Can You Install a Fence in the Rain?
Rain is a fact of life, no matter where in the world you live. Whether you get rain in the spring, summer or winter, unless you live in a desert, there’s probably some time of the year when you need an umbrella!
Unfortunately, rain can interrupt some kinds of construction, which makes it a problem for customers and contractors. If you’re wondering if you can install a fence in the rain, you need to read this!
It Depends on How Much Rain
The simplest answer to the question “can you install a fence in the rain” is that it really depends on how much rain you’re talking about.
A light drizzle or a spring rain shower probably won’t prevent you from installing a fence. However, torrential rain that turns the ground into a soggy mess might very well delay your fence installation.
If There’s Too Much Mud, You Might Have to Wait
One of the reasons why you can’t always install a fence when it rains is that a lot of rain can turn usually stable soil into a muddy mess. If there’s grass over that mud, any movement, equipment or driving on the grass will probably leave deep ruts and completely destroy the lawn. If there’s no grass, your equipment and vehicles will probably sink into the mud and not be usable.
Mud also makes excavations collapse and generally makes it very difficult to get anything done. I’ve even seen graders and loaders sliding down slopes when there’s a lot of mud because even their tracks can’t get any grip.
Rain Could Interfere with concrete Pouring
A little rain, while you’re pouring concrete, is one thing, but if there’s a lot of extra water, it could dilute your concrete mix, which means you might not get the strength you need.
concrete needs water for the chemical reaction that allows it to harden to happen, but if you have too much water in the mix, it will become weak.
Heavy rain before a concrete pour is also a problem because it can pool in the bottom of your excavations, and you might need a pump to remove it before you can start the concrete placing process.
Generally, it’s a very good idea to check the weather before you plan to start digging or pouring concrete and to make sure you can get both done a few days before any major rain is expected.
Lightning Is Dangerous During Fence Installs
As you probably know, lightning generally strikes the highest point in a particular area. That’s why we often see lightning rods on taller buildings.
However, when you’re installing a fence, very often, the fence (and the fence installers) is the tallest thing in the area. This means that when there’s a lightning storm, installing fences can be very dangerous.
Many fences are made from metal too, and many of the tools and equipment used to install fences, including ladders, tape measures and more, are also made of conductive materials. This makes fences and fence installers a good alternative to lightning rods!
Our Advice? Caution!
Can you install a fence when it rains? Usually, yes. However, as you can see, there are many risks and challenges that come with wet weather.
So, unless you’re talking about a light drizzle, it’s usually best to postpone your fence installation for a day or two when there’s rain in the forecast.
