How To Install Silt Fence

We’re building a new house and the first thing we’re required to do is install silt fence.
It’s a woven synthetic fabric held up by wooden stakes that allows water to slowly pass through while trapping sediment behind.
First, I dig a trench so that I can bury the fabric- the ditch needs to be deep enough to bury the bottom section of fence but not so deep you can’t pound the stakes in.
We’re digging out our house here at the top of the property, and we’re placing the fence downhill below it.
When it rains, the fence will filter all the areas we disturbed with excavation.
This type comes in 100-foot rolls with the stakes already attached.
I like to roll up the ends, since the fabric is only stapled on- this keeps it from coming loose.
I pound the stakes in with a sledgehammer.
This red line on the bottom should be flush with the ground after you backfill the trench.
It’s important to stretch the fence tight as you install each section, and make sure to put the stakes on the downhill side.
Installing this stuff by yourself is a real pain- it goes a lot faster with a helper.
I like to overlap the splices by at least one full section.
Silt fence is required by almost every jurisdiction. Personally, I wonder how much good it does verses how much of this stuff ends up in the landfill after each job.
Let me know in the comments what do you guys think? @hausplans

#build #howto #construction #diy #contractor #trenching #siltfence #tractor #excavation

[ginopumadera]

Always great to see the new guy present

[randygerman]

You’re right about questioning the actual value vs the waste in the landfill

[noah]

So happy we keep the dust and water out while simultaneously spreading this synthetic polyester fabric into the topsoil 👍🏼👍🏼

[oldschoolnewsguy]

The guy that patented the way silt fence fabric is made lives where I live. Got a hell of a nice house. He started out making fabric curtains for chicken houses out of the back of a station wagon

[tiny]

On a smaller job like yours, silt fence doesn't necessarily have a huge impact, but anything bigger than a single building can end up dumping tons of small particles of dirt into local waterways, which negatively effects both wildlife and humans. If all small jobs were allowed to skip the fence, it would add up to a significant amount of silt. I do agree that it makes a lot of plastic waste, but it's better than the alternative (at least according to the folks that made the rules).

[Yphrum]

Straw packed sleeves are the new norm where I I’m at.

[FReNchMoLEy]

good thing the new guy showed up to help you

[ThornAndel]

I like your 'Helper'. Glad to see he's wearing his hardhat.
And BTW: You're right Silt Fence is only really useful when there is a significant grade.

[SamLove-lp]

Finally an explanation that makes sense, I have seen it installed 50 ways from sundown.

[dogg]

I wish my boss cared as much as you. You are a true work horse from what I see.

[Diggi]

It always cracks me up because you look like your 47 but you sound like a 21 year old surfer braaah

[tristankordek]

Dude, it's beautiful there, the first second of the video hit me like a train.
Good thing you had a helper, I hope he likes his new home.

[MatterInMyMind]

You can use hail bails and then they naturally decompose. I put up so much silk fence in my younger days doing civil construction in Australia 💪🏼🇦🇺🤙🏼

[zach]

You are amazing at explaining exactly what youre doing and i appreciate it, as someone with no construction experience

[michnapier]

The New Guy made that job easier with his expert help.

[justinmoore]

I’ve seen these a million times and never knew as much as I do now, thanks!

[ETHAN_.]

😂 I like the new guy all the time, this time his helping out, nice 😊❤❤

[GaryT]

New Guy lends a paw, makes even a tough job bearable

[RJ-lkpj]

There laborious tasks, only suited for then”new guy”

Creates character ✌🏻🤔👍🏻

[Donato]

I liked how he called BS on regulations that are almost always useless.