Planning a fence for your Fort Worth property? Before you dig that first post hole, you need to understand what you're working with. Our soil is going to fight you every step of the way.
Fort Worth sits on clay-heavy soil that swells when wet and shrinks when dry. Over time, this turns perfectly straight fences into leaning nightmares. At Top Rail Fence, we've watched it happen dozens of times—but we also know how to stop it.
Why Fort Worth Clay Soil Destroys Fences
Fort Worth's expansive clay is a problem. During spring rains, this clay soaks up water and swells. During summer droughts, it dries out and contracts.
Your Fort Worth soil fence posts sit right in the middle of this cycle. Year after year, the soil expands and contracts around them. That's why you see neighbors' fences slowly tilting, or fence posts sinking Fort Worth yards across the city.
The clay can expand up to 10% when wet. Posts shift a little at a time—until your fence looks more like a wave than a property line.
Water Won't Drain Through Clay
Clay doesn't let water pass through. Instead, water sits on the surface or pools around fence posts.
This creates two problems. First, wood posts sitting in water rot in 5-7 years instead of lasting 15-20. Metal posts corrode faster too. Second, the standing water makes the expansion worse, speeding up post movement.
How We Install Fences in Clay Soil
We adjust our installation based on your property's soil. Here's what that looks like in Fort Worth:
Deeper holes: Most contractors dig 24 inches. We go 36 inches or deeper to get below the active soil zone.
Better backfill: We replace the clay around posts with gravel. This lets water drain away instead of pooling at the base.
Stronger footings: Our concrete mix is designed to handle soil movement without cracking.
Materials that last: We only use pressure-treated lumber, vinyl, or metal rated for ground contact and clay soil fence installation conditions.
What Happens When Installers Skip These Steps
Posts start shifting within 2-3 years. Gates stop closing properly. Panels separate from posts.
A fence that should last 20+ years needs replacement in less than 10. We see this constantly with homeowners who went with the lowest bid. They save money upfront, then pay to replace the whole thing a few years later.
Schedule Your Free Consultation
Soil conditions vary across Fort Worth neighborhoods. What works in one yard might not work in yours.
Call Top Rail Fence at +1 817-803-3338 to schedule a free consultation and estimate. We'll assess your property's soil, test drainage, and design a fence installation that lasts 20+ years.
