A silt fence is a temporary sediment (loose soil) control fence used primarily on construction sites to protect the water quality in nearby bodies of water. These bodies of water include lakes, rivers, streams, ponds and oceans.
They are most commonly constructed of a geotextile fabric with embedded wood stakes spaced every couple feet. The wood stakes are commonly made from lower grades of domestic lumber. These do not meet the strict grades for cabinet grade lumber.
Some manufacturers of silt fences have reached out to us in search for a strong wood that can withstand tough soil conditions. Soil that contains a lot of clay or rocks will often snap the standard wood stakes. These are the stakes that you standard silt fences are constructed with.
We have supplied silt fence stakes made from sustainable South American hardwoods to a silt fence manufacturer. That company was in search of stronger wood stakes.
South American hardwood stakes do not contain any chemicals and are naturally rot resistant. They are also up to 3 times harder than oak. This makes them the perfect choice for a silt fence stake that is intended to keep our water ways clean.
In addition sometimes a “super” silt fence is required by agencies such as the EPA on certain projects.
Super silt fences are commonly constructed with a chain link fence embedded into the ground. A standard silt fence is placed in front of the chain link fence to control the sediment run off.
This method makes a much stronger silt fence but is much more labor intensive and more costly.
Some manufacturers are testing our South American hardwood stakes to make a “super” silt fence that does not require the added chain link fencing. The chain link adds extra strength to the silt fence.
Since our hardwoods are 3 times harder than oak, a super silt fence made with our hardwoods may not require the added labor and costs of the chain link method.
For more info and pricing got to our Hardwood Stakes page.