Almost every old fence in Snohomish County leans the same way, and it is almost always the same cause. The wood on top is usually fine. The problem is under the ground. Here is why it happens and what you can actually do about it.
Why fences lean here
Fences lean in Snohomish County for one boring reason. The posts were set too shallow, in dirt, with no concrete. Our ground is hardpan, a packed mix of clay, sand, and rock. It holds water for months. From October to May we get rain most days. Wet, heavy soil pushes on a short post until it tips, and the fence just goes along for the ride.
The freeze is not the problem, the water is
People from colder states worry about deep ground freezes. That is not what tips a fence here. Our winters are wet more than deep-frozen. The real trouble is soil that stays soaked for half the year. Water softens the ground around a post and adds weight that shifts with every storm. A post set two feet in loose dirt has nothing to grab. It slowly leans, then one wet January it lets go.
Rotten posts do the rest
The other half of the story is rot. A post set straight into soil sits in a wet sleeve of dirt all winter. Even pressure treated wood gives up at the ground line, which is where air and water meet. The post turns soft, the fence sags, and a good shove finishes it. North-facing sides grow moss too, which holds moisture against the wood and speeds the whole thing up.
How to keep a fence standing
Depth and concrete are what keep a fence upright here. A post set about a third of its height deep, in a concrete footing that sheds water away from the wood, has real support. Concrete instead of dirt is not a suggestion, it is the difference between ten quiet years and a yearly repair. We set every post in concrete, not dirt. It costs a little more up front and saves you the do-over.
Reset or replace a leaning fence
Not every lean means a new fence. If the posts are solid and only a section or two tilts, a crew can often dig them out and reset them properly in concrete. If the posts are rotten at the base, or most of the run leans, resetting is throwing good money after bad. A good crew tells you which one you have before you spend a dollar. We give a free on-site look and a straight answer, even when the answer is do less.
Common questions
Snap a photo of the worst post and send it over. We'll say whether it reads like a reset or a full rebuild, then walk the line in person before any number goes on paper. The look is free.
