corrosion and seal any vulnerable connections. If the gate is manually sticking, we'll adjust the mechanism and apply weatherproofing.

Leaning posts in chain-link fences within a year is not normal, but it points to a specific installation issue for our area. The most common cause is that the posts weren't set deep enough to get below the frost line, or the concrete base wasn't poured properly in our rocky, Lehigh Valley soil. This allows the posts to shift with the freeze-thaw cycle. We can correct this by removing the affected posts, digging deeper holes (at least 36 inches), using a wider concrete footing for stability, and backfilling with gravel for drainage to prevent water pooling against the post base.