How Deep in the Ground Should a Fence Stay Be?

Wooden fences can be both functional and beautiful—but their functionality depends on how well they’re constructed. The first step in building a sturdy fence is to understand what each component does—so if you’re asking yourself how deep a fence stay should be, you’re asking the wrong question. Here’s a guide to fence stays and posts, and how to get the best results when you’re constructing your own fence in Utah.

The difference between fence stays and fence posts

Fence posts are the large, vertical pieces of wood or pipe that support a fence’s railing or wires. They’re usually thick and sturdy, driven deep into the ground so the fence doesn’t fall over under pressure or in inclement weather.

Fence stays, on the other hand, are attached to the fence posts. They’re designed for fences with wire rails, and help keep the wires spaced evenly. That’s important when you’re dealing with livestock (or trespassers). Without a fence stay, it’s easier for animals or humans to bend the wire and create a gap big enough to crawl through. With them, the wire will be less flexible, especially if you’re using barbed wire. They have the added bonus of making it possible to use fewer posts.

Best practices for fence stays in Utah

When installing fence stays, you’ll want to push the stays down the wire and thread them through the fence. To avoid the wires binding, take them a half or full turn past the next wire to connect with neutral pressure. Then they can spin all the way down without binding themselves to other wires. This should save you a lot of time and hassle when installing the stays.

Keep in mind that wooden fence stays will require more maintenance than galvanized metal, so make sure you periodically check and maintain your stays for best results. Typically, wooden stays can be stapled into the wooden fence posts.

Best practices for installing fence posts

When it comes to installing fence posts, you’ll need to dig deep to ensure they’re sturdy enough. Make sure you choose a sturdy type of wood. (The team at Huberwoods is happy to help if you can’t decide which kind of wood would most effectively suit your purposes.)

Dig your fence post hole at least three feet deep, and deeper if your ground is soft and usually damp. Fill the bottom of the hole with a small layer of gravel, which will help with drainage. Insert the post and fill with concrete for added reinforcement. Typically, wire fence posts should be installed about 10 feet apart, and no more than 12 feet.

Now that you know the difference between fence posts and fence stays in Utah, you’re ready to build your own high-quality wooden and wire fence. Get in touch with Huberwoods or visit us today to learn more about our fence stay and fence post selection—we specialize in bulk lumber to help you create your custom fence. We look forward to assisting you soon!

Categorised in: Wooden Fence Posts, Wooden Fence Stays

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