Can a fence cause drainage problems in a yard from being built on the ground?

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Request for Question Clarification by nenna-ga on 24 Aug 2005 12:43 PDT

Hello willharr-ga,

What type of fence, etc?

Nenna-GA

Does this answer your question?

SETTING THE FENCE POSTS
http://www.chase-pitkin.com/How-To/Projects/outdoor/fence/fence.htm

Set all wood fence posts with about 1/3 of their total length buried
in the ground. This is especially important on corner posts and any
posts that will carry heavy weight or withstand high wind pressure.

Use a regular post hole digger to dig the post holes. Dig the holes
straight to the proper depth at each stake marker.

You can anchor the posts more firmly by making the holes slightly
larger at the bottom than at the top (Fig. 2). Place a large stone or
two shovels full of gravel in the bottom of each hole. This provides
drainage to avoid excessive moisture at the base of each post.

Use a wood preservative to treat the section of the post that will be
underground. Allow the post to stand overnight in the preservative so
it can become well-saturated.

You can pack the posts with either dirt or concrete. In either case,
place two or three shovels full of gravel in the bottom of each hole
before the post is placed into position.

Be sure the posts are in an exact, upright position (Fig. 3). You can
check the alignment of each post with a regular level. You can also
check the alignment of the posts in one direction by sighting from one
end of the row of posts to the other.

Brace each post with stakes after it is properly aligned (Fig. 3).
Keep the stakes in position until the concrete (if used) has
thoroughly set. Remove the nails holding the braces and readjust the
post until it is in accurate alignment.

When the post is properly aligned, tamp it thoroughly to pack the dirt
(if used) around the base of the post. Be sure you do not alter the
alignment of the post during the tamping process.

When the post is firmly in position, build a mound around it to help
eliminate water standing at the post base (Fig. 4). Slope the concrete
slightly away from the post and round it off with a trowel. Tamp the
concrete lightly to eliminate any air bubbles left in the mixture that
can act as water pockets.

Provide extra bracing at all corners (Fig. 5). A corner post must
carry the weight of fence stretched in two directions, so it should be
set in both directions.


Allow the posts to stand several days and settle firmly in position
before adding the fence.


The heads of posts should be rounded, capped or slanted to help
eliminate accumulating water, which can cause rotting (Fig. 6). This
is well-worth the effort since it allows the posts to last.

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http://www.taylorrental.com/tip_detail.asp?id=30&sec_id=Homeowner

Use a wood preservative to treat the section of the post that will be
underground. Allow the post to stand overnight in the preservative so
it can become well-saturated

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Postholes
http://www.thisoldhouse.com/toh/print/0,17071,345314,00.html

In sandy, fast-draining soils, fill around the post with dirt from the
hole. Where soil is wet or drains poorly, fill around the post with
gravel and tap firmly. Use concrete for gate posts with gates wider
than 4 feet or fence posts in holes that can't be dug deeper than 20
inches.

HI Willharr24,
From your question, I was also assuming that you must mean a
substantial fence that would obstruct the flow of water under it.  In
your clarification, you mention pickets.  A normal picket fence has
space between the pickets about equal with the width of the pickets,
which ends about the same distance from the ground (no reason to try
to keep out anything that could crawl between the pickets).
This also avoids the pickets being so subject to rot or termites.

Is this the kind of fence you are contemplating?

If it is, this should cause no problem with drainage.

IF you are considering a solid wooden fence with no space between the
pickets/boards, again it is usual not to have these touch the ground;
any small animal - even a dog - could dig under it.
In a real downpour, of course such a fence could block the runoff of water.
IF this dams up water on your neighbor's property, you could be
responsible for any damage.  (Where I live, you WOULD be, just for
upsetting the flow of nature,  even for withholding water, if that
upset him).

I hope this is of help.  Please let us know, Myoarin