How to Fix Fence Posts With Frost Heaving

When the temperature is sufficiently low, moisture in the ground freezes and expands. This expansion presses on buried objects, such as fence posts and foundations; it slowly pushes them upward over successive freeze and thaw cycles. This occurrence is called frost heave, and not accounting for it when setting fences can cause a great deal of damage. There is no way to fix a frost-heaved fence post other than by removing and re-setting it.

Post hole digger or auger
Fence post bracing
Gravel
Concrete

Instructions

- 1
  Remove any fence posts severely displaced by frost heave. Inspect them for damage. Dispose of them if the freezing and compression caused the posts to buckle or break, or if they were previously anchored with concrete.
- 2
  Use a post hole digger or auger to re-dig the fence-post hole, making it wider at the bottom than at the top. Dig below the frost line if reasonably practical. Place approximately 2 inches of gravel at the bottom of the hole to promote drainage.
- 3
  Place the fence post in the hole. If one end of the post is wider than the other, place the wider end in the hole. Measure and line up the post with the rest of the fence. Brace it in place when finished.
- 4
  Pour concrete in the hole until the concrete is approximately 2 inches below ground level. Cover the concrete with dirt when it has dried. Remove the fence post's bracing.
- 5
  Repeat the process for all displaced fence posts.

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