Can a Fence Be Used as a Retaining Wall?
It's a question we hear surprisingly often: "Can I use my fence to hold back soil?" The simple answer is no . Although a fence may look strong enough to support soil, it isn't designed to withstand the enormous sideways pressure created by retained earth. Using a fence as a retaining wall can lead to bowed panels, leaning posts, structural failure and expensive repairs. In this guide, we'll explain why fences and retaining walls are designed for completely different jobs, what happens when soil is piled against a fence, how you can safely deal with changes in ground levels, and what you can do if a neighbour has built up their garden against your boundary. Why a Fence Isn't Designed to Retain Soil A fence is designed to resist forces such as: Wind loading The weight of the fence itself Occasional impact A retaining wall, however, has to withstand constant lateral pressure from tonnes of soil. That pressure increases even further after he...
